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Are You Saved?

"For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends."
2Corinthians 10:18

Some non-Catholics teach that all you have to do to achieve salvation is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and your salvation is assured in this life. You only have to make a once in a lifetime commitment and no matter what you do for the rest of your life, you can be certain that you will go to Heaven when you die. Once you do this, it is an impossibility that you will ever lose your salvation. That train of thought, however, is not Biblical, and in reality it is a sin of presumption. Jesus did not die just so we could sin. Let us examine Holy Scripture and see what it has to say. "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that GOD has raised Him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9 "For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 This is what St. Paul said. Some non-Catholics use these two verses, taken completely out of context, to try to provide justification for their false, man made, "Once saved, always saved" belief. A text without a context is only a pretext. If they would only read further on in the same chapter they would clearly see the context of Romans 10:9 and 13, and the fallacy of this false belief: Romans 10:14 "But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?" In this verse we see that in order to properly hear the word of GOD so that they may believe, there is a condition attached. They cannot "believe in Him" unless they have heard it, and have heard it from a preacher. Does that verse mean any preacher, even a false one (2Cor 11:12-15)? No, definitely not, for Holy Scripture teaches that it could not be just any preacher, but only a preacher who is sent by GOD. The very next verse will teach us this.

Romans 10:15, And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written (Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 1:15*), "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" (Please note that "good news" is the meaning of the word "Gospel".) "And how can men preach unless they are sent?" Sent? If anyone has been sent, then it stands to reason that "someone" had to do the sending. Isn't that true? By simple deduction, and by common sense, the question must be asked that they who were sent then, were sent by whom? In this verse we can see and hear the death knell of the "Once saved, always saved" false belief. The word for "sent", as used in the Greek language of which the book of Romans was written, is apostello. Doesn't that sound like another Biblical word for which we are all familiar? Apostello means to send out properly on a mission. From apostello we get the Greek word "apostolos", meaning "Apostle". The Greek word "Apostolos" means "he who is sent". So who are the "they" who are those sent, and by whom are "they" sent? The same Greek word, apostello, is used by Jesus Christ when He spoke to His "Apostolos" in John 20:21: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." It is obvious that those who are sent (apostello) by GOD are also given authority by Jesus Christ who is GOD. That authority was delegated to the Apostles alone by Jesus Christ. Romans 10:15 had said, "And how can men preach unless they are sent?". I must ask, "Sent by whom and with what authority?" "And He appointed twelve, to be with Him, and to be sent out to preach..." Mark 3:14 So, those who are sent, are sent with the authority given to them by GOD. Consequently, the only persons authorized to preach are the Apostles, and those who followed them in a long line of succession, the office of the Bishops (Psalms 109:8, Acts 1:20). This was said by Saint Paul: "So, if I brag a little too much about the authority which the Lord gave us, I'm not ashamed. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you." 2Corinthians 10:8 In addition there were a few others mentioned in Scripture who were appointed directly by the Lord such as the seventy who were sent in Luke 10:1. There is another Greek word for sent, and it is pempo. Pempo is used in verses where sent means not sent with the authority of GOD, such as in Matthew 14:10. Non-Catholic preachers and ministers will have a hard time proving that they were sent

by the authority of GOD since they are not in the line of succession going all the way back to the Apostles. So by what authority do these men preach? "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment." Romans 13:1-2 None of those non-Catholic preachers and ministers can claim that they have GOD given pastoral authority, since it would be at most only a private revelation if that, and not a public one, so how could anyone "prove" that their claim to "GOD gave me the authority" is to be believed? Anyone can utter the excuse that "GOD told me". History is replete with heretics, criminals, dictators, and despots who used that term as their supposed justification for their evil deeds. In Luke 10:16, Jesus said, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." That verse is a verse of authority and it is a verse of infallibility as well. It is a verse also of obedience for those who were sent. Now there are well over 39,000 sects of diverse denominations that call themselves Christian, each with at least one preacher and all of them are preaching something different from one another. So, given the fact that there can be only one truth and with obedience to only one authority, which one of those tens of thousands is the model of obedience and has the authority and infallibility given to him or her by Jesus Christ? Which one of the tens of thousands of them could lay claim to Luke 10:16? "...and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." What else could this part of Luke 10:16 mean other than to be applied to those who reject the teaching of His "Apostolos" and their successors through the one Church which He founded? Here is another verse with a similarity to Luke 10:16: "We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." 1John 4:6 Now that we have taken Romans 10:9-15 in context, it is clear that verse 15 negates any thought of "Once saved, always saved" as being a foregone conclusion. But that is not all, as there is more which negates the false belief of, "Once saved, always saved" in Romans 10: Romans 10:16, But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" How can anyone obey the Gospel when they are preached to by someone who is not sent? And just who are "us"? "Us" are those who are sent with the authority of GOD.

