1
Once Saved, Always Saved Doctrine
Sometimes Wrongly Called Eternal Security of
Believers
Perseverance of the Saints
True or False?
2
Advocates of Doctrine Define Explain It
3
Sam Morris, Baptist Preacher

• Wrote tract, Do A Christian's Sins Damn His Soul?
• We take the position that a Christian's sins do
  not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives,
  what he says, his character, his conduct, or his
  attitude toward other people have nothing
  whatever to do with the salvation of his soul
• It does make a big difference how he lives but
  that difference relates to his fellowship with
  God... Those sins won't damn his soul, but they
  will damn his fellowship with God and Christ
• And all the sins he may commit from murder to
  idolatry will not make his soul in any more
  danger

4
More Proponents of Doctrine

• Bill Foster, Baptist (Louisville, KY)
• "If I killed my wife and mother and debauched a
  thousand women I couldn't go to hell -- in fact,
  I couldn't go to hell if I wanted to.
• Many advocates of doctrine seek to avoid logical
  consequences, but this one accepts
• Preacher for Son of Sam killer affirmed he
  would have been saved if killed in act

5
Dr. Cobbs Baptist Manual

• Baptist turn unruly members "over to Satan" (p.
  160)
• May commit such sins as "incest," "drunkenness,
  fornication, heresy, adultery, thievery,
  immorality, and ungodliness" (pp. 146-158)
• "When a church withdraws from a member, it does
  not mean that the individual is not a saved
  person" (p. 161)
• Thus, Baptists withdraw from saved fornicators,
  thieves and ungodly people with whom they will
  share eternity!
• Baptists claim that their doctrine of
  impossibility of apostasy does not encourage
  licentious living
• Absurdity is the logical consequence of the
  doctrine

6
Scriptural Reasons to Reject Once Saved, Always
Saved
7
1 -- Hebrews 64-6
4 For as touching those who were once enlightened
and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the
good word of God, and the powers of the age to
come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to
renew them again unto repentance seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and
put him to an open shame.
8
Hebrews 64-6

• Notice the initial condition of person
• Once enlightened
• Tasted of the heavenly gift
• Made partakers of the Holy Spirit
• Tasted the good word of God
• Tasted the powers of the age to come
• Does not describe lost person, but saved one
• Then fell away
• Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh
• Put him to an open shame
• See case of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 813-24)

9
2 -- Galatians 51-4
1 For freedom did Christ set us free stand fast
therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke
of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that,
if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit
you nothing. 3 Yea, I testify again to every man
that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor
to do the whole law. 4 Ye are severed from
Christ, ye would be justified by the law ye are
fallen away from grace.
10
Galatians 51-4

• Notice those to whom the letter is addressed
• The churches of Galatia
• Christ gave himself for our sins (Paul
  reader)
• That he might deliver us out of this present
  world
• Calvinism teaches limited atonement for saved
• Severed from Christ
• How severed if never part of or within Christ?
• Ye are fallen away from grace
• Cannot fall away from something never had
• Must have been in grace to fall away from grace
• Passage clearly teaches possibility of apostasy

11
3 -- 2 Thessalonians 21-3
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
gathering together unto him 2 to the end that ye
be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be
troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by
epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord
is just at hand 3 let no man beguile you in any
wise for it will not be, except the falling away
come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition...
12
2 Thessalonians 21-3

• Notice the purpose for which Paul wrote
• Addressed brethren together with Paul
• Reference made to our Lord Jesus Christ
• Those Christians troubled about second coming
• Told second coming could not happen until...
• The falling away come first
• Except carries force of if and only if
• Man of sin or son of perdition to lead astray
• Impossible if there is no possibility of apostasy
• Second coming is impossible if once saved,
  always saved doctrine is true!

13
4 -- IF Passages Show Possibility

• Note use of word IF in following verses
• Heb. 312-14 If we hold fast (also 36)
• Rom. 1122 If continue in his goodness...
• 1 Cor. 151-2 If you hold fast word, except...
• John 151-7 If a man abide not in Christ
• Col. 121-23 If so be you continue in faith
• Gal. 67-9 Shall reap, if we faint not
• 2 Tim. 211-13 If we shall deny him...
• Nonsense if once saved, always saved true

14
5 -- Warnings Show Possibility

• Christians warned about effect of apostasy
• 2 Pet. 21 False teachers to bring destruction
• 1 Tim. 119 Some made shipwreck of faith...
• 1 Tim. 41f Some will fall away at error taught
• 2 Tim. 218 Error taught overthrew faith of some
• 2 Tim. 43f Will turn away from truth to fables
• Acts 2029f Flock of God not spared from error
• False teachers error have no effect if the
  once saved, always saved doctrine is true
• Warnings show that the doctrine is false

15
6 -- Effect of Apostasy Declared

• Note clear teaching of these passages
• 2 Pet. 220-22 Escaped entangled again
• How is last state worse than first if no change?
• 2 Pet. 317-18 Lest carried away fall
• Possible to either fall from steadfastness or
  grow
• Jas. 519-20 Err from truth converted
• Soul who erred had future of death due to sin
• Same principle as seen in Ezekiel 3313
• Must see possibility of apostasy as real!

16
Admonitions to Consider

• We must become prepared to defend truth
• Possibility of apostasy not written solely for
  Baptists other advocates of this error
• The warning is primarily for true Christians
• We can enjoy blessings of Christ then fall
• Grace is not presently enjoyed by us if fall in
  sin
• Abide in grace only if we continue in the truth
• False teaching error can destroy US
• It will arise we must overcome it or fall away
• If we fall away, our punishment will be worst
• Do we truly believe possibility of apostasy?