The arguments and defenses for this doctrine are philosophical, not Biblical.
Those who hold to this doctrine assume that, those who reject this teaching, hold to a salvation by works doctrine. This is not always true. Actually, the scriptures disproves both of these teachings!
It is not an "oxymoron" to believe we're saved by grace through faith, and not a "salvation by works" doctrine while rejecting the "once saved always saved doctrine." The scripture simply doesn't teach we're saved by works, nor does it teach the osas doctrine!! This is what it does say concerning the relationship between works and faith: "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James 2:14
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. vs 16-17
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? vs20
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? vs22
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. vs24
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." vs26
It's amazing to me how so many "teachers" selectively use scriptures 'they like' to prove their false doctrines, and ignore other ones that show them in error! It's amazing how James in the context of faith and works is completely ignored by those who promote the osas, & other men pleasing doctrines that teach "all you have to do is live out your life the best way you can & your guaranteed security in Christ!"
The Holy Spirit in James is saying that good works are a by-product of faith!! Faith is a continuous action verb that requires diligent effort of maintaining!! Whether it be enduring trials, temptation, burdens, etc, it requires that we constantly walk in it, not a one time profession of it!!
Carnality and counterfeit Christianity are by-products of false doctrines i.e the OSAS teaching!!
This doctrine encourages & justifies carnality, & gives a false sense of security to those who are not truly sold out for Christ!!! And though we're not perfect, and make mistakes, the salvation obtained through faith by a personal relationship with Christ out of a heart of repentance will demonstrate it's authenticity by it's fruits or works!! ( I repeat:) THIS IS NOT A "SAVED BY WORKS" SALVATION!! We're not saved by good deeds or works. But, the scripture does teach that true followers of Christ will have them!! They are merely the proof of our committment to Christ that we have obtained grace through faith!! Counterfeit christians can't produce them(authentically)!! They can display a form of godliness that look a lot like them, but their essence and fruit gives them away!! They draw huge followings, and are the blind leaders of the blind!! The fruit of their ways are the works of the flesh!! They mock, speak evil of, and ridicule the true servants of Christ hoping to add burdens amongst brethren!!
Christ's Love displayed on the cross paying the ransom for our sins, and us obtaining salvation through a personal relationship with him does not negate our responsibility to maintain good works after salvation as instructed by Apostle Paul in Titus 3:8 & 14.
Important to note: Whenever there's an understanding or interpretation of scripture that's not consistent with other scriptures dealing with the same or similar subject matter, we must examine all of scripture in light of other scripture to fully get what's going on with that issue; lest we make God a liar, and make him to contradict himself, by our injecting our own meaning into scripture to prove a pre-conceived doctrine. Thus, explaining away biblical context, ignoring God's wisdom and instruction, and building philosophical arguments base on a sum of parts, and not a sum of the whole.
I hear ministers and teachers all the time imply that those who reject this "OSAS" belief are basically believing that Jesus's death on the cross was not sufficient for our salvation; which ties back to this assumption of salvation by works belief that. though some teach it in conjunction with keeping the old testament law, it is not now, nor has it ever been my interpretation of scripture! I believe scripture teaches good works and fruit will follow salvation if we're obedient and stedfast. If we're not,we can be led astray & deceived through a hardened heart of unbelief and fall away...like the scripture teaches!!
You're not saved by keeping the old testament law or by doing good deeds. Your also not saved because you went down the isle when you were 8 years old or, repeated a vain repetitious prayer with no change in lifestyle, or evidence of Godly fruit , and think that you're eternally secure; and that you don't have to do anything to work out your own salvation as stated in Philippians 2:12 (God working in you to want to), thinking you can never fall away-despite the fact that 2thesolonians 2:3 warns of the coming falling away.
1st Timothy 4:1 also warns: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" It means what it says, not what we want it to!
We need to endure & stay strong, and encourage one another in the faith that we may have joy in rejoicing while bearing good fruit. But, we must also warn with fear that we don't fall after the same example of those with unbelief which happened to some through provocations, deceitfulness of riches, pride of life, doctrines of demons, and lust of other things becoming reprobate!
We are encouraged to fight the good fight of faith. This is a continuous action that requires will and effort on our part to abide in faith and truth. We're also encouraged to endure to the end: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13
It's amazing how some of the same people that subscribe to the "osas" doctrine, believe we have a free will prior to salvation, but then believe God takes away our free will to turn away from him, or believe no matter what we do, we could never fall short of our portion of the promise given to those who endure to the end---scripture does not teach this!!
