Saved

IS ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?

IS ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED? The phrase "Once saved, always saved" is not found in the Bible. Our Salvation is past, present, and future. This implies a Continuous Relationship and unfolding process rather than a fixed state. A person who has given himself, or herself, to Jesus Christ and has truly Repented from sin can find Repeated assurances of eternal covenant given to His people by God who cannot lie. (John 10: 22-30) The Jews gathered around him saying, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus Answered, "I did tell you, but you Do Not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me. But you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My Sheep listen to my voice; I Know them and they Follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall Never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand, I and the Father are one."

Father and I are One? The Greek is neuter---"One thing", "Not" One "Person". The Two are One in Essence or nature, Mind, Unity, Purpose, Harmony. (John 13:1) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew That his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.

The Father and Jesus always love His chosen people unto the end but they can turn their backs on His love. Here are some of the examples:

1. Unbelief (John 6: 22-71) Then Jesus said unto them, "I tell you The truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, You have no life in you. Whosoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up at the last day..." On hearing it, Many of His disciples said, "This is a hard teaching, who can accept it"? For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him (Judas Iscariot).... From this time many of his disciples Turned Back and no longer followed him. Many of Jesus' disciples didn't understand his teachings or sayings and they got offended about Eating his flesh and Drinking his blood. Here points to Christ as the crucified One and the source of eternal life. Jesus speaks of faith's appropriation of himself as God's appointed sacrifice. (I Cor 11: 23-26) For I received from the Lord what I also passed to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This is the New Covenant in my blood; do This whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this Bread and Drink this cup, you Proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

The broken bread is a Symbol of Christ's body given for Sinners (Luke 22:19). In remembrance of me. As the Feast of the Passover was a commemorative meal (Exodus 12:14), so also the Lord's Supper is a memorial supper, recalling and portraying Christ's death for sinners.

Jesus first celebrated the Lord's supper in connection with the Passover meal (Matt. 26:18-30). The Cup, a Symbol of the New Covenant in Jesus' Blood (Luke 22:20 Jeremiah 31:31-34) (The old Covenant was the Mosaic or Sinaitic covenant; see (Exodus 24: 3-8) by the use of this covenant sign God signifies his bestowal of Salvation upon His people, Sealed and Paid for the by the Shedding of Jesus' blood.

2. Deceived by Satan! (Revelation 12:9-17) The great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which Decieveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him... The Serpent persecuted the Woman (the Bride of Christ) and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have testimony of Jesus Christ. (II Cor. 4: 3-5) Paul wrote: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world has blinded the Minds of them which Believe Not, lest the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image Of God, should shine unto them.

The devil is the archenemy of God and the Unseen power behind All Unbelief and Ungodliness. Paul uses the imagery of the hid (veil) that covers the divine glory, image of God. Christ, who is both the Incarnate Son and the Second Person of the Trinity, authentically displays God to us, for he is the very radiance of divine glory. (Heb. 1:3). He is the image of God in which man was originally created and into which redeemed mankind is being gloriously transformed, until at last, when Christ comes again at the end of this age, we who believe will be like him (I John 3:2).

The goal of Satan and demons are to degrade, defile, and ultimately Destroy a human being who is made in the image of God. That is what Satan wants to do: Leading His people away from God and His truth. Attack God by destroying people who are precious in His sight. (Hebrews 3: 7-19) Take heed brethren, lest be in any of you an Evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God...for were made partakers of Christ, if we Hold Fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the End... Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, "Today if you will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts" as in the Rebellion in the day of temptation in the wilderness. (Hebrews 10: 23-31) Let us Hold Fast to the Hope of our Faith without wavering. Not forsaking the assembling (meetings together) as some are in the habit of doing. For if we sin deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no more sacrifice is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire, that will consume the enemies of God. The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This letter was written to explain to the Jewish Christians that Animal sacrifice, to which they were so attached, were no longer of any use, that the killing of bull or a lamb could Never Take Away sin. Those sacrifices had Never been intended to be Forever; they had been Planned to be a sort of picture (Type) of the coming sacrifice of Christ, and now that Christ had come, they had served their purpose. God's people must look only to Christ for Redemption and Salvation.

False teachings! (I Timothy 1:19,20) Paul to: Timothy (an Apostle) my Son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made About you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, Hold on to the Faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have made Shipwreck of their faith. Among them are Hymaenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to Blaspheme.

Paul had excluded these two men from the church, away from the Fellowship. The purpose they would be taught not to blaspheme. The Purpose of such drastic action was more remedial (corrective) than punitive. Their false teachings have turned some believers away from the faith.

(II Timothy 2:17-19) Paul to Timothy: Their teachings will spread Like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the Truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and Destroy the faith of Some. Nevertheless, God knows those who are His...

(I Timothy 4:1-3) Paul to Timothy: The Spirit clearly says that in Later times some will abandon the Faith and follow deceiving spirits and Things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry, and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving, by those who believe and who knows the truth.

Paul is not referring only to the time immediately prior to Christ's Second coming, which is obviously from his assumption V-7 that the false teachings were already present at the time of his writing.

