Taking a closer look at OSAS - once-saved-always-saved

[PuerAzaelis]

Salvation by our performance...

or Salvation by His performance...

Which is it?

 

[Matt5]

Everybody just assumes that man is exposed to only one threat. But what if there are two threats? OSAS could apply to one threat with the other still in play.

Threats:

1. All have sinned. God should wipe us out and start over.
2. I have sinned. I am judged based on my actions.

Jesus saves everyone in #1. #2 suggests that I still have to watch out.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think this topic has come up a few times on this area of the board. And for the record I am not one who claims to believe in what some popularly label as "OSAS" but I think a close objective and optimistic look at the doctrine is a good thing to do.

There are many different "flavors" of OSAS and various ones of them rejected by those who accept some other form of OSAS. For the sake of optimism I am selecting what I consider to be the most defensible version of OSAS for this topic.

The best one I have found is one that states that "if you live like the devil then you are not saved no matter what you may be claiming regarding OSAS".

It appears to me that the above is a view that is shared by

• John MacArthur
• Chuck Swindoll
• R.C. Sproul
• C.H. Spurgeon

... and a great many others who say they believe in OSAS but also know that living like the devil is not a sign of OSAS. And I agree with them on that point.

Those men also state that we are "saved by grace through faith" Eph 2:8-10 so that our salvation is "not of works" -- it is not works based salvation. And I agree with them on that point as well.

They also state that the Christian life of obedience is not to get a lost person saved - rather it is the sign, the fruit of a saved person as Christ states in Matthew 7 "by their fruits you shall know them". And I also agree with them on that point.

They also state that every person whom you may meet in heaven will be able to trace their life back from that moment in heaven - back to a point where they were saved and that they "persevered firm to the end" over that entire time. Saved that entire time. And I agree with them on that point as well.

They will also say that just because you have tradition or a magisterium telling you not to believe in OSAS does not mean OSAS is doctrinal error. And I agree with them on that point as well. They will say that "sola scriptura" is the only way to test doctrine to see if it is error... and I agree with that in so far as it means "study the Bible to see if a given doctrine contradicts scripture or aligns with it" Acts 17:11.

But as I said - I am not one who claims to believe in what is popularly called OSAS.

As for the OSAS teachers you mentioned:

On the one hand while these Free Grace teachers appear to be for holy living (by what they have said), yet on the other hand they have said things that makes this appear to not be the case.

How so?

Well, here are some quotations from the list of Free Grace teachers (that you mentioned) that suggests that the believer can live in sin and still be saved (based on their own statements).

John MacArthur said:

"...sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer..."

Source:
The MacArthur Study Bible, page: 1927, his comment on James 1:15.

"No sin a believer can commit - past, present, or future - can be held against him, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer. And no sin will ever reverse this divine legal decision...."

Source:
The MacArthur Study Bible, page: 1706, his comment on Romans 8:1.​

MacArthur, talking about suicide says this:

"It's not only a sin, it's illegal," MacArthur says. "But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence"

Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide​

Chuck Swindoll said:

"Let me clarify something because many, many in the family of God have no room in their theology for the carnal Christian, which creates tremendous confusion. If you don't understand the carnal Christian, you will begin to believe that you have fallen from grace. You will believe that you have been born again and then you will think later when you do these number of things, you have not been born again."

Source:
Chuck Swindoll, Clearing the Hurdle of Carnality: 1 Corinthians; Audiotape CHH 5-A.​

R.C. Sproul said:

"...if my confidence that I will persevere is based on my confidence that I will not sin, it’s on very shaky ground. One thing the Bible makes clear to me is that even though I am a redeemed person, I will in all likelihood, and inevitably, continue to sin to some degree. If it were up to my strength to persevere to guarantee my future salvation, then I would have very little hope of persevering."

Source:
Can Salvation Be Lost Because of Sin?
​

C.H. Spurgeon said:

"“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Your sins which are many are all forgiven you if you believe in Jesus, for the measure of your forgiveness is not your faith, nor your tears of repentance, nor your bitter regrets, nor your sin, nor your conception of God’s goodness, nor your character, either past or present or future, but the forgiveness which is granted from the Lord “according to the riches of His grace.”

