Once Saved Always Saved?

By Wendell Tenison

A great many preachers have always been dependent on the illiteracy of the people to cement the values of their false doctrines, or what is more commonly called, "church doctrine." The doctrine of once saved always saved is a most appealing one in that once saved, a person can live any sort of life they choose and go to heaven. Even sins of immorality, thefts, lying, perjury, idolatry, against nature and crimes against humanity are acceptable. This devilish doctrine should be properly called, "the heartbreak doctrine for faithful wives."

Case in point:

One of the great Baptist debaters of his time made this outrageous statement affirming his belief of once saved always saved: "Hoyt Chastain went even further than Sam Morris or Albert Garner. It was reported that in a debate with W. Curtis Porter, Chastain had stated he could leave his wife, run away with a sixteen year old girl, live in adultery the remainder of his life, die without any repentance, and go to heaven when he died."Taken from the Spiritual Sword, October 2004, page 24.

There is not an ounce of difference between this doctrine and what Moses did to allow a man to put away his wife by taking a piece of scratch paper, give her a writing of divorce, put it in her hand and kick her out of the house, Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

They say, it is not the mind that sins but the body and if you had it you can never lose it and if you lose it you never had it. That is like saying when a drunk driver kills someone with his vehicle, prosecute the vehicle and not the driver; after all its the vehicle that kills and not the idiot behind the wheel. Our Lord unmistakenly takes issue with this scenario.

Mat 15:18-19 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man......For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"

1 Cor 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

Every sin committed is without the body but one, that being the sin of fornication. Whereby, "the man" sins against his own body. The body is the instrument that the soul (living being) uses for good or bad. It is the "he or the man" who sins against the body and all other sins. Who is the "he"? Since the soul (living being) is made up of the five divisions of the mind, heart, spirit and body, the controlling part of the soul (living being), the mind may or may not allow the heart to be given over to Satan. The mind also has rule over the spirit. Proverbs 16:32, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."; Proverbs 25:28, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." A careful study of the spirit will show that the spirit of man must be kept in check. Otherwise, it will go wild and exhibit the thoughts and intents of the heart through the works of the flesh.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, also said in Proverbs 28:26, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Again, who are the "he and thy"? Therefore, the man, the living being with identity, the soul, is defiled by what comes forth from the heart and not the body. If the mind is not the controlling factor over the heart and spirit, there is nothing left. The mind will decay along with the rest of the body, but the heart will live forever, Psalms 22:26. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it, Ecclesiastes 12:7."

The first great fall from grace

Satan is only one of who knows how many angels that God created. The purpose of them and all of mankind is to do the commandments of the Creator.

Psa 148:1-5 "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights......Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts......Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light......Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens......Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created."

Psa 103:20 "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

However, not all of God's created angels did his commandments, Satan being the chief, but departed and man hastily follows in his steps.

Were any of the angels ever in the presence of God:

1 Ki 22:19-23 "And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left......And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner......And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him......And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so......Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."

Not only were the angels in the presence of God at his right and left hand, but had certain dialog as to how God might take down Ahab.

Was Satan ever in the presence of God?

Job 1:6-12 "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them......And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it......And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?.....Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?.....Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land......But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face......And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

Job 2:1-6 "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD......And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it......And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause......And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life......But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face......And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."

Zec 3:1-2 "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him......And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

There is no doubt about it, Satan was in the presence of God on many occasions.

Did Satan fall from grace or not?

Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Rev 12:7-9 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.....And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven......And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

That ends the discussion as to whether or not Satan did fall from grace.

Another great fall from grace

The fall from grace of Judas is one of the most notable in all the annals of history.

John 6:70-71 "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?.....He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve."

There are a great many in the religious world who are saying, that Judas was good and not evil. Meaning, that God will save the devil. God forbid! Baptist doctrine affirms that regardless of what Judas did he could not fall from grace and this is justification for once saved always saved. They also say, if you lost it you never had it. Let us see.

John 17:12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."

What our Lord just said, is the opposite of what Baptist doctrine affirms. Jesus said, the son of perdition, Judas was lost, therefore, he must have had it in the beginning. God gave twelve good men to our Lord in the beginning, but one turned out to be a devil.

Mat 25:41 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:"

Can those who are Christians in the Lord's church fall from Grace?

There are ten listings of verses below that deny onced saved always saved. Remember that this is God speaking through Jesus the Christ in his new testament and if any has a problem with what he says, he should go directly to the Almighty for an apology.

Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;"

Note those in his kingdom the church who offend and do iniquity will be cast out. Watch out trouble making church members, because there is a house cleaning coming!

Rom 11:20-22 "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:.....For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee......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."

The Jews being the natural branches and the Gentiles those who were graffed in. Beware and fear lest we be cut off as the natural branches if we continue not in his goodness.

1 Cor 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

The apostle Paul also said, let God be true and every man a liar, Rom.3:4.

Gal 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

To become entangled again in the yoke of bondage (law of Moses), you are fallen from grace. But, didn't the apostle Paul know that once saved you cannot fall from grace?

Heb 3:12 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

Were the brethren saved? Absolutely. Therefore, an evil heart of unbelief will separate us from the living God.

Heb 4:1 "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 fear lest the promise of entering into his rest be taken from us? Those who believe once saved always saved, there is no fear of God before their eyes, Romans 3:18.

Heb 4:11 "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

As the Jews fell because of unbelief, so can we.

1 Pet 4:17-18 "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?.....And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

Mat 7:13-14 "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."

According to those who believe once saved always saved, does not believe there will be any judgment beginning at the house of God, because everyone in the house of God are saved already. They say, contrary to the gospel of God that they do not have to obey it. By their own admission they are better than the Christ in that he obeyed his father and they do not, Hebrew 5:8.

Quoting from Bro. Vernon Gruver a trusted friend, "we who earnestly contend for the faith are often accused of being narrow minded. Could there be anyone more narrow minded than our Lord when he said, few there be that find it?"

2 Pet 1:10 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"

But, the Baptist teach that the brethren cannot fall after being saved. Wrong, not according to Peter. The condition is "if ye do these things."

2 Pet 2:20-22 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning......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......But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

This is the pitiful description that Peter paints of those who have fallen from grace.

Rev 2:4-5 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love......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."

Irregardless of all the good things that our Lord had to say about the church in Ephesus, they had fallen from grace. To deny this is to call Jesus the Christ a liar.

Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

This verse is the only one that is used to prove that once saved always saved is new testament doctrine. That is, if we love God all things work for good. The only problem with this scenario is that loving God requires keeping his commandments of which they refuse to do.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Gal 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,.....Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,.....Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Be assured that no one who does these things will inherit the kingdom of God.

Why is the plain simple truth of the Lord on this subject rejected? Two reasons; first, the god of this world has blinded their minds.

2 Cor 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Second, for those who do not love the truth, God will send them strong delusion that they will believe a lie and be damned.

2 Th 2:11-12 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:.....That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth, Gal.4:16? God told the prophet Samuel that the people had not rejected him, but they have rejected me as their king that I should reign over them, 1Samuel 8:7. Jesus the Christ is now our king and nothing has changed from then until now.

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