ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?
ARE YOU SURE?
WILLFULLY DEPARTING FROM GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT,
IS A CHOICE OR A DECISION YOU MAKE ALL BY YOURSELF .
“... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL [CHOOSE OR DECIDE TO] ...DEPART FROM the [CHRISTIAN] ... FAITH !!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV). “...Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...” (Hebrews 3:12 KJV). “...If ye continue in the faith ... and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ...” (Colossians 1:22-23 KJV).
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“... I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “…” (Malachi 2:16 NLT). Divorces, separations, broken MARRIAGES are all PARALELTIC VISIONS OR DESCRIPTIONS OF CHRIST’s ONCE, intimate, covenant relationship to certain believers who have willfully and voluntarily divorced him, ABANDONED HIM, FORSAKEN HIM, OR HAVE BLATANTLY BROKEN THEIR VOWS TO HIM, fallen away from him, and departed from him. “... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL [CHOOSE OR DECIDE TO] ...DEPART FROM the FAITH !!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV). “…[MY PEOPLE] ... broke [THEIR] ... covenant ..[WITH ME], though I (GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT) loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 31:32 NASB).
There is nothing wrong with the commitment, loyalty, or faithfulness, to the vows and promises, God makes to his covenant people. HIS PEOPLE ARE “SECURE” IN HIS “IMMUTABLE” UNCHANGING, UNWAVERING LOVE FOR THEM! “…If we are faithless, he remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV). “…As many as are the promises of God,.. in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB). “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB). God is “…watching over [his]… word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall [his]… word be that goeth forth out of [his]… mouth: it shall not return unto [him]… void, but it shall accomplish that which [God]… please[s], and it shall prosper in the thing whereto [God]… sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).
HIS WORD SAYS: “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). God will “…Never leave nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). “…Behold, I am with … [you] and will keep … [you] whithersoever [you]… goest…I will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV).
There is, however, SOMETHING terribly wrong with the commitment, loyalty, and faithfulness, to the vows and promises, some of God’s people have made to HIM, the Holy Spirit. GOD IS “NOT” SECURE IN THE LOVE OF HIS PEOPLE; THEY CAN FREELY “LEAVE” HIM ANY TIME THEY SO CHOOSE. “...[YOU]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…for years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT). “…They ABANDONED ME and did not obey my word….” (JEREMIAH 16:11 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT
Many have willfully and voluntarily departed from God, the Holy Spirit, or separated from him, or divorced him, or forgotten about him, or forsaken him, or have blatantly broken their vows to him.“…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…They (God’s OWN people) KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
THEY maintain a “FORM” or an appearance of being in an intimate, covenant relationship with God (performances of godliness) by DOING CHRISTIAN DEEDS or making Christian GESTURES, talking Christian talk with Christian clichés WHILE at THE SAME TIME SERVING THEIR TRUE MASTER; THEIR “OWN” unrepentant mindset“… men shall be lovers of their own selves, … unholy… Having a form (practice) of godliness, but denying (rejecting, negating) the POWER (the indwelling Holy power REQUIRED to live a true Christian life) ... from such turn away. … men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. …. evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived…”(2 Timothy 3:1-13 KJV). “…The one who does what is sinful is ...of the devil… …” (1 John 3:8 NIV). “…They …serve ….their OWN belly (appetites)…” (Romans 16:18 KJV).
“… ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV). “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ... the one who practices sin is of the devil ... No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD..” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).
“... Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him (ABIDE WITH HIM) will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him ... who he is. Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s [SPIRITUAL] ... life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone (NO EXCEPTIONS) who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
The fallen and departed are successfully fooling everybody around them and at the same time, losing their soul to hell. “…What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world (fool other humans with outward phoniness), and lose his (her) own soul?...” (Mark 8:36 KJV). “...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…No one needed… to tell him (God) about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT). “…[The] ...Lord (God), which knowest the hearts of all men…” (Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).