Source:
https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1555.pdf​

Now, see my post #51 as to what Jesus said about sin and what it can do.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

...

 

[BobRyan]

As for the OSAS teachers you mentioned:

On the one hand while these Free Grace teachers appear to be for holy living (by what they have said), yet on the other hand they have said things that makes this appear to not be the case.

How so?

Well, here are some quotations from the list of Free Grace teachers (that you mentioned) that suggests that the believer can live in sin and still be saved (based on their own statements).

John MacArthur said:

"...sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer..."

Source:
The MacArthur Study Bible, page: 1927, his comment on James 1:15.

"No sin a believer can commit - past, present, or future - can be held against him, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer. And no sin will ever reverse this divine legal decision...."

Source:
The MacArthur Study Bible, page: 1706, his comment on Romans 8:1.​

MacArthur, talking about suicide says this:

"It's not only a sin, it's illegal," MacArthur says. "But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence"

Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide​

MacArthur believes in retro-deleting the assurance of any believer today who claims OSAS - if 20 years from today they start to "live like the devil". You point to some instances where he does not regard the person as "living like the devil" but rather as "making a momentary bad choice" - and of course there are folks on both sides of the OSAS question that will argue that "the Christian is not lost each time they sin. ... needing to be re-converted and born-again after each sin" 1 John 2:1 seems to support that view.

(But of course I am not here to defend all the teaching of MacArthur -- just pointing out some instances where he has a point).

Chuck Swindoll said:

"Let me clarify something because many, many in the family of God have no room in their theology for the carnal Christian, which creates tremendous confusion. If you don't understand the carnal Christian, you will begin to believe that you have fallen from grace. You will believe that you have been born again and then you will think later when you do these number of things, you have not been born again."

Source:
Chuck Swindoll, Clearing the Hurdle of Carnality: 1 Corinthians; Audiotape CHH 5-A.​

R.C. Sproul said:

"...if my confidence that I will persevere is based on my confidence that I will not sin, it’s on very shaky ground. One thing the Bible makes clear to me is that even though I am a redeemed person, I will in all likelihood, and inevitably, continue to sin to some degree. If it were up to my strength to persevere to guarantee my future salvation, then I would have very little hope of persevering."

Source:
Can Salvation Be Lost Because of Sin?
​

C.H. Spurgeon said:

"“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Your sins which are many are all forgiven you if you believe in Jesus, for the measure of your forgiveness is not your faith, nor your tears of repentance, nor your bitter regrets, nor your sin, nor your conception of God’s goodness, nor your character, either past or present or future, but the forgiveness which is granted from the Lord “according to the riches of His grace.”

Source:
https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1555.pdf​

Now, see my next post as to what Jesus said about sin and what it can do.

They all appear to be saying that their belief in "perseverance of the saints" is not based on a notion that "Saints never sin".

Be that as it may - my point in referencing their views is specifically in regard to their affirmation of "perseverance of the saints"

 

[Carl Emerson]

God can rescue or God can cut off. To be receiving God’s blessing does not always mean eternal life, but temporal life.

Paul was voting for the death of Christians; a sin that might result in eternal death. He was called to Christianity and turned from his sin.

Judas Iscariot was chosen to be a student of Christ. He was favored receiving blessings and life. After he betrayed Jesus he lost everything.

The good Lord gives and the good Lord takes away. One who was born a few decades ago should not boast about being saved for all time.

We will have to agree to disagree.

Judas was not born again. The New Covenant kicked in at resurrection time when the Holy Spirit was given to indwell and seal the salvation of believers.

