Once Saved Always Saved promises one-sided faithfulness to maintain a
relationship. Who regards his/her spouse or marriage that way? Love goes
two ways. Those who don't love that don't love God. The one-way love
God has shown to us is in offering his Son to die for us while we were
still sinners, his enemies (Romans 5:6-8). The purpose is to get us to
respond to that love and be reconciled to Him. That is how we begin our relationship with Him. And because we love
Him, we must practice his love language, which is obedience. How to return God's love to begin with and be in a relationship with Him: James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Sinners
who have their mind set on their sins they love don't love God and have
not answered the call to repentance. They have not surrendered their lives to God. Such can't even be considered
"once saved," so forget about "always saved," but they can believe lies
and be deceived. People who believe OSAS is true are
asleep and likely cannot name one false prophet/minister/preacher in
this day. They are following them and believing their lies. John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments. Jesus said that. So, some say "If you don't keep my commandments, it doesn't matter... it's optional..." In
marriage, for instance, would you say faithfulness is optional to your
spouse? Do you say that for yourself? God expects faithfulness
from his servants. A new creature in Christ can't be selfish in his/her
relationship with Jesus, or salvation isn't understood and there is no
salvation or a new creature in Christ to actually speak of. John 15:9-10 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my
love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even
as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. Understand
where love comes into one's faith. Then make sure you have that love
for God because you shipwreck your faith if you turn to sin and think
God has got you covered with an OSAS insurance policy. Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love. Here
are believers, people who called Jesus "Lord" but were doing their own
thing. Jesus asked them: Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord! Lord!' and do not
do the things which I say?" If Jesus would ask you that (because you are not loving Him as He expects it of you), would you be ready for an answer? No true believer can ignore this: Mark 12:30 And
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the
first commandment. And again, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
A
person's life is in God's hands. Because Jesus loves those who are his,
He is merciful with them. He will give correction as needed.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Only
Jesus knows what time frame He will allow from the moment a person
commits sin and that person repenting to get right with Him again (if possible - it may not be.) "Be
zealous," to me, means "Get on this right away. Clean up your act fast
and don't go back to that way of sin that leads to death."
One
deliberate sin is enough to tell God our heart is not 100% with Him. Remember the
greatest commandment: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your
strength" (Mark 12:30). For instance, how many times a married person
can be unfaithful until his/her spouse sees a problem in that? I think
just once and that one time can be devastatingly serious, especially if for any reason
there is no window open to forgiveness. It means "the end." Again, there may not be forgiveness available. It's not for a man to provide comfort to anyone who has committed or may be contemplating to commit any sin presumptuously. God is merciful but He can't be mocked. I don't
think someone who has been saved and becomes a serial sinner stands a
chance, but I speak as a man. Depending on God's disposition toward what He sees in someone's heart, mercy may not be granted. It's foolish to play with a point of no return, however close or far it may appear to someone's mind.
Hebrews 6:4-6 4
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they
crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open
shame.
So, I would fear for anyone who got saved and
then would fail to be sober and vigilant, get deceived by the devil and
get caught in his trap. Hence the Bible is full of warnings to believers:
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
We are indeed talking about willful sins that lead to death (1 John 5:16).
Hebrews 10:26-27 26
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour
the adversaries.
God will look at someone as an
adversary when it is a case of willful sin. Because the Gospel is a path
given to sinners who are enemies of God (Romans 5:6-11) to be
reconciled to Him and be his friends who do his will on earth. So, presumptuously sinning is standing against what God stands for (righteousness).
There
are other unintentional sins a person can commit that still need repentance and forgiveness but that do not lead to
death (1 John 5:16). They don't come out of a rebellious heart but highlight
things that need to be ironed out as the person grows in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). For
instance, mistakes in judgment happen, thoughts must be guarded,
attitudes must be checked, especially with pride that is a blinding
agent masking one's flaws and abundant need of God's grace to be
transformed according to his will.