Many BELIEVERS quote the cliché that “ONCE SAVED; “ALWAYS” SAVED”, and many USE the following scriptures to SUPPORT their CLAIM: “... In Him ,.. you WERE SEALED ...WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT). “... Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption...” (Ephesians 4:30 NASB). “...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise...” (Ephesians 1:13 KJV). “... Do not quench (extinguish, put out, remove, cut off) the [Holy]... Spirit...” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB).
The WORD of GOD “ALSO” says SIN SEPARATES YOU from God, the “HOLY” Spirit and his GRACE. “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). Even through, “... In Him,.., you WERE SEALED IN HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT). YET, “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ... the one who practices sin is of the devil ... anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). You ARE sealed, but the WORD can CUT asunder the SEAL between the SOUL AND SPIRIT when it TELLS you “SIN” will put a separation between YOU and God. The PRACTICE of SIN will CUT you OFF from God, the Holy Spirit and cut asunder the SEAL. “…You have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT). “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).
God NEVER changes. “…I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). . “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he that believeth (depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).
“... In Him ... you WERE SEALED ...WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT). However, “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). “…you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).
Two oxen can be joined together with a wooden bar called a yoke and together they pull whatever load they are given as a team.
However if one oxen is stronger, taller, weaker, shorter, smaller, or bigger than the other oxen they will be unequally yoked.
If the oxen are unequally yoked they will not be able to fairly share the load or finish the task they’ve been given. The two oxen can end up being completely off balance or going around in redundant circles. “…Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together…” (Deuteronomy 22:10 KJV).
The bible says, “…Be ye not unequally yoked together. with unbelievers...” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV). The fallen or departed has moved to the opposite team, away from God, the Holy Spirit, which means they have NOTHING in common any more. “…What part hath righteousness with unrighteousness?...” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).
We are NOT talking about MISTAKES, STRUGGLES, OR WEAKNESSES. We are talking about people who have willfully and voluntarily DECIDED TO DEPART from God and LIVE AN ongoing LIFESTYLE of PRACTICING SIN.
A lifestyle of practicing sin WILL ALWAYS CREATE a separation or BARRIER between YOU and HOLINESS. “... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ... the one who practices sin is of the devil ... anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “... the word of God...piercing ....to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
HOLINESS can NOT and will NOT “EVER” MIX with SIN. SIN and HOLINESS SEPARATES; just like oil and water. “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God (who is HOLY)…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
“…[ONLY the ONE who remains] ... joined unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE Spirit… [united with the HOLY God]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “... in Him (not outside of him or apart from him) there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins ... knows Him... [IN HIM he] ...is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ... [Therefore,] ... little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil;...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB & Jude 1:24 KJV).
“…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he that believeth (depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).
Jesus miraculously enables the HOLY God and SINFUL mankind to JOIN or UNITE together in an intimate, covenant relationship and become ONE SPIRIT. “…What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate…” (Mark 10:9 NASB). “…Love … is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…He that is JOINED unto the Lord is ONE Spirit…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…Let no one split apart what God has joined together…” (Mark 10:9 NLT). However, “... the word of God...[is powerful enough] ....to [divide] asunder [the] ...soul and spirit....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).“…The things which are impossible with men … [are] ...POSSIBLE [with God]…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
When there is a BARRIER, made by sin, it separates the natural realm from the supernatural realm and it creates an impenetrable chasm. “... And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm (barrier) has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us…” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
This chasm separates you from God, cuts you off from him, and he can’t even hear you since he is in another realm. HIS Holiness WON’T allow him to show favor with SIN of any kind. “…[God, the Holy Spirit] can not look on wickedness with favor…” (Habakkuk 1:13 NASB). “…[God, the Holy Spirit’s]... eyes are too pure to approve evil…” (Habakkuk 1:13 NASB). “…Because of YOUR SINS, [God, the Holy Spirit has] … turned away and can… not listen anymore [because he is in the spiritual realm and YOU are not]…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
HOLINESS simply can NOT bond, MIX, or be yoked together with SIN. The HOLY God desired to be yoked together with mankind, but SIN creates a chasm. “…Be ye NOT unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).