Suggesting He Gives eternal life and takes it away makes God a liar - that is a serious claim.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

MacArthur believes in retro-deleting the assurance of any believer today who claims OSAS - if 20 years from today they start to "live like the devil". You point to some instances where he does not regard the person as "living like the devil" but rather as "making a momentary bad choice" - and of course there are folks on both sides of the OSAS question that will argue that "the Christian is not lost each time they sin. ... needing to be re-converted and born-again after each sin" 1 John 2:1 seems to support that view.

(But of course I am not here to defend all the teaching of MacArthur -- just pointing out some instances where he has a point).

As for 1 John 2:1:

Well, this is in line with 1 John 1:9 which is to repent or confess of sin so as to be forgiven of that sin. This is to reinstate forgiveness by GOD and or salvation in Him. If we do not confess of sin, then we will not be forgiven. John MacArhur essentially says that a Christian suicide victim is saved. But a suicide victim cannot confess of sin. But 1 John 1:9 says if we confess of sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (Also see Proverbs 28:13).

In other words, MacArthur is saying that one can sin and still be saved because he said that believers who commit suicide are saved. This means one can sin and still be saved. I believe his teaching that one must live holy is a trojan horse and it is just a smoke screen. He really does not believe that way. He may say he does, but his other statements suggest that a believer can sin and still be saved on some level (like with the example of a believer being saved even if he commits suicide). To put it to you another way, he preaches a double message or a contradictory one.

They all appear to be saying that their belief in "perseverance of the saints" is not based on a notion that "Saints never sin".

Be that as it may - my point in referencing their views is specifically in regard to their affirmation of "perseverance of the saints"

Please carefully re-read what they have said. Swindoll is saying the carnal Christian is saved, and Sproul is saying that he can sin to some degree and still be secure in his salvation, and Spurgeon is saying that the measure of forgiveness is not in your character (behavior) past, present, and future but it is solely based on God's grace. This means one can live in sin and still be saved if one's character or behavior does not matter.

I would encourage you to go back and slowly read what they have said. They ALL believe that you can sin on some level (as a matter of fact that the believer will sin again), and that they will be saved even if they do sin again. Granted, I am not saying God's grace is not there for a believer if they stumble into sin (i.e. they can confess and forsake sin), but a believer should never push the idea that they will sin again, and that they are saved even if they do abide in sin. Abiding in grievous unconfessed sin is abiding in spiritual death.

 

[royal priest]

Although there are several Biblical texts that convince me that God will not allow His children to go to Hell, Romans chapter 8 absolutely seals it for me.
Especially verses 35-39,
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”


Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No one abandons the faith unless something in this list causes them to which Paul says can never happen.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Although there are several Biblical texts that convince me that God will not allow His children to go to Hell, Romans chapter 8 absolutely seals it for me.
Especially verses 35-39,
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”


Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No one abandons the faith unless something in this list causes them to which Paul says can never happen.

James says a person is drawn away by their own lusts and desires (See James 1:14). This is why external things do not ultimately separate a believer from God. It is the person's own choice and or their sin that can separate them from God. For you will not find "you" or "sin" in the list of things mentioned in Romans 8:35-39. In fact, Romans 8:13 says if the believer lives after the flesh (sin) they will die, and if they put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, they will live (live eternally).

 

[jahel]

The least felt sin is prayerlessnes but someone who isn’t prayerful isn’t abiding, so how does that work?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Jesus said:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:28-30).
​

Jesus said:

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15).
​

Jesus said:

"For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:37).​

Jesus said:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:41-46).
​

And Luke writes

"And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts of the Apostles 3:23).

Conclusion:

The prophet that they are to hear is Jesus. If they do not hear His words, they will be destroyed. Jesus even says this (by the use of other words) in Matthew 7:26-27. Jesus warned against how sin can destroy us in Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, and Matthew 25:41-46, and other verses. Paul says that if any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, they are proud and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James 4:6 says God resists the proud and he gives grace to the humble. So we cannot justify the idea that we can sin and still be saved as most Free Grace teachers promote these days. We have to follow the words of Jesus and His followers, and not a more comforting message what we want to hear (that is not found in the Bible). Grievous unconfessed sin can destroy our souls. Jesus clearly taught this.

