Once Saved, Always Saved;
A scriptural Perspective.
It appears that every three years, this OSAS doctrine raises dust on the Nigerian chapter of the internet, and like many doctrinal issues that have similarly raised dust, I see many supporters of the conventional path simply fighting the opinion they think is alien without proferring why they think so.
In a previous post here on Medium, I’d already shared why I hate that culture. If you disagree, you must know why, and must be able to articulate why. We don’t fight errors with emotional rebuttals. Moving on….
Now, at the core of the OSAS debate is not whether one’s salvation can actually secure their soul forever, because it can. The real argument in this issue, is whether those who draw back or begin to live a life in unrepented sin, will still hope to take cover in a salvation they had received at an earlier time.
And the answer is No. No sinner will make heaven regardless of whether they had prayed the sinner's prayer at one point in life or not.
Hebrews 10:38;
if anyone draws back, my soul will have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10: 26;
For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth (salvation), there remains no sacrifice of sin, but a fearful expectation of judgment, & fiery indignation.....
The OSAS proponents, ask the question of how it is possible that anything Christ has done or given, has a temporal existence.
But the principle that underscores the permanence of spiritual things was shown in Matthew 12: 43- 45 when Jesus spoke about a man from whom demons were cast. He keeps his bodily state clean, but empty. The demons wandered and chose to return to him.
In his case, he didn't even fall into sin. He just hadn't activated the life of God/ wasn't occupied by a new spirit, and he returned to the former state and worse. How come the deliverance power of Jesus wasn't 'permanent?'
Hebrews 10: 39;
.....but we are those who believe to the saving of the soul....
The complete work of salvation didn't end in our spirit. Our spirits are saved immediately upon praying the sinner's prayer. Our souls are saved throughout our lifetime.
This is also one the works of the Word; to renew us and save our souls. Hence Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5; 25 talks about the complete sanctification of the believer; spirit, soul and body. Again, John 15: 16;
If anyone does not abide in me, he is CAST OUT as a branch and whithers.
In the entire passage in John 15, Jesus wasn’t addressing those who were yet to believe, because verse 3 clearly says;
"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Now, abide in me, and I in you."
Addressing them as branches means they were already partakers of Zoe, yet He warns them sharply of their fate if they don’t remain in Him.
So, clearly, the saving security in Christ can last us a lifetime and doesn't need regular subscription, BUT the believer must remain in Christ to enjoy that security.
He told them in John 15: 16; to go and bear fruits, and that their fruit remain."
Finally, Colossians 1: 22- 23;
....to present you blameless and above reproach in His sight, if indeed YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, grounded and steadfast, and are NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope of the gospel which you heard....
Paul here was first assuring them of how that they were now holy and blameless in God's sight, contrary to their former state of alienation from and enmity with God.
YET, this new positive state was only as accessible as they remained in the faith, and not moved away from the gospel which they had heard.
So, tell me again, where is the scriptural anchor these “Once Saved, Always Saved” proponents have for their belief?
