2 Pet 2:21 “For it had been BETTER for them NOT to have KNOWN the WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, than, after they have KNOWN it, to TURN FROM the HOLY COMMANDMENT delivered unto them.”
On the topic of Once Saved, Always Saved, I would like to state that all we can offer for a debate on this issue is what is clearly laid out for us ALL in scripture. We will attempt to stay only on what we believe to be the obvious interpretation of scripture on the matter and not twist or manipulate words to try to force our view. If you ask us if the teaching of “Once saved, Always Saved,” is a biblical concept, the very first scriptures that pop to mind are:
Ex 32:32–34 “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.”
Deut 9:13–14 “Furthermore, the LORD spoke to, saying, I have seen this people, and Behold, they are a stiffnecked people: Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make thee a nation mightier and greater than they.”
Deut 29:17-20 “The LORD will not spare him, but in the anger of the LORD and HIS jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.”
Psalm 69:28“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”
Let’s take a closer look at this word “blot.” In Hebrew it is “machah” and in Greek it is “exaleipho” and both are translated as “to destroy, to blot, to wipe, to wipe away, to wipe out.”
(We would like to point out that a name couldn’t be blotted out if wasn’t written there to begin with)
So starting off right here with these scriptures, the obvious conclusion is: You CAN have your name blotted out of The BOOK of LIFE.
Then you might begin to argue, “These scriptures are awfully Old Testament and may not even apply to the Book of Life,” to which we would reply: In Revelation 3:4–6 this blotting out sentiment still resinates loud and clear when Jesus HIMSELF is speaking to the Church of Sardis:
Rev 3:2–6 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments; and they shall walk with ME in white: FOR THEY WALK WORTHY. He that overcometh, THEY shall be clothed in white raiment; and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE. I will confess his name before my Father and before the angels.”
So, how can the LORD blot out your name if you believe that once it is written, it cannot be removed?
Based on the testimony of scripture it might just be possible that the teaching of “Once Saved, Always Saved” is a doctrine of demons intended to keep us complacent in our walk with Christ, and the perfect pacifier for our flesh. This type of thinking tells us that we can live anyway we want and still enter into the promises of God.
Just because we confess Him as Lord, does not mean we have made Him our Lord. Our fruits prove this and they will be tested…
“You must bring forth fruit worthy of repentance,” said John the Baptist in Matt 3:8 and Luke 3:8 to men that were relying on the promise given by God unto Abraham. The promise that his seed would forever be blessed. John said that it wasn’t enough for them to just be a natural seed, and so claim the promise of their inheritance, they were required to take root and bring forth fruits that were worthy of repentance.
Luke 3:8–9 “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {worthy of: or, meet for} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance? Let’s ponder what that might mean based on scripture:
Matt 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Matt 7:21–23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of iniquity.”
Luke 6:46 “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?”
(This shows Jesus speaking to a person that calls Him Lord, but doesn’t agree enough with Him to actually do what He says)
How could the people in Matt 7:21 and Luke 6:46 after walking in the gifts of God fail to enter into the Kingdom? Jesus said that although they showed outward displays of power they had not become acquainted with the true power of walking in relationship with HIM. How could they have been deceived enough by their outward demonstration of power to actually try and reason with Jesus for their entry into the Kingdom? It is possible they believed, “once saved, always saved” and continued to live a life that didn’t reflect Christ at all, and kept right on believing that God had qualified them due to their spiritual abilities. God’s gifting and His calling are without repentance, that means that you can operate in them whether you choose to serve God with them or not. Saul was still able to prophesy after God had utterly rejected him, so don’t be deceived by those that appear exceptionally anointed in the gifts. It in NO WAY is a gauge to the relationship that they walk in with God. The Bible says that the fruits of wickedness are obvious and we were NOT to overlook them.
1 John 2:6 “He who says he abides in HIM ought to himself walk just as HE walked.”
1 John 2:3 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says he knows Him and DOES NOT keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Luke 13:23–27 “Then said one unto Him, “Lord, are there few that will be saved?” And He said unto them, “Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able to. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open unto us,” and He shall answer and say unto you, “I know you NOT, or why you came?” Then shall you begin to say, “we have eaten and drank in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. But He shall say, “I tell you, I know you NOT; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.”
Matt 5:20 “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
James 5:19–20 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
This scripture clearly shows that James is referring to a brother in the truth and not an unbeliever, and gives all followers of the truth the mandate to inform the one who converts the erroneous brother back to the truth, “that he has saved a soul from DEATH, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
2 Tim 2:19–21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are HIS. Everyone that nameth the name of Christ MUST DEPART FROM INIQUITY. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.”