 

[dqhall]

We will have to agree to disagree.

Judas was not born again. The New Covenant kicked in at resurrection time when the Holy Spirit was given to indwell and seal the salvation of believers.

Suggesting He Gives eternal life and takes it away makes God a liar - that is a serious claim.

Many people claimed they are born again. Am I not supposed to be gullible and naive to trust all of them? There are people who claimed they have the gift of eternal life, but they were not sent by God. They are false prophets.

There were saints long before Christ left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum. Will any of these be born again?

I remember in Acts Herod Antipas made a speech that pleased the crowd. God must have helped Herod, but he did not give God the credit. The people were saying he was a God. Herod did not deny it. Herod soon died.

The Holy Spirit may work with someone without the person receiving the full gift of eternal life.

 

[BobRyan]

As for 1 John 2:1:

Well, this is in line with 1 John 1:9 which is to repent or confess of sin so as to be forgiven of that sin. This is to reinstate forgiveness by GOD and or salvation in Him. If we do not confess of sin, then we will not be forgiven.

Agreed. To sin and then become "married to that sin" so as not to repent of it - is to walk away from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in John 16 and attempt salvation apart from Christ, apart from the Holy Spirit - which is not possible.

John MacArhur essentially says that a Christian suicide victim is saved. But a suicide victim cannot confess of sin.

You can question his logic at that point - but another thing a suicide victim does not do is "persist in rejecting the convicting work of the Holy Spirit" because having made that one "mistake of the moment" he has excluded himself from having more chances, more opportunity. What is more - suicide is most often a case where the person is under pressure - could be from drugs, medicine ... something that distorts their thinking due to chemical imbalance. They make decisions they would not normally make if they were like you and I - free from those drugs. Sometimes the drugs are actually being prescribed to treat some other related mental or physical illness and a "side effect" is increased depression and thoughts of suicide. Who knows how God sorts that one out? In any case I don't claim MacArthur is necessarily right or wrong on that point, but I do get your point.

Please carefully re-read what they have said. Swindoll is saying the carnal Christian is saved, and Sproul is saying that he can sin to some degree and still be secure in his salvation,

Swindoll is a 3 point Calvinist and Sproul and MacArthur are 5 point Calvinists - which means all of them insist that "perseverance of the saints" means your assurance of salvation today gets totally deleted if 20 years from today you fail to persevere in the faith but choose instead to "live like the devil"

4 point Calvinists and some Arminians will drop "perseverance of the saints" altogether and insist on "preservation of the saints" which says basically "God is going to count you as still-saved even if you are living like the devil".

They ALL believe that you can sin on some level (as a matter of fact that the believer will sin again), and that they will be saved even if they do sin again. Granted, I am not saying God's grace is not there for a believer if they stumble into sin (i.e. they can confess and forsake sin),

They are all against the idea of claiming to be saved only because you are no longer sinning. They all would reject that. However they have "some line" that they draw where if a saved person goes beyond that line -- then in their view that person "never was saved to start with" which in effect means they "retro delete the assurance of salvation" all the way back to "day 1"

but a believer should never push the idea that they will sin again, and that they are saved even if they do abide in sin. Abiding in grievous unconfessed sin is abiding in spiritual death.

Clearly in the view you hold you also have the concept of a saint, a born-again believer who is saved but sometimes sins - and is not lost with each and every sin they commit. So in that regard you are in agreement - but where you draw the line may not be the same point where they draw the line as to just when it is such a person as "gone too far" and is now lost. (or in their view is now "never-was-saved to start with" )

 

[royal priest]

James says a person is drawn away by their own lusts and desires (See James 1:14). This is why external things do not ultimately separate a believer from God. It is the person's own choice and or their sin that can separate them from God. For you will not find "you" or "sin" in the list of things mentioned in Romans 8:35-39. In fact, Romans 8:13 says if the believer lives after the flesh (sin) they will die, and if they put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, they will live (live eternally).

