The Catholic Defender: Once Saved Always Saved is a false doctrine of Calvinism.
This doctrine teaches that salvation can never be lost, despite the lifestyle you lead or the actions you take–even if it means denying Jesus and turning your back on Him. This view is based on Romans 8 and John 10 which in summary state that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that Jesus’ sheep have eternal life and no one can pluck them out of His hand.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they FALL AWAY, to be brought back to repentance, because to THEIR LOSS they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will DEPART from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.”
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will TURN AWAY from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
If you can remain saved after denying Jesus, then why did Jesus ask us to stand firm until the end?
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation– IF indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that TURNS AWAY from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”
The writer of Hebrews addresses brothers who might harbor sinful, unbelieving hearts that may turn away from the living God. Once again, he affirms that we share and enjoy security in Christ if we hold firmly until the end.
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, HOLDING ON to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
Comments