- Once-saved-always-saved
- One only has to read the very last two verses of James (James 5:19-20) to see why. "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. "
- Calvinists typically don't have a response to verses like these other than to falsely argue that "well, the sinner must not have ever really been born from above to begin with."
- It is not unfeasible for someone to be whole-heartedly devoted to God for a majority of their lifetime and then suddenly snap and turn totally against God in his heart. For example, suppose Billy Graham were to all of a sudden denounce God and start worshiping Satan. Calvinists would suggest that Billy Graham must not have ever have been saved whereas any other rational person would say that he once was a great man of faith whose heart was totally devoted to God but then suddenly snapped.
Scriptural Objections to Perseverance of the SaintsMatthew 13:41,42. All who are in Christ's kingdom have been born again (John 3:3-5) but some of those in the kingdom who "practice lawlessness" will be gathered out of it.
John 15:1-6. In these verses Jesus warns His disciples to continue to abide in Him. If it is impossible for a Christian not to abide in Christ, then Jesus' warning has no meaning. A Christian who does not repent of failing to abide in Christ can only anticipate destruction in the final day.
Acts 8:9-24. Simon believed and was baptized. (v. 3) Thus there is no question he was a child of God. After becoming a child of God he sought to buy the gift of God with money. (vv. 18-19) He was told he was "poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." (v. 23) He was commanded to "repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart can be forgiven you." (v. 22) One inspired man, Luke, called Simon a baptized believer. Another inspired man, Peter, told him he would perish with his money. Simon, though a child of God, had sins that needed to be forgiven or he would perish. (v. 20) Simon had fallen from grace.
Romans 8:12, 13. This passage is directed toward "brethren." (v. 12) It is possible for a brother, a child of God, to live according to the flesh and "die." (v. 13)
Romans 11:22. This text is a warning to Gentile Christians who were in God's "goodness." If they failed to continue in God's goodness, they would be "cut off."
Romans 14:15 and 1 Corinthians 8:11. Both of these passages warn Christians not to cause their brethren to sin in matters of judgment. Those "for whom Christ died," Calvinists would call them the elect, can be destroyed (Rom. 14:15) or perish. (1 Cor. 8:11)
1 Corinthians 9:27. Not even the staunchest Calvinist would deny that the apostle Paul was a child of God. Yet, in this text, Paul said, that even after preaching to others, he could be "disqualified," i.e., he could be lost even though he was a Christian.
Galatians 5:2-4. This passage is definitely directed toward Christians (cf. Gal. 3:26), children of God. The word translated "fallen" in this text is the same word that is used in other places to refer to divorce. It could be translated "severed." These children of God were once as firmly united with the grace of God as a man is with his wife or as Christ is with the church, but now they have been divorced, severed, from grace. They could not be severed from something they were not joined to in the first place. They could not fall from that which they were not in.
1 Timothy 4:1. This passage states that some Christians "will depart from the faith." Such a departure would cause them to be lost. In verse 16, Timothy is told if he, as a child of God, would be saved he would have to "continue in" the doctrine of Christ.
Hebrews 6:4-6. The people under consideration in this passage:
Hebrews 10:26-29. It is evident that Christians are under consideration in this passage because they have been "sanctified" by the blood of Christ. (v. 29) If a child of God willfully forsakes the Lord and does not repent, he has nothing to anticipate but a "certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation." (v. 27)
James 5:19. A brother can "wander from the truth" in such a manner as to be a "sinner" whose soul is in jeopardy of "death." (cf. Gal. 6:1)
2 Peter 2:1. This passage warns of false teachers who will deny "the Lord who bought them." Those who deny Christ, even children of God, will be denied before God (Matt. 10:33) and be cast into the lake of fire if they do not repent. (Rev. 21:8)
2 Peter 3:17. Christians can fall from "steadfastness" and be led away "with the error of the wicked."
Revelation 3:5. All Christians have their names written in the book of life. (Rev. 20:15) Those names can be removed if they do not live faithfully. (Rev. 3:5; 22:19)
ConclusionThe Bible teaches that the believer is secure in his salvation in the hand of God as long as he remains faithful to the will of God and loyal to Christ. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
The word of God also teaches that a child of God can voluntarily, by his sins, separate himself from God and Christ and be lost. If the child of God becomes unfaithful and does not repent, the "wages of sin," death (Rom. 6:23), await him even though he had once been in fellowship with God.