(II Timothy 4: 3,4) Paul to Timothy: For the time will come when men Will not put up with sound doctrines. Instead, to suit their own desires, They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their Itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the Truth and turn aside to myths. But you (Timothy) keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, and do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

(I Timothy 1:3-7) Paul to Timothy: As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus, so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer, nor to devote themselves to myths, and endless genealogies. These promote controversies, rather than God's work, which is faith. Some have wandered Away from these and Turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the Law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Paul warned against heretical teachers in the Ephesians church. They are characterized by 1) teaching false doctrines. 2) Teaching Jewish myths. 3) Wanting to be teachers of the OT law. 4) Building up endless, far-fetch, fictitious stories based on obscured genealogical points. 5) Being conceited. 6) Being argumentative. 7) Using talk that was meaningless. 8) Not knowing what they are talking about.

(II Peter 2:1-22) Peter to Christians: There were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord, who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of Truth into disrepute. In their greed. These teachers will exploit you with Stories they have Made up...bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings. But these men blaspheme in matters, they do not understand. They will be paid back with Harm for the Harm they have done...They have Left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam, who loves the wages of wickedness...They promise others freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity...If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again entangled in it and overcome, they are worst off at the end than they were at the beginning.

It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than to have known it and then to Turn their backs on the Sacred command that was passed on to them. (NIV)

(John 15: 1-8) Abiding in the vine (Christ). Jesus said, "I am the True Vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He Prunes...Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned".

Pruning produces fruitfulness. In the New Testament the figure of good fruit represents the product of godly life (Matt. 3:8, 7: 16-20) or virtues of character (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5: 9). The believer has no fruitfulness apart from his union and fellowship with Christ. A branch out of contact with the Vine is lifeless. The emphasis remains in me and I in Him. A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary; without it there is Nothing. Genuine Salvation is evidenced by a life of fruitfulness (Heb. 6:9) things are accompany salvation. (Matt. 7:19-23)

(John 8: 31) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you Hold fast my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." (Matt. 10: 22) Jesus said, "All men will hate you because of me. But he who stands Firm to the end will be saved. (Matt. 24: 9-13) Jesus said, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will Turn Away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of Wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who shall stands Firm to the end will be Saved."

(Galatians 3:1; 2: 4) Paul to Galatians Christians: O, foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe by what you heard? This matter arose because some brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves.

(Colossians 1:23) Paul to Colossians Christians: If you Continue in Your faith, established and firm, Not move from the hope held out in the Gospel. This is the gospel that you heard that has been proclaimed to every creature under the heaven, and have, which I, Paul have become a servant.

(Ephesians 1:13,14) Paul to Ephesians Christians: You also were Included in Christ when you 1) Heard the word of Truth, the gospel of your Salvation. 2) Having Believed, you were marked in him with 3) a Seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory.

Repentance! Is the Key! Letters to 7 Churches in Revelation: (95 A.D)

1. To: Ephesians church (Revelation 1:1-8) Jesus said, "I know your Deeds, your hard work, you have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet, I have this against you: you have Forsaken your First Love. Remember, the height from which you have fallen! Repent do the thing you did at first. If you do not Repent, I will come and Remove your lamp stand from your place. To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat from the tree of life which is in Paradise of God." (NIV)

2. To: the Church in Smyrna. (Revelation1: 8-11) Jesus said, "I know

You're afflictions and your poverty, yet you are rich. Do not be afraid of what You are about to suffer. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will Give you the crown of life. He who overcomes will not hurt at all by the Second death".

3. To: the Church in Pergamus. (Revelation 1: 12-17) Jesus said, "I Know where you live where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. You have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, and by committing sexual immorality. Repent therefore! To him who overcomes, I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

4. To: the Church Thyatira. (Revelation 1: 18-29) Jesus said, "I Know your deeds, your love and faith, your service, and perseverance. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teachings. By her teachings she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to Repent of her immorality. I will make those who commit adultery with her suffering intensely, unless they Repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead! I will repay each of you according to your deeds. To him who overcomes and does my will to the End, I will give authority over the nations. Just as I have received authority from my Father".

5. To: the Church in Sardis. (Revelation 3:1-6) Jesus says, "I know Your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; Obey it, and Repent. But if you do not Wake up, I will come as a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis, who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them be dressed in white. I will Never Blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name, before my Father, and his angels".

6. To: the Church in Philadelphia. (Revelation 3: 7-13) Jesus says, "I know your deeds. I know that you have a little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... I am coming soon Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God".

7. To: the Church in Laodicea. (Revelation 3: 14-21) Jesus says, "I Know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were neither cold nor the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Those whom I love I rebuke and disciplines. So, be earnest and Repent. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (NIV)

(I John 1: 7-10) If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we Have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from All Sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will Forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

To those who Confess and Repent their sins will be in accordance with his nature and gracious commitment to his people, God will provide the Forgiveness that restore the communication with Him that had been interrupted by sin.

The reason we are saved is not because we are holy or do good works, but because of the blood of Jesus. Salvation comes through Faith believing in Jesus Christ our redeemer. So, we should have feeling of security. But, at the same time, there should be a healthy fear of failing. We should not presume on God and say, "I am saved and I can do Anything I want to." Paul condemned people who were teaching that a person could sin boldly so that God's grace abound. If we are truly dead to sin, that we are not going to live in sin any longer, but we will aim to serve God. We should walk with reverence, because God is a consuming fire, a very awesome Being.

We need the cleansing of Forgiveness of the Lord constantly. The Bible teaches security in the Holy Spirit and in the things of God. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." So, we are secure in the hand of God, and we are to rest secure in the Lord. God has put His Spirit in us; He has given His Word to us. Jesus Christ is at the right hand of His Father, constantly making intercession on our behalf, and God has sent angels to watch over us. In other words, tremendous helps surround us. We should constantly remind ourselves that we are Saved, that God loves us, and that we belong to Him.