"Once saved, always saved."
What a controversial statement. One that contains so much meaning - and causes so much arguing.
It mostly is based from the following passage,
Romans 8:31-39 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Is this passage saying that we can not SIN against God? Is it saying that no matter what we do we shall go to heaven? Does it say God will forgive any evil we do with out repentance?
Some believe so...but I think it more says that God always loves us and won't change His mind about us.
He loved us before we loved Him. How could He ever stop loving us if He loved us so much while we were still sinners? He loved us so much that He died for us in the the hope that we might love Him back.
It says that evil things done to us aren't signs of His lack of love. No one else can change His mind towards us.
It says all this.
But never does it say that "God loves us so much that even while we SIN we have our names written in God's book."
No one else can make God stop loving us, but is it possible for us to stop loving God? I believe the answer is "Yes."
And for those that don't love God anymore? God will still love them - but the God of love is still a God of justice and those that WON'T BE with Him must go where He has said those that don't love Him go.
Hebrews 10:26-31 NIV "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Yes, God loves us. And He proves His love to us in actions.
And if we truly love Him back we will prove our love in actions - doing that which doesnt hurt Him or go against him.
Imagine two best friends.
Basil and Joey are best friends. They do everything together.
But Joey is changing. He no longer treats Basil with respect. He talks bad about Basil. Lies, steals from him.
Basil soon discovers that Joey is no longer a true friend. He believes that they once were - but now?
People tell him to just get on with life. Forgive Joey and be friends, but how can he when Joey is constantly using and abusing him?
What would you do?
What should God do?
What happens when we turn against God? Disrespect Him? Misplace our love and devotion? His righteous judgment is released upon us.
What happens when we confess yet do not prove our words with actions?
Romans 1:18-23 NIV "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
And on a sidenote - yes we all sin (Romans 3:23). But never should we use accidents or mistakes as an excuse to continue hurting others and God.
Even in friendships, one or the other will make mistakes at times. But do we continue to hurt the other? Or do we apologize and start afresh careful to be the best friend ever?
I believe it is very important to realize that sinning is not good nor acceptable. Repentance exists for a reason, yes, but never should we make up reasons to repent.
For we all should run from all appearance of evil, avoid sinning, strive to love God above all (2 Timothy 2:22).
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Very good and well thought out. While we cannot earn our salvation, it is only through Yah's mercy and Grace, yet we must build on this foundation by our actions. I have been reading 1 John lately. What really got home was that if we love Him, and if we are His, John says we will keep His commandments.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the part most of Christianity missed out on. :)
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