Romans 10:17, "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ." So from where does "the preaching of Christ" in absolute truth come? Again, it is from those who are sent with the authority to do so given to them by GOD. Authority from GOD is the only guarantee for those sent, of preaching only one truth, and with only one authority. It is the lack of the authority from GOD that has created the tens of thousands of sects of diverse denominations that we see today, with all of them preaching their own individual interpretation of Scripture. Theirs is nothing more than personal opinionated preaching. Truth stands alone. It comes from Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" in John 14:6. Truth is not dependent upon private opinions. Jesus Christ said that he cares not for the opinions of men, Mark 12:14. Therefore the opinions of mankind have no bearing whatsoever on doctrinal truth. Romans 10:18, "But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." Whose voice "has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world"? Again, it is those who are sent, the Apostles and their successors whose words have gone out to all the earth and to the ends of the world as commanded by Jesus Christ Himself to the Apostles in: Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." And in: Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." From what I have presented here for Romans 10, it is to be a lesson learned that no one should ever take a verse or two out of context in order to promote a false belief. It is impossible for anyone to write a text of which any person could take a line or two out of context and twist it to mean something entirely different from what the author had intended. By taking verses out of context, a true statement could easily be transformed into something other than the truth.

Jesus Christ Himself said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven shall enter the

kingdom of heaven." Matthew 7:21 "And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, 'Though the number of Israelites were like the sand of the sea, ONLY A REMNANT WILL BE SAVED...'" Romans 9:27 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to GOD on THEIR behalf is for salvation. I testify with regard to them that they have zeal for GOD, but it is NOT DISCERNING. For I bear them witness that they have zeal for GOD, but not according to knowledge; for, ignorant of the justice of GOD and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the justice of GOD. For Christ is the consummation of the law unto justice for everyone who believes." Romans 10:1-4 St. Paul clearly said that only a remnant of the Jewish nation will be saved, since they have not rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In these verses he addressed the Judaizers who were still clinging to the Old Covenant Jewish traditions. However, Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:21, had spoken to all of us, and He clearly stated that we have to do the will of the Father. Doing something requires effort, or work. That work is keeping the commandments. Those who do not keep the commandments will not enter heaven. Does this sound like "Once saved, always saved to you?" Jesus Christ redeemed us and provided for our salvation. The Gates of Heaven were opened, but not one of us can just 'walk in' and claim residency without obeying the will of the Father.

Another verse which they use to try to support the "Are you Saved" misnomer, is John 10:28. "And I give them everlasting life; and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." See also John 6:37, "And him who comes to Me I will not cast out." Both of those verses indicate that Jesus Christ will be loyal to us and will never cast us out. However, He left open the fact that we could simply jump out of His hand and walk away from Him by not keeping His Word. Here is yet another verse used by those who say they are forever "saved". "For GOD so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son, that those who believe in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting." John 3:16 It seems at first glance from that verse, that all one has to do is to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. Again, when the verse is understood from the original Greek text, this is not the case at all. When the underlying Greek wording is analyzed, their argument is lopped off from the vine as yet another fruitless branch would be.

The Greek word used here for "believe", is "Pisteuvw", or when transliterated into English is "Pisteuo". This Greek word means, to believe, to rely on, and to "obey". To "obey" involves works, which means we must bear good fruit. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49 Those are powerful verses against "once saved always saved". Let us shine a bright light upon them. Non-Catholics believe that all we have to do is to hear His words and accept them and they are saved. However, Jesus said not only do we have to hear His words, but we have to DO WHAT HE TELLS US. Here is only one example out of many, a case in point: Jesus said in John 10:16, "...and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." And in John 17:21, "...that all may be one." In those two verses are just a single example out of many that I could list. That being said, I must ask, "Since there are now some 39,000 sects of diverse denominations (folds) in the world today, how can any one of them claim that they obey the words of Jesus when He commanded that we must be one?" If they do not obey His words, then Scripture has clearly conveyed to them the fact that their house is built without a foundation and that it will fall. 39,000 sects in existence now is proof enough that those words of Jesus have come true. If those verses of Luke 6:46-49 are ignored by the tens of thousands of sects, then the following verse has to be ignored by them as well: "Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand;..."" Matt 12:25 United we stand. Divided we fall. You could be a branch attached to the vine, but just who is the vine dresser? "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit He will take away; and every branch that bears fruit He will cleanse, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:1-2 "For all of us must be made manifest before the tribunal of Christ, so that each one may receive what he has won through the body, according to his works, whether good or evil."

