[Biblemat] A) ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is a article from my files:

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?

     There are many sincere people that have been taught that
once one is redeemed by the blood of Christ, it is impossible
for him to sin and be lost eternally.  Is this what the Bible teac-
hes?  Let us examine the question, "Does the Bible teach that
once man is saved, he is always saved?"

     In 1 Cor. 15:34 Paul writes, "Awake to righteousness, and
sin not."  Again to the Ephesians he writes, "Be angry, and sin not" (Eph. 
4:26).  Paul, writing to Christians in the church
at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2) and the saints at Ephesus (1:1), warns
the saints (Christians) that they could sin, and he admonish-
ed them to be careful to sin not!  Paul's teaching, by the guid-
ance of the Holy Spirit, is clear that it is possible for Christ-
ians to sin.

     The answer is sometimes offered, "Well, of course man will sin, but the 
grace of God will take care of that."  In Rom-
ans the question is asked, "Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound?"  The answer follows, "God forbid.  How
shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein" (Rom. 6:
1,2).  Yes it is possible to sin, but Christians are not to live in
sin.  Again in 1 Cor. 10:12, Paul reminds the Corinthians about the apostasy 
that occurred among the children of Israel
He then tells the Christians at Corinth to remember this exam-
ple.  Why?  Because Paul says, "Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall".  Why would Paul warn them
about falling and remind them of the failures of Israel if it was
impossible to fall?

     In Acts 8, we read of Simon, a sorcerer in Samaria, who had heard and 
obeyed the gospel.  He was interested and
wanted to be involved in the kingdom.  But when Peter and 
John came and laid hands on the Samaritans so that they
could receive the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, Simon
desired to have this same power.  He offered Peter money to
receive the gift.  Peter responded to Simon's request by tell-
ing him that he had sinned and that in order to not perish, he
must repent and pray for forgiveness.  We see here that Sim-
on, in sinning after having received the grace of God, stood
in a condemned position if he did not correct his standing be-
fore God.

     The position of "Once Saved, Always Saved" may bring
comfort and consolation to many individuals.  However, the
truth of the matter is that the Word of God does not teach
this and many souls will be eternally lost because of accept-
ing this teaching.    ----- David A. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 35, 
Sept. 2, 2007.   </HTML>
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