Osas

[Livindesert]

What is the real doctron of OSAS? I see the term thrown around alot but do not ever seem to find a clear statement of what OSAS is.

 

[Vince53]

Are you referring to "Once Saved, Always Saved"?

If you can lose your salvation because of sin, everyone here has already lost it. The Bible teaches that God keeps those who accept Christ. Because they accepted Christ, they are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. God works a change in their lives so that they never will turn against Christ. God preserves them, sealing them unto the day of redemption.

Many Godly saints believe that they can lose their salvation. They use Scriptures that expose those who weren't really saved to begin with, or that give warnings and explanations about the consequences of sin. This does not change the fact that many of them are still Godly people whom God uses.

 

[Livindesert]

Are you referring to "Once Saved, Always Saved"?

Yes

 

[Hentenza]

Christ sacrifice on the cross is judicial. He died for our sins and He redeemed us while we are still sinners. No one can "work" himself or herself to salvation. We are justified by the grace of God through faith. Made righteous in the eyes of the Lord. Our sins are no longer imputed to us instead are imputed onto Christ. If we can loose salvation then the sacrifice of the cross is for not.

 

[dies-l]

In addition to what has already been said, it has been my experience that those who believe is OSAS generally fall into one of two categories. Both are approaches to dealing with the question of "backsliding." One group says that, even when we "backslide", we continue to remain in the fold and God keeps His hand on us, ever directing us back to repentance and that He will not allow us to remain in a backsliding state permanently. The other camp says backsliding is evidence that a person was never really saved to begin with. Both positions seem to me to presuppose that humans have either limited free will or no free will at all. (If there are any FWBs in the house that disagree please let me know).

Personally, I have struggled a lot with OSAS, and I have come to the conclusion that it is really not a terribly important issue for me. The important thing is that I am saved right now, and I have no plans to backslide.

 

[98cwitr]

Once Saved, Always Saved

I do have a problem with the OSAS idea because it would seemingly give would-be Christians a license to sin, join the Catholic church if you like this idea. I believe that you can fall from grace through a lack of repentance, lack of remorse or concern for yourself and others, and turning your back on God even after your pronouncement of faith.

 

[Vince53]

My friend 98cwitr writes: "I do have a problem with the OSAS idea because it would seemingly give would-be Christians a license to sin..."

I was saved while a student at Catholic high school, and a priest brought that up to me. He stated that if you are saved by faith and can not lose your salvation, you can sin all you want to. I told him that I sinned a lot more than I wanted to.

The priest did not understand the concept of repentance, believing that repentance only meant that you were sorry that you had sinned, but that you had no intention of forsaking your sins.

 

[AndOne]

I believe that you can fall from grace through a lack of repentance, lack of remorse or concern for yourself and others, and turning your back on God even after your pronouncement of faith.

I would argue that such a person never had real faith to begin with...

 

[98cwitr]

I would argue that such a person never had real faith to begin with...

then is faith absolute? Are there not different degrees of faith?

 

[Hentenza]

then is faith absolute? Are there not different degrees of faith?

Well, there is nominal faith and saving faith. Nominal faith is mere assent without a life change. Basically a pew warmer. Saving faith requires a life change. A complete change of heart.

 

[mlqurgw]

There is a difference between once saved always saved, eternal security and perseverance of the saints. The teaching of once saved always saved, at least in its practical application, is that once you make a profession of faith you are saved and no matter how you live you are still saved. Eternal security differs in that it teaches that all who truly believe are secure. It make a distinction between just making a profession and actually believing. Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all true believers are kept in faith bu the power of God and persevere. They may fall but they are always brought back by Christ. Once saved always saved is damning heresy. Eternal security is on the right road but doesn't quite go far enough. Perseverance of the saints is the Scriptural teaching.

 

[Hentenza]

There is a difference between once saved always saved, eternal security and perseverance of the saints. The teaching of once saved always saved, at least in its practical application, is that once you make a profession of faith you are saved and no matter how you live you are still saved. Eternal security differs in that it teaches that all who truly believe are secure. It make a distinction between just making a profession and actually believing. Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all true believers are kept in faith bu the power of God and persevere. They may fall but they are always brought back by Christ. Once saved always saved is damning heresy. Eternal security is on the right road but doesn't quite go far enough. Perseverance of the saints is the Scriptural teaching.

Good post.

 

[98cwitr]

Well, there is nominal faith and saving faith. Nominal faith is mere assent without a life change. Basically a pew warmer. Saving faith requires a life change. A complete change of heart.

So real faith is saving faith then. I propose the question, at which stage of faith were the disciples at when Jesus was walking on water?

 

[mlqurgw]

So real faith is saving faith then. I propose the question, at which stage of faith were the disciples at when Jesus was walking on water?

It isn't the amount of faith that saves it is the object of faith. Saving faith looks to Christ not ourselves. Saving faith sees in Him all that God requires of us and lays hold of Him alone. Saving faith stumbles and is often small but it always has the person and work of Christ as its object. I do not believe like I could. I do not believe like I should. I do not believe like I hope to. But I do believe. I am not want I could be. I am not what I should be. I am not what I hope to be. But thank God I am not what I was.

 

[mlqurgw]

So real faith is saving faith then. I propose the question, at which stage of faith were the disciples at when Jesus was walking on water?

Saving faith is like a man on the roof of a burning building. As long as he thinks he can find a way down on his own he will not jump into the arms of the strong man who will catch him. But when he has run out of all other options and has no other hope he will jump. When he jumps he is committed. He can't go back. He is trusting totally on the ability of the stong man to save him.

 

[98cwitr]

nice parable

 

[Livindesert]

There is a difference between once saved always saved, eternal security and perseverance of the saints. The teaching of once saved always saved, at least in its practical application, is that once you make a profession of faith you are saved and no matter how you live you are still saved. Eternal security differs in that it teaches that all who truly believe are secure. It make a distinction between just making a profession and actually believing. Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all true believers are kept in faith bu the power of God and persevere. They may fall but they are always brought back by Christ. Once saved always saved is damning heresy. Eternal security is on the right road but doesn't quite go far enough. Perseverance of the saints is the Scriptural teaching.

Good post. I think it would be interesting to hear from someone who believes in OSAS for thier version of the belief. So if anyone out there is a OSAS let me know.

 

[GrampaJeff]

"It isn't the amount of faith that saves it is the object of faith. Saving faith looks to Christ not ourselves. Saving faith sees in Him all that God requires of us and lays hold of Him alone. Saving faith stumbles and is often small but it always has the person and work of Christ as its object. I do not believe like I could. I do not believe like I should. I do not believe like I hope to. But I do believe. I am not want I could be. I am not what I should be. I am not what I hope to be. But thank God I am not what I was."

Well said! Amen!

 

[Vince53]

Eternal security emphasizes the fact that God will not allow a Christian to lose his salvation. Perseverance of the saints emphasizes that God works in the heart of a Christian so that he will not lose his salvation. Both of these overlapping doctrines are true. However, neither phrase appears in the Bible.

Every time I have heard the phrase "Once saved, always saved," it was being used by a person who didn't believe it. But it's still true.

 

[Hentenza]

The word "bible" does not appear in the bible either.

Hola Vincente.