2Cor 5:10 See Matthew 22:8-14, the parable of the marriage feast. The one who was not dressed properly was cast into the darkness outside where there was weeping and the gnashing of teeth. In Matthew 25:1-13 is the parable of the ten virgins. Five were not prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom (Christ) and were shut out of the marriage feast. Then there is another parable which applies to our topic. In Matthew 13:47-50, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a net cast into the sea and gathers fish of every kind, both good and bad. The good fish are saved, but what happens to the bad ones in verses 49-50? They are cast into the furnace of fire where again there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth. All of the fish were gathered into the net, but were all of them saved from the furnace of fire? Read about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46. You probably have already noticed that both believed, but did you also notice that only one worked? What was the final end of those who did no works? See verses 45-46. Since the goats believed, why then were they not saved also? See, you may think you are "saved", but a fruitless person is cut off. Now you can readily see that salvation depends upon each one of us and on our individual fruitful actions in a very important way.

Nothing defiled may enter the kingdom of heaven. "And there shall not enter into it (heaven) anything defiled, nor he who practices abomination and falsehood, but only those who are written in the book of life of the Lamb." Revelation 21:27 Does this sound like "Once saved, always saved?" The people who fit this verse are not following the will of GOD, the Ten Commandments. "He who overcomes shall possess these things, and I will be his GOD, and he shall be my son. But as for the cowardly and unbelieving, and abominable and murderers, and fornicators and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars, their portion shall be in the pool that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:7-8 Does this sound like "Once saved, always saved?" Where do liars spend all eternity even if they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but fail to work out their salvation by keeping the Ten Commandments? Are not "Thou shalt not lie", and "Thou shalt not kill" two of the Ten Commandments?

According to the "Once saved, always saved" group of believers, you can sin as much as you want after accepting Jesus Christ and your salvation is guaranteed, regardless. "Why do you ask me what is good? One there who is good, and he is GOD. But if you will enter into life, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS." "Which commandments?" the man asked. Jesus said, "Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as you love yourself." Matthew 19:17-19 These verses clearly have said that if we do not obey the commandments, we will not have (eternal) life. So if a person who thinks he is "saved", and then lies or commits adultery, how then does he reconcile his actions with Matthew 19:17-19 and Revelation 21:7-8 and 21:27? Jesus did cure the infirmed man at the pool in John 5:1-9, and later He told him in verse 14, "See, you are well! SIN NO MORE, THAT NOTHING WORSE BEFALL YOU." Does that sound like, "once saved, always saved"? Here is yet another example, the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-10. Jesus had prevented her from being stoned to death, and in verse 11 He said, "Neither do I condemn you; GO, AND DO NOT SIN AGAIN." Again, Jesus cautioned, not to sin again. What is the message from these two examples from John 5 and 8? What if both sinned again? In the first case it would seem that indeed, SOMETHING WORSE WOULD BEFALL THE MAN and in the second case it would be a clear disobedience by the woman to a direct command of Jesus. I repeat, does that sound like, "once saved, always saved"? No way! "Here is the patience of the Saints, who keep the commandments of GOD, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12 If we are "saved" already then what is the purpose of having to obey the commandments?

So, can we truthfully say that we are saved? If we co-operate with the commands of GOD, we can have hope that we will be saved. However, we cannot assume, as some non-Catholics believe, that it is a one sided process completed by Jesus Christ alone. He did His part, now it is up to each one of us to do our part by our co-operation with His unlimited sacrifice on the cross. How can anyone reconcile the false man made doctrine of "once saved, always saved"

when Holy Scripture clearly tells us to, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."? Phil 2:12 Nevertheless, Catholics realize that even the fulfilling of Our Lord's requirements for salvation is impossible without the free gift of His grace.