Rom 11:19–20 “You will say then “branches were broken off that I might be grafted in,” Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you so stand by faith. DO NOT be haughty, but FEAR , for if God did not spare the natural branches, He might NOT SPARE YOU EITHER. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
But wait a minute? Fear? Cut off? Can one fall from grace?
2 Pet 3:17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard not to be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
Heb 12:14–17 “Follow after peace with all men, and holiness, without it NO MAN shall see the Lord: Look diligently, lest any man FALL FROM THE GRACE OF GOD; lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and by it many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know that afterwards, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Heb 10:26 “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
Heb 6:4–6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come; if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and cause His work to be shamed.”
Fall away? What does that mean?
2 Thess 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
Falling away from what? The Grace of God, like it says above in Heb 12:15
Matt 24:13; Mark 13:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
What is all this enduring the bible speaks of 2 Tim 2:3–4? “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
Mark 4:17–19 “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are caused to fall into sin. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
Why does Paul say in Phil 2:12 “We need to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling?”
Paul says in Heb 5:13 “A new convert is not familiar with the teachings of righteousness.” However, in Eph 4:15 he says as followers of the truth in Christ; we are given a mandate to GROW UP in our salvation. Those who continually ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit into a grown up life of righteousness (which really has to do with walking to the best of your ability in agreement with how you believe) will soon become callus and will no longer be able to hear His leading.
Eph 4:14–15 “That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ.”
There is also this scripture that is very telling on this topic of once saved, always saved:
Rev 2:14–22 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot , I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
So, how can you be spewed or blotted out if this teaching is true? Remember Jesus was speaking to the CHURCH of Laodicea. He was speaking to lukewarm believers and not to unbelievers.
Let’s take a look at this scripture in Revelation 3 again.
Rev 3:4–6 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments; and they shall walk with ME in white: FOR THEY WALK WORTHY. He that overcometh; THEY shall be clothed in white raiment; and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE.”
Why will He NOT blot out their names? Because they walked worthy. How? They didn’t defile their garments. How did they avoid defiling their garments? By living a life that lined up with what they said they believed (their testimony). What do these garments they washed represent? Our garments are the representation of our relationship with Jesus.
A perfect example of garments being the testimony of our association with Jesus, is in Matt 22:11–14 where the King invites everyone to a wedding banquet, but once the King comes to inspect the guests, He sees someone among the invited guests that is NOT wearing wedding clothes. The King asks them: WHY ARE YOU NOT WEARING WEDDING CLOTHES? The improperly clad guest is speechless because he knows he is without excuse and gets kicked out to where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. All because they were not wearing wedding clothes?? Harsh! Wonder what those clothes must have represented? I believe it is safe to assume they represent our association and relationship with Jesus. Like verse 14 of this story says “many are called, but few are chosen.”
Let’s take a look at these final scriptures:
Rev 12:10–11 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Revelations 7:14 “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes (garments), and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Who are they that came out of the great tribulation? Those that have washed their robes (garments), and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. When did they make them white? During the GREAT TRIBULATION. How did they wash them and make them white in the blood of the Lamb? By OVERCOMING like Rev 3 says about the church of Sardis and Rev 12 says about those that will overcome the accuser of the brethren during the great tribulation. How did they overcome you may ask? Rev 12:11 “By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
So, by not loving their lives unto death, they demonstrated the word of their testimony.
This is why we believe it says this in these scriptures:
Rev 13:10 “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”
Matt 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
James 1:12 “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
It’s not enough to confess Jesus with our mouth; our walk and our lifestyle must line up with our confession when HE returns or we will be forced to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak. ‘The final demonstration of our confession and the only way to wash a dirty robe white in the blood of the Lamb is to love not our life unto death.
In other words be willing to give our life for what we say we believe.
We believe this walk of faith in Christ is very much a training ground. If we are not willing to lay our lives down NOW for the things we say we believe, how will we EVER be willing to lay our lives down when the greatest and final deception ever concocted by the devil is being presented before us?
1 Cor 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Prov 27:19 “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Please pray and read thoroughly through every scripture presented. Wisdom is found in the council of the wise. Let us ALL work out our own salvation in fear and trembling and pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide the word of TRUTH.
God Bless! Be Free and Set Free!
Red Letter Publications 