Remember the biblical story of the poor man and the rich man? “…The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm (barrier) has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us…” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
Without Jesus, there “WILL” ALWAYS remain an impenetrable BARRIER or CHASM between mankind (SIN/oil) and God (HOLY/water). “... You have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 2:21 NLT). “... APART FROM [Christ]... you can do nothing …” (John 15:1-11 NASB). However, because of LOVE and GRACE: “…There is … one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT). ABIDE IN HIM ALWAYS, BECAUSE, “… apart from [HIM[, you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “… [You] … can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth … [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…It is God who works in [you]… to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). Jesus “IS” and will “ALWAYS” be the WAY to ABIDE with God, the Holy Spirit! Jesus saith…I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV).
God RECONCILES you and BLESSES you with UNTOLD GRACE through salvation, but you can willfully and voluntarily CHOSE to DEPART from the intimate, covenant relationship at ANY TIME, but “NOT” without CONSEQUENCE! “… For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. …” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL DEPART FROM the FAITH!!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV).
There are 5 infallible, biblical TRUTHS that provide PROOF that Hebrews 6:4-8 is TALKING about “THOSE” who, at one time, KNEW God, the Holy Spirit, INTIMATELY and have DEPARTED or FALLEN from his GRACE. “…those who were once enlightened—and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the power of the world to come …” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
1. “THOSE” were “enlightened” with the Gospel. 2. Jesus Christ is evidently the “heavenly gift” accepted, in the heart, of THOSE as the atoning sacrifice. 3. THOSE were “partakers (participants) with the Holy Ghost which comes to dwell within people. 4. THOSE have also “tasted the GOOD Word of God” through revelation knowledge, and; 5. THOSE have “tasted the powers of the world to come” first, through the confirming work of the Holy Spirit in the miracle of salvation and then through one or more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“... It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. …” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL DEPART FROM the FAITH!!!!...” (1Timothy 4:1-3 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit doesn’t EVER want, desire, or choose to lose you (John 6:39) nor will he LET anyone take you away from him (John 10:28). He is in control, but NEVER controlling or forceful. You FREELY choose to depend upon the POWER of his indwelling Holy Spirit to KEEP you. “... [To believers] ... who are kept by the POWER of God through faith (dependence upon him) unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time...” (1 Peter 1:5 KJV).
It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that saves you, sustains you, empowers you, produces fruit in and through you, and keeps you from falling “WHEN” you choose to depend upon the POWER of God’s Word. “... Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy...” (Jude 1:24 KJV).
If you CHOOSE to willfully and voluntarily depend upon HIS POWER to keep you by STAYING and ABIDING with God, the Holy Spirit, he will keep you strong to the end! “... And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom... “ (2 Timothy 4:18 KJV). “…HE (the indwelling Holy Spirit) “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “... But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil...”(2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV).
We started this brief discussion on the cliché that “ONCE THEY ARE SAVED; “ALWAYS” SAVED” based, particularly, on the following scripture to SUPPORT their CLAIM: “... In Him,.., you WERE SEALED ... WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT).
But we SAW two things: GOD’s WORD or HIS TRUTH can cut asunder the SEAL between SOUL and SPIRIT and that “SOME” will decide or choose to depart from the Christian faith. “... the word of God...piercing ....to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). “... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL DEPART FROM the FAITH!!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV). “...Take heed, BRETHREN (fellow believers), lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...” (Hebrews 3:12 KJV). “... For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them...” (2 Peter 5:4 KJV). “...If ye [choose] ... continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard...” (Colossians 1:22-23 KJV).
The above Scriptures are talking to Christians, Believers, Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ, the church, the body of Christ, or THOSE.
Therefore, the bottom line to “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED” IS this: “...HE (SHE) THAT “SHALL” (WILL) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL (WILL) BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).
ETERNAL LIFE IS THE DESTINATION, BUT ENDURING WITH JESUS, WHO IS THE ONLY“WAY,” OR IS THE ONLY “PATH” TO THE DESTINATION!
DEPARTING FROM THE “WAY” IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE “PATH” TO THE DESTINATION (ETERNAL LIFE).
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