Salvation is an ongoing process throughout our lives. It is a life-long struggle as this verse, mentioned earlier, tells us: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Phil 2:12 This verse is in direct conflict with the notion of "Once saved, always saved". Since salvation is an on going life-long process: We were saved in the past: Rom 5:1-2,8:24, Eph 2:5-8, 2Tim 1:9, Tit 3:5. We are being saved now: Rom 5:9-10, 1Cor 1:18,15:2, 2Cor 2:15, Phil 2:12, 1Pet 1:89,2:1-2. We will be saved in the future: Mt 10:22,24:13, Rom 13:11, 1Cor 3:12-15,5:5, 2Tim 2:11-13, Rev 21:6-7.

We can lose our salvation: Those who believe "Once saved, always saved", assume (presumption?) that they are written in the "Book of Life" (Dan 12:1) in red indelible ink, and cannot ever be removed from it no matter how much they sin. How then could they ever explain Ex 32:33: "The Lord answered, 'Him only who has sinned against Me will I strike out of My book'"? Even St. Paul admitted that he could lose his salvation: "...but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps after preaching to others I myself should be rejected." 1Cor 9:27 Then there is Rom 11:22, "See, then, the goodness and the severity of GOD: His severity towards those who have fallen, but the goodness of GOD towards you if you abide in His goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off." "I have confidence in you the Lord, that you will not think otherwise; but he who disturbs you will bear the penalty, whoever he may be." Gal 5:10

"But that servant who knew his masters will, and did not make ready for him and did not act according to his will, will be beaten with many stripes." Luke 12:47 "You therefore, brethren, since you know this beforehand, be on your guard lest, carried away by the error of the foolish, you fall away from your own steadfastness." 2Pet 3:17 Is this "once saved, always saved"? Well then, what about those who fall into this trap? Refer to John 10:28 earlier in this post where I said we can simply jump out of His hand and walk away from Him. Who are those who gloss over these verses and present a blind eye to them? "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are immorality, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, jealousies, anger, quarrels, factions, parties, envies, murders, drunkenness, carousings, and suchlike. AND CONCERNING THESE I WARN YOU, AS I HAVE WARNED YOU, THAT THEY WHO DO SUCH THINGS WILL NOT ATTAIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD." Gal 5:19-21 Again, does this sound like "Once saved, always saved"? Who can ignore Matt 25:31-46, where the shepherd will separate the sheep from the goats and the righteous will receive their reward but the accursed will depart into the everlasting fire? See also, Matt 6:14-15, 7:21, 24:44-51, Mark 11:26, Luke 10:16, John 14:21, Rom 11:22, and Rev 21:8.

Perseverance in doing the will of the Father: This virtue will bring us to our goal: "...but he who has persevered to the end will be saved." Matt 10:22, 24:13 Notice that these verses do not say that we are saved but that we will be saved...future tense. What does "persevered" mean? Why should anyone have to worry about perseverance if they are already saved? "Life eternal indeed he will give to those who by patience in good works seek glory and honor and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are contentious, and who do not submit to the truth but assent to iniquity." Rom 2:7-8 "And in doing good, let us not grow tired; for in due time we shall reap if we do not relax." Gal 6:9 "Do not therefore, lose your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need

"Do not therefore, lose your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of patience that, doing the will of GOD, you may receive the promise:" Heb 10:35-36 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life which GOD has promised to those who love Him." Jam 1:12 "But he who has looked carefully into the perfect law of liberty and has remained in it, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, shall be blessed in his deed." Jam 1:25 "Take, brethren, as an example of labor and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord." Jam 5:10 "Therefore, brethren, strive even more by good works to make your calling and election sure. For if you do this, you will not fall into sin at any time. Indeed, in this way will be amply provided for you the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ." 2Pet 1:10-11 Well, this verse makes it clear that you need good works to help you to your salvation. "Once saved, always saved" does not look so promising anymore, does it? "Him who overcomes I will permit to eat of the tree of life, which is the paradise of my GOD." Rev 2:7 "Fear none of those things that you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be you faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev 2:10 "And to him who overcomes, and who keeps My works unto the end, I will give authority over the nations." Rev 2:26 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1Cor 10:12 Let us take this verse in context so we all know the truth of what St. Paul has said here: Starting with 1Cor 10:1-4, all were believers and thought they were going to be saved. In verses 5-10 some were lost for various reasons due to sin (surprise!!!). Verse 11 is a warning for those today who proclaim that they are saved. The end of ages points to today as well. Verse 12, those who think they stand (are saved) are liable to fall. Let us now back up to verse 9, "We must not put the Lord to the test...". Aren't we putting GOD to the test when we claim that we are saved? Now we must read this next verse yet again to answer that question. "For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends." 2Cor 10:18