The Perseverance of the Saints, or "once saved always saved," like the four tenets of Calvinism which precede it, is a false doctrine that must be rejected.
Read more information on this link.
John 15:1-6. In these verses Jesus warns His disciples to continue to abide in Him. If it is impossible for a Christian not to abide in Christ, then Jesus' warning has no meaning. A Christian who does not repent of failing to abide in Christ can only anticipate destruction in the final day.
Acts 8:9-24. Simon believed and was baptized. (v. 3) Thus there is no question he was a child of God. After becoming a child of God he sought to buy the gift of God with money. (vv. 18-19) He was told he was "poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." (v. 23) He was commanded to "repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart can be forgiven you." (v. 22) One inspired man, Luke, called Simon a baptized believer. Another inspired man, Peter, told him he would perish with his money. Simon, though a child of God, had sins that needed to be forgiven or he would perish. (v. 20) Simon had fallen from grace.
Romans 8:12, 13. This passage is directed toward "brethren." (v. 12) It is possible for a brother, a child of God, to live according to the flesh and "die." (v. 13)
Romans 11:22. This text is a warning to Gentile Christians who were in God's "goodness." If they failed to continue in God's goodness, they would be "cut off."
Romans 14:15 and 1 Corinthians 8:11. Both of these passages warn Christians not to cause their brethren to sin in matters of judgment. Those "for whom Christ died," Calvinists would call them the elect, can be destroyed (Rom. 14:15) or perish. (1 Cor. 8:11)
1 Corinthians 9:27. Not even the staunchest Calvinist would deny that the apostle Paul was a child of God. Yet, in this text, Paul said, that even after preaching to others, he could be "disqualified," i.e., he could be lost even though he was a Christian.
Galatians 5:2-4. This passage is definitely directed toward Christians (cf. Gal. 3:26), children of God. The word translated "fallen" in this text is the same word that is used in other places to refer to divorce. It could be translated "severed." These children of God were once as firmly united with the grace of God as a man is with his wife or as Christ is with the church, but now they have been divorced, severed, from grace. They could not be severed from something they were not joined to in the first place. They could not fall from that which they were not in.
1 Timothy 4:1. This passage states that some Christians "will depart from the faith." Such a departure would cause them to be lost. In verse 16, Timothy is told if he, as a child of God, would be saved he would have to "continue in" the doctrine of Christ.
Hebrews 6:4-6. The people under consideration in this passage:
- Were "once enlightened." Even Calvinists believe this phrase applies to the Christian and not to one who is totally depraved and wholly defiled.
- "Tasted the heavenly gift." They must have been Christians for unregenerates, those totally depraved, could not experience the heavenly gift.
- Were "partakers of the Holy Spirit." Since the word "partakers" has its root idea in fellowship, can one who is not a Christian be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
- "Tasted the good word of God." An unregenerate person, according to Calvinists, could not possibly understand the word of God.
- "Tasted…the powers of the age to come." Again, the unregenerate could have no connection to the powers and blessings of God through Christ.
- Are obviously Christians, children of God.
Hebrews 10:26-29. It is evident that Christians are under consideration in this passage because they have been "sanctified" by the blood of Christ. (v. 29) If a child of God willfully forsakes the Lord and does not repent, he has nothing to anticipate but a "certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation." (v. 27)
James 5:19. A brother can "wander from the truth" in such a manner as to be a "sinner" whose soul is in jeopardy of "death." (cf. Gal. 6:1)
2 Peter 2:1. This passage warns of false teachers who will deny "the Lord who bought them." Those who deny Christ, even children of God, will be denied before God (Matt. 10:33) and be cast into the lake of fire if they do not repent. (Rev. 21:8)
2 Peter 3:17. Christians can fall from "steadfastness" and be led away "with the error of the wicked."
Revelation 3:5. All Christians have their names written in the book of life. (Rev. 20:15) Those names can be removed if they do not live faithfully. (Rev. 3:5; 22:19)
ConclusionThe Bible teaches that the believer is secure in his salvation in the hand of God as long as he remains faithful to the will of God and loyal to Christ. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
The word of God also teaches that a child of God can voluntarily, by his sins, separate himself from God and Christ and be lost. If the child of God becomes unfaithful and does not repent, the "wages of sin," death (Rom. 6:23), await him even though he had once been in fellowship with God.
The Perseverance of the Saints, or "once saved always saved," like the four tenets of Calvinism which precede it, is a false doctrine that must be rejected.
Read more information on this link.