In the last two articles we pointed out that in order to be saved one must be baptized "for the remission of sins." And that baptism puts one "into Christ" where "all spiritual blessings" are found (Eph. 1:3). Since one must be baptized in order to be saved, then it is false to teach salvation by "faith only."
In this study we will look at the false teaching of "once saved, always saved," or "a child of God cannot so sin as to finally be lost in hell."
One preacher of a large denomination stated: "All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform, will not make his soul one whit safer. And all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder. will not make his soul in any more danger." Friends, that is a damnable doctrine, and is not taught in the sacred pages of the Bible.
The Bible teaches that going to heaven is conditioned upon obedience to the Father and Christ. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9). "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46)? "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).
There are so many passages that teach that a child of God can so sin as to be finally lost in hell, the difficulty is just which one to cite. First, I point out that it is not a question of what a child of God may do; but rather, what can he do! The question is one of
possibility, not of probability.
If "once saved, always saved" is true, why all the warnings and admonitions to Christians: "...take heed lest ye fall" (I Cor. 10:12), and "Make your calling and election sure" (II Pet. 1:10)?
If Christians ever needed the admonition to "take heed lest ye fall," the Corinthian saints needed the warning. The church was stressed by division ( I Cor. 1:10-13;3:1-3).
If a child of God cannot so sin as to be lost in hell, why did Paul command the Corinthian church to withdraw from the brother that was guilty of fornication (I Cor. 5). Note verse 5: "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." If it were not possible for him to be lost, why did Paul say "that the spirit may be saved?" This man was a child of God, but according to this verse, he was in a lost condition.
If a child of God cannot be lost, why did Paul say: "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (v.6)? Thus stating that those failing to withdraw from the unfaithful brethren, who continue to live in adulterous marriages, become guilty of sin.
To say that a child of God cannot be lost is to say that when one becomes an atheist (ceases to believe in God, the Father, Jesus the Christ, or have no desire to go to heaven), God will still save him. Who can believe ?
If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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