So I am saved because of my deeds?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Agreed. To sin and then become "married to that sin" so as not to repent of it - is to walk away from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in John 16 and attempt salvation apart from Christ, apart from the Holy Spirit - which is not possible.



You can question his logic at that point - but another thing a suicide victim does not do is "persist in rejecting the convicting work of the Holy Spirit" because having made that one "mistake of the moment" he has excluded himself from having more chances, more opportunity. What is more - suicide is most often a case where the person is under pressure - could be from drugs, medicine ... something that distorts their thinking due to chemical imbalance. They make decisions they would not normally make if they were like you and I - free from those drugs. Sometimes the drugs are actually being prescribed to treat some other related mental or physical illness and a "side effect" is increased depression and thoughts of suicide. Who knows how God sorts that one out? In any case I don't claim MacArthur is necessarily right or wrong on that point, but I do get your point.





Swindoll is a 3 point Calvinist and Sproul and MacArthur are 5 point Calvinists - which means all of them insist that "perseverance of the saints" means your assurance of salvation today gets totally deleted if 20 years from today you fail to persevere in the faith but choose instead to "live like the devil"

4 point Calvinists and some Arminians will drop "perseverance of the saints" altogether and insist on "preservation of the saints" which says basically "God is going to count you as still-saved even if you are living like the devil".



They are all against the idea of claiming to be saved only because you are no longer sinning. They all would reject that. However they have "some line" that they draw where if a saved person goes beyond that line -- then in their view that person "never was saved to start with" which in effect means they "retro delete the assurance of salvation" all the way back to "day 1"



Clearly in the view you hold you also have the concept of a saint, a born-again believer who is saved but sometimes sins - and is not lost with each and every sin they commit. So in that regard you are in agreement - but where you draw the line may not be the same point where they draw the line as to just when it is such a person as "gone too far" and is now lost. (or in their view is now "never-was-saved to start with" )

I think MacArthur and others believe that some sin is okay if one is progressively living more holy but singular unconfessed sins done on occasion will not separate a person from God. They do not feel that unconfessed sin (done occasionally) leads to spiritual death, but an overtly excessive sinful lifestyle for all to see like a Christian being a murderer, an adulterer, a drunkard, etc. (with no repentance or seeking forgiveness with GOD) is not saved. But if they happen to indulge in certain bad sins on occasion, they do not necessarily become unsaved when they do such sins and confession of sin is not always necessary to maintain one's salvation status. My point is that they believe that they can abide on some level of sin and still be saved as long as it is not excessive sin. This is why I believe their teachings are deceptive or like a Trojan horse. At first glance, their teachings on Soteriology appear to be for holiness, but this is simply not the case because they make room for a little bit of sin while thinking they have salvation.

For even websites who promote OSAS like Gotquestions will admit that while the believer who lives excessively in sin should cause them to doubt their salvation, they believe that the prodigal son was saved while he was living in sin with prostitutes for a temporary time within his life.

For they say, "Yes, a true Christian who falls back into sin is still saved,"

Is a backsliding Christian still saved? | GotQuestions.org

Now, men like Spurgeon and the words that he uses makes it clear that you can live like the devil and be saved. He may try to say so otherwise at other points, but if he does, he is not being consistent in what he preaches. The quote I provided to you by Spurgeon makes it clear that he is saying that one's future behavior does not change God's saving grace.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Agreed. To sin and then become "married to that sin" so as not to repent of it - is to walk away from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in John 16 and attempt salvation apart from Christ, apart from the Holy Spirit - which is not possible.



You can question his logic at that point - but another thing a suicide victim does not do is "persist in rejecting the convicting work of the Holy Spirit" because having made that one "mistake of the moment" he has excluded himself from having more chances, more opportunity. What is more - suicide is most often a case where the person is under pressure - could be from drugs, medicine ... something that distorts their thinking due to chemical imbalance. They make decisions they would not normally make if they were like you and I - free from those drugs. Sometimes the drugs are actually being prescribed to treat some other related mental or physical illness and a "side effect" is increased depression and thoughts of suicide. Who knows how God sorts that one out? In any case I don't claim MacArthur is necessarily right or wrong on that point, but I do get your point.





