Hi Asaph, there are a number of things in your article that I'd like to discuss, unfortunately that cannot happen right now. What I will do is leave you with a few verses that I don't believe you included in your article concerning what we Calvinists call the
Perseverance of the Saints (which is what the "P" in our famous little acrostic TULIP stands for).
When the Bible speaks of those who have received
αἰώνιος [
aionios]
"eternal" life, it never means "temporary" or "probationary" life.
John 5
24 He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment [will not be condemned], but has passed out of death into life.
John 6
37 ALL that the Father gives Me WILL come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I LOSE NOTHING, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 10
26 You do not believe because you are not of My sheep.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
Romans 8
1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 7
25 He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
1 John 5:13
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
I'd like to make one quick point about something you wrote in your article.
...if this doctrine (OSAS) is false, then it is very dangerous* because it has the potential of removing personal responsibility and accountability when it comes to one’s relationship with God. After all, if we are saved, and there is nothing we can do to lose salvation, then why does it really matter how we act and why worry that much about it?
If a person who claims to be a Christian truly thinks like this, then I can all but guarantee you that their "claim" of being a believer is nothing more than that
That's the thing about OSAS, it's really all about the "Once Saved" part, isn't it
*(the real "danger"< IMHO, lies in the fact that many who think they are "always saved" never were in the first place .. e.g. Matthew 7:22-23)
BTW, while I hold to the Perseverance of the Saints (and therefore the proper understanding of OSAS), I also believe that none will be saved except those who persevere in the faith to the end. However, those who are regenerate/have been "
born again" .. e.g.
Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3, who have been created by God as "
new creatures" in Christ and have become
His workmanship/masterpiece by grace through faith ..
Ephesians 2:8-10, will persevere in the faith to the end, because the very One who saved us in the first place has promised to see us safely through this life to Glory
..
e.g. Philippians 1:6, 2:13; Hebrews 7:25 cf John 6:37-40, 44; John 10:27-28; 1 John 5:13.
Yours in Christ,
David
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and ..
of all that He has given Me, I lose nothing,
but raise it up on the last day"
John 6:37-40
(excerpt)