Once Saved, Always Saved? – Apostasy Pt 4

The mantra once saved, always saved is a rallying cry of many within the church. Others hold to a belief that you can lose your salvation that leads to eternal life which is seen as apostasy. What does the scriptures reveal?

I hope you have read the previous posts and watched the videos dealing with apostasy within the church. If you have not had a chance yet, here are the links to  Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

As we saw in Part 2, Pastor Billy Crone believes that those who have fallen away were never saved. However, in Part 3 we saw those that appeared to be “Christians” turn away from Jesus Christ. Moreover, there are those who admitted they were faking it.

Many within the body of Christ are being deceived by the Father of Lies. Satan can only conquer the church from within. Therefore, he has planted deceivers in our midst to lead weak followers of Jesus astray. This includes fake pastors, leaders, and the brothers and sisters in the pews themselves.

Parable of the Sower

Jesus shared in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23) that those that hear the word represented as seed, respond one of four ways.

1. Seed by the wayside.
   • 19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.“
2. Stony places
   • ²⁰ “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
3. Among the thorns
   • ²² “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
4. Good ground
   • ²³ “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Wide Is The Road To Destruction

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

– Matthew 7:13-14

7 out of 10 Americans consider themselves to be “Christian”.  However, 94% of American adults do not have a biblical worldview but reflect contemporary, worldly influence, rather than biblical influence. Therefore, they have been essentially customizing Christianity to their liking.[1]

The Definition of a Biblical Worldview

A biblical worldview is defined as:

1. believing that absolute moral truths exist
2. that such truth is defined by the Bible
3. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
4. God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He still rules it today
5. salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
6. Satan is real
7. Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people
8. the Bible is accurate in all of its teachings

Seed By The Wayside

Deception abounds and Satan has convinced the masses that the bible is just fairy tales and myths. Therefore, many people fall into the “seed by the wayside” category. These are those who are, unfortunately, unsaved because: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” – Matthew 13:19

One of Satan’s chief works is to keep men in darkness regarding their understanding of the gospel.

^“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe.”

– 2 Corintians 4:3-4

Seed on Stony Places

However, there are those that are not immediately deceived by the master deceiver for Jesus states: “this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. – Matthew 13:20

Again, Satan attacks these believers in Christ using hard times. yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

“I want you clearly to understand that the fault did not lie in the suddenness of their supposed conversion. Many sudden conversions have been among the best that have ever happened.” The problem was not their sudden growth, but their lack of depth.

Charles Spurgeon

These are those who do not feed on the Word of the Lord and have no roots. Satan again has deceived many into thinking you can say a prayer, claim your fire insurance document and you are good to go. Once saved always saved is Satan’s deceptive battle cry.

It is not enough to say a prayer and claim your fire insurance document. This is where many churches drop the ball by not having a mentoring ministry of mature followers of Christ for new believers.

Seed Among The Thorns

This, in my opinion, is where many of the well-known “Christian” musicians, pastors, and other ministry leaders who have been vocal concerning “leaving” the faith fall.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” – Matthew 13:22

These are “worldly Christians” and they are legion.

“This soil represents fertile ground for the word; but their soil is too fertile because it also grows all sorts of other things that choke out the Word of God”

David Gucik Commentary

Satan has deceived many with riches, fame, and high-ranking political careers. The father of lies has kept them hooked on temporary pleasures instead of eternity with Jesus Christ.

Moreover. Through lies and fear, he tricks believers into focusing on the cares of this world instead of Jesus.

Some for a time were true followers of Christ. However, eventually they have fallen for the lies of Satan and became unfruitful. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will draw them back before their hearts are hardened beyond repentance.

Others never were saved, but imposters planted by Satan to deceive as many as possible.

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.”

– Matthew 15:8

Narrow is the Road

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

– Luke 13:24

Seed That Falls on Good Ground

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:23

These are faithful followers that hold on, trust in, rely on, and adhere to the good news (the Gospel) and understand God’s Word is True. They passionately love the Lord and eagerly await the fulfillment of all His promises, while they go about proclaiming the good news of the gift of eternal life through Jesus the Christ.

These are heirs (Titus 3:7) of Christ and hold to a biblical worldview.

True followers are not perfect, we stumble, and at times we fall. However, we repent of our sinful mistakes, brush our knees off and continue the race to the finish line!

Everyone, who has been exposed to the Gospel falls onto one of the four paths. Only one qualifies as the true, narrow path.

The Wide Once Saved Always Saved Path

Now that we have looked at the parable of the Sower, let’s look at scriptures that appear to back up this belief. I have read many articles, commentaries, etc. as I also have grappled with the OSAS system of thinking.

The first person to espouse the idea of “once saved, always saved” was John Calvin in the mid-sixteenth century.

Honestly, I have never agreed with OSAS statement. It would excuse those seeds that fell on the first three soils to believe the lies of Satan that scripture backs this wayward-wide path belief system.

Many others would proclaim they were never saved, to begin with. However, the parable seems to indicate that some were saved but fell away for various reasons.

Can The Saved Lose Their Salvation?

Many who do not believe in the OSAS doctrine hold to a belief that a person can lose their salvation.

I like the way Dr. Michael L. Brown addresses how losing your salvation is impossible. He states:

“You lose something accidentally, like losing your car keys, your glasses, or a business card. “Where did I put those keys? I can’t find them anywhere.” That is not the way things are with God and salvation. You don’t simply “lose” your salvation, as if it was as easy as that.”

“Jesus is our Savior; we do not save ourselves. And just as we didn’t get saved by accident, we can’t lose our salvation by accident.”[2]

Dr. Michael L. Brown

Can a Saved Individual Walk Away?

Here again, well-meaning, followers of Jesus differ in the answer. From the scriptures, we know that Our Heavenly Father gave us the gift of free will. We are not robots or puppets that do not have the ability to make choices.

We can decide to turn away from our Creator. if you really want to turn away, you are free to go. However, why would you want to give up on living eternally in the kingdom?

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God…”

– Hebrews 3:12

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

– Hebrews 6:4-6

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

– Hebrews 10:26-27

Good Ground of the True Followers of Christ

The Lord has done everything needed to guarantee a place in the kingdom IF WE ACCEPT the precious gift that Jesus Christ provided in His death, burial, and resurrection.

“This means that if you want to live for the Lord, you have nothing to worry about in terms of “losing” your salvation. He will keep you, help you, empower you, guide you, correct you, and deliver you until you see Him face-to-face.”[3]

Dr. Michael L. Brown

Read the full article at: ASKDrBrown

In Conclusion:

OSAS is a lie from the Father of Lies.

True Followers of Christ are eternally secure. However, He will not keep you against your own will, which is why the Lord gives us so many warnings in the New Testament.

So my first question is:

“Are you trusting in Jesus Christ all the way, or Jesus and your way?”

My second question is:

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[1] 10/26/21 PLJ Article – The Deceptive Worldview in the Church

[2] https://askdrbrown.org/library/it-possible-lose-your-salvation

[3] https://askdrbrown.org/library/it-possible-lose-your-salvation

Other Recommended Resources

• The Myth of Once Saved, Always Saved – Debunking False Doctrines
• Once Saved, Always Saved?
• Is It Possible to Lose Your Salvation?
• Can You Fall Away and Still Be Saved?