Once Saved, Always Saved

If I were to make a list of doctrines that divide the body of Christ; Once Saved, Always Saved would probably be in the top 10. Whenever I see different views about what scripture reveals to us, it always stirs me to meditate on how to reconcile the truth of God’s Word because I believe that God never contradicts Himself.

The debate on this topic always ends up appearing to me as an argument that an apple is not an orange and misses the possibility that both the apple and the orange can both be a part of God’s fruit basket. There are many scriptures that are used to both to support and to refute this doctrine. This has persuaded me to answer the following questions for myself.

Can I lose my salvation?

I believe the answer is no, but not for the same reason as the those that believe in the doctrine of "Once Saved Always Saved. This has been of the hardest truth to convince myself of for reasons that are more experiential than scriptural. First off I had to get past the concept that feeling saved is evidence of being saved. Then I had to find a way to reconcile scripture on both sides of the question. The following is how I believe God helped me do this.

I cannot lose my salvation because of sin, but sin can harden my heart to reject or neglect God’s gift of salvation. It is strange that the simplicity of this statement allowed both points of view to make sense to me. Salvation is not of works, but that doesn’t mean it is not a choice. Salvation leads to desire the things of God, it doesn’t force us. Sinning cannot negate God’s salvation in Christ, but it can lead us to desire it less and less. I love how this simple truth reconciles scripture for both sides.

Consider it like this. Remember when the Israelites were in Egypt and the angel of death was killing all of the first born. The only thing that saved the Israelite’s first born was the lamb’s blood on the post of their house. As long as the first born remained in the house he was safe, but if the first born chose to leave the house because he didn’t believe the blood was all that could save him then the angel of death would of killed him too. He would have died outside of Salvation's reach. Salvation cannot be lost, but it can be neglected or rejected.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)

Beware of remaining in a sin even though God continues to press your heart to repent, because that can end up being a choice in and of itself. I believe only God can determine when we cross the line of choice because he weighs our hearts, but if God starts to disciplines us as children, we should not take it lightly. God's salvation doesn't negate God's Holiness. On the contrary, it persuades us enter in.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
(Mark 11:26)

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 10:33)

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5)

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

Did the prodigal son lose his salvation? Luke 15:11-32

No, I believe his salvation was kept by the Father who was waiting for him, if he chose to return. Before sin could slay him and forever separate him from the Father, the prodigal son came to his senses and returned back to the Father. It was the choice of the prodigal son to separate himself from the Father. It wasn't the son's sin that kept him from his Father, but it was sin that persuaded him to choose the path that separated him.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
(Luke 15:32)

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
(Jonah 2:9)

There also seems to be sins that will harden your heart and lead you to death quicker than others, though I wouldn’t recommend any sin, because God judges the heart. Ananias and Sapphira died just for lying to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:1-10) You might consider it a bit harsh, but I don't believe that they died just because they lied as much as they died because they hardened their heart against the Holy Spirit and then came into His Holy presence haughtily clinging to sin. The wages of sin is death. If you want to receive those wages quickly, try entering the Presence of a Holy God without the blood of Christ as a covering for your sin.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(1 John 5:16)

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(1 Peter 4:17)

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:15)

Another tension question is: Was Judas ever saved?

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:4-6)

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
(Luke 22:3)

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
(Romans 6:16)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(John 1:12)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
(John 8:44)

I would like to approach this with the full understanding that only God truly knows what was in Judas’s heart at all times, but let’s consider an answer that fits into both sides of the salvation debate. If Judas believed in Jesus at the beginning then he embraced salvation for a while, but sin began hardening his heart and thereby ended up becoming the son of perdition.

You see, sin leads you to lies, while obedience to God will lead you to the Truth. If believing God gives us the power to become children of God then it is seems that if we believe the lies of the devil you will be given the opportunity to have the Devil as your Father.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
(Philippians 2:12-15)

Sin in and of itself may not be able to cause me to lose my salvation, but it can have a deadly affect on my heart.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:10)

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.

Avoiding a Misunderstanding with God

It is so easy to get lost in debates about different belief systems, but I believe we all should approach the bible with a mentality that no doctrine should be able to stand until it has passed though the scrutiny of all scripture. We get into trouble most of the time, because we tend to want to use scripture that molds around what we believe instead of letting scripture be what molds are beliefs. We rarely question a doctrine that sounds logical and has scripture that seems to support its claims, but I believe Christians should approach all doctrine with the same attitude as the Bereans who where commended in the book of Acts.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(Acts 17:11)

That applies to my own beliefs as well as those presented to me by others. I would like to think that everything I believe is derived from the full council of God; unfortunately, I am plagued by the same limitation as everyone else. It is called ignorance. No matter how much we think we understand about God and His ways; God always has more he wants to reveal of Himself to us.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:10-14)

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(1 Corinthians 13:9)

We should never disregard the possibility that the part we have come to believe is actually in error. The best way to avoid a misunderstanding with God is to always be open to allow the bible to interpret itself.

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.

Misconceptions about Hell

The topic of Hell leaves a lot of room for speculation, but the Bible has enough information to answer the most important questions. In my quest to learn about this dreaded place of pain and hopelessness, I've come across some interesting misconceptions about hell. They aren't very far from the truth, but a misconception is a misconception.