And what about this one? "I have a clear conscience, but that doesn't mean I have God's approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me." 1Cor 4:4 Aren't those who claim that they are saved already, prejudging themselves and are attempting to circumvent the judgment of GOD? See these additional verses also: John 15:4-10, 1Cor 15:58, Eph 4:14,6:10-17, 1Thes 3:8,5:21-22, 2Thes 2:15-17, Heb12:1-15,13:9, Jam1:4,2:14-26, 1Pet1:4-7,5:8, Rev2:17,3:5,11-12,21,21:7

For all of those who think they are already saved, I must warn them that it is a sin of presumption to believe that false Protestant invented doctrine, as 1Cor 10:1-12 and 2Cor 10:18 in the previous section have told us. Show me a genuine historical document written before 1500 in which it is defined? I would suggest that you re-read Matt 25:31-46. You will see in these verses that both the sheep and the goats thought that they would be saved, but the sin of presumption was upon the goats and they were rejected, simply because they did no works. Clearly, Holy Scripture has shown that the false doctrine of once saved, always saved has no Scriptural basis whatsoever. "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1Cor 13:13 So if we are saved by faith alone, then what is the purpose of Scripture telling us to have hope? There would be no need for hope if we are saved already. What does that verse say about love? It says love is greater than faith. For those who say they are saved by faith alone, are they not insinuating that faith is greater than love? Aren't they ignoring both hope and love? Since I mentioned the year 1500 above, there was a reason why I did. It was Martin Luther who "invented" the false doctrine of "Once saved, always saved", when in Romans 3:28 he added the word "alone" to his German translation of Holy Scripture. That verse then read, "...a man is justified by faith alone". This action on his part was an embarrassment to the other reformers, and so you will not find that little word "alone" in Romans 3:28 in the King James or any other Protestant Bible except for Luther's. Here is one quote from Martin Luther regarding "Once saved always saved", "Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly... No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a

sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day." Martin Luther, letter to Melanchthon, August 1, 1521 What about those verses I quoted previously regarding the command of Jesus to sin no more." Is this the meaning of "Once saved always saved"? Can we throw out the ten commandments now along with scores of other verses? No, not at all according to John 14:15, "If you love me you will keep my commandments". How can anyone possibly reconcile those Words of Christ with that quote from Luther above? Of what purpose does that verse serve with Luther's twisted theology? What about "Thou shalt not commit adultery and thou shalt not kill? Shall we believe the words of Luther or the Words of GOD? Did you know that Martin Luther wrote the obituary for his own church? In this quote from one of his writings, he was speaking of "Saved by Faith alone (or only)". "If this article stands, the church stands; if it collapses, the church collapses." Martin Luther, Exposition of Psalms 130,4 Well, Martin, that 'article' of yours did not stand, but did indeed collapse. You see, your added word "alone" in your German Bible in verse Romans 3:28 was removed by your successors and was never added in other language translations. I have shown more than ample evidence of that collapse in the verses included in this writing, soooo....?

Interestingly, the people who believe in "Are You Saved", or "Once Saved, Always Saved", are the same people who berate the Catholic Church for canonizing saints. Now the word "Saint" simply means, a "Holy One", or a person who is in heaven. So, by believing in, "Once saved, always saved", it simply means that those who believe in it are canonizing themselves already. In other words, since I am "saved", "I will go to heaven, and therefore, all who are in heaven are saints, therefore I am already a saint". "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matt 7:13-14 It would seem to me that "Once saved, always saved" is the easy way since it requires no effort on the part of the individual. The easy way, according to the teaching of Holy Scripture, is not the way to eternal salvation.

"For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends." 2Corinthians 10:18. In John 8:11, didn't Jesus say to the woman about to be stoned for adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again." Has any believer of "Once Saved, Always Saved" ever read those two verses? AGAIN, JESUS DID NOT DIE JUST SO WE COULD SIN ALL THE MORE. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED." Acts 2:46-47, King James Bible What do those two verses tell you? Are those 39,000* sects of diverse denominations in the world today of one accord? Are they in singleness of heart? What about the last line? Are you attached to the one Church that Jesus Christ founded? Holy Scripture does say that in order to be saved, you must be added to His Church, does it not? * Global Christianity, a Protestant publication, line #43.

Written by Bob Stanley, November 16, 1999 Updated June 6, 2006 Updated April 2, 2007 Updated March 31, 2008 Updated February, 19, 2009

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