Once Saved Always Saved?

Once Saved Always Saved?

I think most Christians understand the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes as the same thing. Maybe more than I think understand that the Sermon on the Mount includes all of Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7; which includes the Beatitudes.

This is important to understand because JESUS ends His teaching in these three chapters with, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the Rock:…But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand:…” Matthew 7:24-29 NKJV, emphasis mine. If you have been a Believer in JESUS for very long you know the results.

To me the important thing is how this relates to Matthew 7:15-21. Most of you who know me know that I believe that in Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus is talking about those who believe they are serving Jesus but are not. This morning as I was meditating on Hebrews 3 & 4 I thought of this passage and when I turned to it verses 15-20 jumped out to me. I do not know how I did not see that continuing thought until today. Here Jesus changes His teaching from how to live the life of a Believer (5:1-7:14) to a warning about those who are false teachers and prophets and the result of believing their lies and falsehoods (7:15-29).

I have heard the arguments for and against “Once saved always saved.” for the whole 45 years I have been a believer. Like most controversial issues both sides sound reasonable and correct, but being wrong will result in devastating consequences. A few years ago as I repented of my backsliding and started to truly seek JESUS as my LORD Matthew 7:21-23 scared me and I started believing that once saved always saved is not a true doctrine of GOD’s eternal Kingdom.

Today as I was meditating on Hebrews 3 & 4 in the Complete Jewish Bible, I was struck by the inference that the Jewish Messianic teacher was making to his Jewish Messianic audience; he is talking about the rest GOD has for His people and how those who were set free from the bondage of Egypt did not enter into that rest even though it was promised to them. They did not enter into the promised rest in the Promised Land because of their lack of trust (lack of faith) in GOD and His servants Moses and Aaron and their lawlessness (disobedience and complaining).

So they spent 40 years in the wilderness dying and going to Sheol (hell), some went to lower Sheol where there was no redemption; they were not saved just because they were GOD’s chosen people (Luke 16:19-31)!

So the writer of Hebrews is teaching all Messianic Believers that to enter into the Rest of GOD we have to not be like those to whom it was promised but did not get it. This is the same admonition that Paul is giving in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

These three passages tell me that salvation can be lost or never had because the person believing believes false teaching that leave them outside of GOD’s Kingdom. When JESUS is teaching His disciples He repeatedly tells them to be ready, to be watchful for they do not know when He will return and if they are not prepared they will be locked out (like 5 of the 10 virgins Matthew 25:1-13) or in sin they will be cast out (like those in Matthew 25:31-46), Actually the whole chapter of Matthew 25 shows that those who believe can be cast out of His Kingdom.

When JESUS was talking to those who did not believe He taught in parables but when He was teaching His disciples He spoke so that they would understand. In Matthew 12 and Luke 10 Jesus is talking to the disciples and He tells them to not fear what men can do to them, even if they kill them; but rather to fear GOD would can destroy both body and soul in hell! Paul says that he knows that when he dies he will be with the LORD and at other times language that implies that he is still striving for salvation. In Philippians Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; why if it is a free gift from GOD; because it is not a gift to put in the closet and then display when the giver arrives for a visit.

All the Apostles teach us to rejoice in our sufferings and trials for our faith (which JESUS told us we would have) for the perfecting of our faith (trust and salvation).

I am sad to say and GOD is sad in knowing that many who call themselves Christians are not saved. They are not working out their salvation with fear and trembling, they are not laying down their life for JESUS’ life, they are not walking on the straight and narrow path, they are not taking up their cross daily and following Him, they are not knowing Him in the fellowship of His suffering and being conformed to His death by the Power of His resurrection.

In Colossians and other letters Paul warns us to avoid specious arguments, philosophy, empty deceit, human tradition, elemental spirits, self-mortification and angel worship. How do we do that? By reading, studying and meditating on GOD’s Word (the Bible) to Humanity and asking His Spirit (Holy Spirit) to teach us and remind us of everything that JESUS said.

“In other words, you, who at one time were separated from GOD and had a hostile attitude towards Him because of your wicked deeds, He has now reconciled in the Son’s physical body through His death, in order to present you holy and without defect or reproach before Himself – provided, of course, that you continue in your trusting (faith), grounded and steady, and don’t let your selves be moved away from the hope offered in the Good News you heard. This is the Good News that has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven; and I Sha’ul (Paul), have become a servant of it.” Colossians 1:21-23 CJB emphasis mine.

AMEN!