1. Is hell an eternal destination?
Common answer is yes. The Bible's answer is No.

2. Hell was created for the Devil and his angels and not for Man.
Common census is that this statement is true. Bible seems to disagree.

3. Is the devil in charge of hell?
This is probably the hardest question to answer from the bible, but most Christians would say no. The main problem I have with that answer is that it is mostly derived from the previous misconceptions. I would be split between a yes and no answer based on what the bible has influenced me to believe.

Let's tackle the first misconception.

1. Is hell an eternal destination?

This one is an easy one to miss because people mix up Hell and the Lake of fire and don't realize that these are two different places. The lake of fire is the eternal destination for the lost. As a matter of fact, hell will be cast into the lake of fire in the end. Hell is just a holding place, for those who have rejected God's invitation to hang-out with Him and that are waiting for final judgment. There are several places in scripture that can validate this, but the follow scripture pretty much does it one swoop.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:13-15)

2. Hell was created for the devil and his angels and not for Man.

I believe the bible shows this to be a misconception. Besides, it seems have the same problem as the first misconception. This one is not as strait forward as the previous one, but I will show the scriptures that lead me to believe otherwise. The following verse is where this statement comes from, but I believe it is speaking about the lake of fire and not hell.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Matthew 25:41)

Since this seems to be speaking about the final judgment, I would say that the term "everlasting fire" is referring to the lake of fire. The Lake of Fire is what God has prepared for the devil and his angels not hell. So the question arises, who was hell created for? I believe that hell was created for man because of Adam's sin. There are several places in scripture that give this impression, but the following scripture is the one I picked to share because it states that hell enlarges itself to accommodate more people.

Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
(Isaiah 5:14)

3. Is the Devil in charge of hell?

The bible doesn't give a direct answer to this question that I know of, but I will share some of the scriptures that lead me to believe that the answer is both yes and no. First the devil is given the title "Prince of this World" more than once in the bible.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
(John 14:30)

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(Matthew 16:18)

Even though the devil has been given a lease on this world because of Adam's sin, you will notice throughout scripture that he is limited by what that position permits him to do on this earth. I believe it is the same with hell. Since scripture gives the location of hell as being located in the center of the earth, I believe it falls under the devil's jurisdiction. Yet, I also believe the devil is limited in hell the same way he is limited on earth and enjoys tormenting the souls in hell only based on how much they gave in to sin here on earth. Remember, hell is just a holding place for the lost.

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(Matthew 12:40)

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
(1 Peter 3:18-19)

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
(Philippians 2:10)

I believe that even though the devil has power and authority, it is was not originally given to him. I it was originally given to Adam, so the devil's authority is a stolen authority. But his time is coming to an end as you can perceive from the previous verse. Like I said before, these scriptures don't necessarily say that the devil is in charge of hell, but it may help to satisfy our curiosity. For most of us, if we want a more definite answer from God, we may have to wait until we leave this world.

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.

How can a Loving God Send People to Hell?

Considering no one would ever recommend hell after visiting, it is a sad thing to realize that the majority of the people that are alive today will find themselves destined to arrive there after they leave this world. While we are still alive, it's seems easy to say hell doesn't exist, because we are not directly affected by its existence.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

The significance of hell is hard to avoid when reading the bible, even though it is not a favorite topic for most churches. In my ponderings of the subject, I found that there were a few questions that people have asked about hell that made me want to dig further.

First and probably the most common question that one might hear: How could a loving God send someone to Hell? This question on the surface seems to have some weight, but if you hit it with a little common sense it starts to break down.

Think what would happen to our society if there were no laws. Laws seem to be important, so let’s keep them. Think what would happen if there were no consequences for breaking those laws. There would be no motivation to keep the Laws. In the end the question just seems to be an excuse to break God’s laws without fear of consequence.

I like the following question better: How does a loving God demonstrate His Love for those who are on their way to Hell?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

Another common question is: What about someone who never hears the gospel? This question bothers me because those who ask this question usually don’t really want an answer. It’s more like the Pharisees asking Jesus questions only to try and trap him in his words. They failed each time, but learned nothing. This question seems at first hard to answer, but only if you fall into the trap of the question. Only God can truly answer this question, because He alone has the right to bring eternal judgment on anyone. Never-the-less, God doesn’t leave us clueless.

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Romans 2:12-16

Questions can lead you to the Truth and questions can keep you from the Truth. It all depends on the intent of the heart.

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.

The Inspired Word of God

As I attempt to begin blogging, I believe it is best to lay down a foundational perspective that will always mold my opinions, my thoughts and my beliefs.

The 66 books of the bible are the inspired Word of God.

I have many reasons to believe this, like its own claim to its inspiration, the many fulfilled prophecies, its historical accuracy, its scientific accuracy or it's constant message, but what has convinced me the most is having a personal relationship with the author. The Truth found in the scriptures of the bible have had a life changing effect on my life. This has in turn giving me a great appreciation for God’s Word.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:27

Christ Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. I am filled with joy at every moment this revelation is made more and more clear to my heart and my soul. Scripture gives me an open invitation to grow in the knowledge of the One-and-Only true God and Creator of all things.

But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8

I believe I will close all my blogs with the following signature statement:

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.