NOTE: I'll deal with the "predestination doctrine" in another post...which also ignores a lot of scriptures and takes others out of context. The unlearned use this doctrine to defend the "osas" heresy also!!
To endure in something is like running a race through to the end without being distracted by obstacles in the way, or yielding to fatigue and giving up. Scripture makes it very clear that man has been giving a free will to choose whether or not to serve God. Non believers must make a choice to receive the fullness of God's grace and the free gift of salvation to be saved. Believers must choose to remain steadfast and abiding in God's grace, having received the free gift of salvation, and not going back under the law. to fall from grace. Galatians 5:4
OTHER SCRIPTURES THE OSAS PEOPLE TRY, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN AWAY
IMPORTANT NOTE: The book of Hebrews (like all the new testament scriptures) apply to all believers & all non-believers of today as well as it's original audience. That's why it's a part of the Inspired text!! The new testament never implies that certain passages are not meant for certain believers to not regard it's blessings, warnings, redemptions, and punishments!! Only man-made doctrines surmises this through historical and philosophical reasoning! The Bible is man's 'how to' manual of life! The only part that no longer apply (in the letter of it) is the old testament Law and all it's ordinances.
Scriptures that often get ignored or explained away out of content by the "OSAS" people are found in Hebrews 3,4,6. Where the author, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives an example of, and warns against one's heart being hardened unto unbelief and not entering into God's rest. This was a warning to the brethren: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Heb 3:12
God doesn't issue idle threats, nor does he issue idle warnings through the mouths of his servants by the power of his Spirit! If God is warning against something, it's because it can happen, and most likely is happening!! We either heed and obey the warning, or turn away and rebel against it!
Many of "OSAS" people use Ephesians 1:13 as a defense for their teachings. But, Hebrews 4 tells us to labor to enter into God's rest and not become hardened in our hearts unto unbelief, lest we should fall short of that promise left for us: "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."......"Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Heb 4:1 & 4:11 (also read the whole chapter)
The body is sealed, but we have to abide and be steadfast and labor to remain part of that body through obedience, lest we fall away and forfeit our portion in the promise given to the body!!
Another argument is that if you turn away from believing in Jesus and his word, you were never truley saved in the first place. The problem with this logic is that, like explained earlier, it ignores all scriptures where he's talking to the brethren, warning them about falling away: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Heb 6:4-6
You're not made a partaker of the Holy Ghost if you're not an authentic believer!!
Brethren in scripture denotes community of believers in the faith, followers or disciples of Christ, Christian, or Saint etc to that extent! It does not denote NON BELIEVER or non-christian!
Rightly dividing God's word is essential for sound teaching and sound living; and this is why it is necessary to reprove the "OSAS" fallacy as well as other heresies that affect how we live as Chrstians, how we define grace, and how we interpret God's word for the maintaining of good works/fruit: ".......that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." Titus 3:8
Jude 1:6 even tells us this: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
Now if the angels, who God created as ministering spirits, had a free will to walk away & leave their first estate because of satan's decepttion, so too, can we turn and walk away if we don't heed the warnings, and be steadfast in the faith.
We must always be stedfast: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1st Corinthians 15:58
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, BEWARE lest YE ALSO, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 2Peter 3:17
Saints, be confident in the fact that God can keep you (if you're willing to be kept). He's long-suffering and is not willing that any should perish! That being true, he also doesn't take away our ability to choose to live for, or rebel against him.
No man can pluck us out of his hand, but we do have the free will to walk away from it!!
Being careful to maintain good works is not salvation by works!! We are saved by Grace through Faith and not of works. Scripture also says faith without works is dead! Your works are the fruit you produce after salvation based on your faith identifying you as an authentic believer and follower of Christ.
Remember the WARNING: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Heb 3:12
God never warns in vain!! And if those whom he is warning are not saved or authentic, what is he warning against departing from? And who are these people who can partake in the Holy Spirit without being saved?
This warning is for Saints; and this is why we're told to BE YE STEDFAST!! Accumulation of scripture is clear on this!
Philosophical and emotional interpolation of scripture does not supersede the wisdom and truth of Biblical text!
The purpose of this reproof is not meant for dispute or contention, but for correction!!
We are instructed to: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2tim 4:2-3
Let us endure and grow sound in the faith: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." Heb 6:1-3
It's Time for MEAT SAINTS: " For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Heb 5:12-14
IF ANY MAN HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR!!
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