Swindoll is a 3 point Calvinist and Sproul and MacArthur are 5 point Calvinists - which means all of them insist that "perseverance of the saints" means your assurance of salvation today gets totally deleted if 20 years from today you fail to persevere in the faith but choose instead to "live like the devil"

4 point Calvinists and some Arminians will drop "perseverance of the saints" altogether and insist on "preservation of the saints" which says basically "God is going to count you as still-saved even if you are living like the devil".



They are all against the idea of claiming to be saved only because you are no longer sinning. They all would reject that. However they have "some line" that they draw where if a saved person goes beyond that line -- then in their view that person "never was saved to start with" which in effect means they "retro delete the assurance of salvation" all the way back to "day 1"



Clearly in the view you hold you also have the concept of a saint, a born-again believer who is saved but sometimes sins - and is not lost with each and every sin they commit. So in that regard you are in agreement - but where you draw the line may not be the same point where they draw the line as to just when it is such a person as "gone too far" and is now lost. (or in their view is now "never-was-saved to start with" )

I believe that we abide in spiritual death the moment we commit a grievous sin (like: murder, hate, lying, adultery, looking at others in lust, theft, idolatry, refusing to love God, and your neighbor, etc), and that we are restored back to life or forgiven again when we confess of our sin. Not all sin is the same. So if Rick (being a believer) goes over the speed limit a little, this does not mean Rick is not saved anymore. Only those sins that the Bible clearly lists that talk about spiritual death can cause a loss of salvation unless of course we repent (i.e. we confess and we forsake such a sin).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So I am saved because of my deeds?

We are saved by both God's grace, and by Sanctification (Which is the work of God done through the believer). We cannot take credit alone for the work of God done through us, but we do have to cooperate with the good that God desires to do through our lives. So are we saved by our good deeds alone? No. Of course not. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ, and we are also then saved by God's work done through us in our cooperating with His Sanctifying work. All praise and glory goes unto the Lord. But most want the easy way that the Bible warns against. Most want to think they can use God's grace as a license to sin. But Jude 1:4 warns us against doing so.

 

[royal priest]

We are saved by both God's grace, and by Sanctification (Which is the work of God done through the believer). We cannot take credit alone for the work of God done through us, but we do have to cooperate with the good that God desires to do through our lives. So are we saved by our good deeds alone? No. Of course not. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ, and we are also then saved by God's work done through us in our cooperating with His Sanctifying work. All praise and glory goes unto the Lord. But most want the easy way that the Bible warns against. Most want to think they can use God's grace as a license to sin. But Jude 1:4 warns us against doing so.

So I am saved by my deeds?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So I am saved by my deeds?

You are saved by your cooperation with God's plan of salvation. God saves us by His grace, but we have to cooperate in accepting His grace. God saves us in Sanctification (i.e. in making us to live a holy life), but we have to cooperate with the good work God does through us. So technically... "no" you are not saved by your good deeds alone without God. God is the One who ultimately saves (both in Justification and in Sanctification), but our cooperation with God's saving work is essential to salvation.... "yes." If such were not the case, then there would be no purpose in having a judgment.

Care to explain verses like Romans 8:13, Titus 1:16, Titus 2:11-12, and Hebrews 12:14?

 

[royal priest]

You are saved by your cooperation with God's plan of salvation. God saves us by His grace, but we have to cooperate in accepting His grace. God saves us in Sanctification (i.e. in making us to live a holy life), but we have to cooperate with the good work God does through us. So technically... "no" you are not saved by your good deeds alone without God. God is the One who ultimately saves (both in Justification and in Sanctification), but our cooperation with God's saving work is essential to salvation.... "yes." If such were not the case, then there would be no purpose in having a judgment.

Care to explain verses like Romans 8:13, Titus 1:16, Titus 2:11-12, and Hebrews 12:14?

If I can turn my back on God then my salvation is not ultimately up to Him.