I think something is being overlooked here and it is this.
What is our attitude towards the sins that "have" us? Is ours a truly repentant heart? Does it bother us when we willingly, knowingly choose to disobey, hiding under an excuse that we are just weak, when in truth perhaps here is no battle any longer?
It is a blood bought privilege to be able to confess our sins and receive forgiveness. Amazing grace! But how many there are, as I have done countless shameful times in the past, who have partaken of the grace of God while at the same time having zero brokenness, let alone a true hatred for that which put our dear savior on the cross. Do we hate our sin? Is there a battle ongoing in our hearts for who will rule there.... us or Christ in us? Our old man, or our new nature?
I have found that many of the doctrinal debates where we see both sides dig in their heels to defend, with both sides claiming scriptural proof, are both true. It is such with the question of whether a man or woman can lose their salvation. What we are in need of seeing is that what reveals the nature of the heart beating inside us is a longing to be holy and totally obedient to our master. It is our desire to please our God, to fellowship Him always, to long like Paul's man in Romans 7 for freedom from the old wretched nature. Here was a man who was truly at war with his old nature. He craved freedom from the grip of the devil. He hungered after righteousness. And that, guys is what saved men do, what sets them apart.
They find it impossible to sin and then simply dismiss it as no biggie, with a cavalier "Well, I am only human and there is no condemnation anyway" attitude. No, no. If and when they stumble, deep inside, they are crying out "Who will deliver me from the body of this death?" They hate the thought of displeasing their Jesus. It crushes them. They hate that part of them that so easily is swayed by evil and long to be free to be His alone.
So how is it in our heart,dear friends? We are at war with an enemy. If there is not a war ongoing in our hearts with our old nature, then we are either abiding in Him, where we find to our amazement and delight, that we Indeed can be kept from falling, just as He promised, or we have strayed from the path, and sin has us for we are still wearing our old natures quite comfortably. Here a man can sin again and again with little or no remorse. Here is turning the grace of God into lasciviousness. Here resides mass deception.... Soon to be lifted.
In the end, I suspect we will see that "once saved always saved" was spot on as was the truth that we need to endure, to seek, to hunger, to press, and it is these things that are the very evidence of our true nature. Both sides are right.
We must understand that there will be multitudes who will be shocked on the last day, swearing they were saved, yet never understanding the truth "Let all who name the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.". They remained ignorant of the truth that God's will for us is that we know how to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor. It is here, at this point, where saved men differ from unsaved ones. We as His children long to be holy so that we can bring more glory to God. And if we find ourselves residing in the camp of the enemy, praise God, it is not too late to leave our folly and run back into the arms of the one who died to make us free indeed.
Blessings,
Gideon
