I have just read the scripture below. How does this reflect on the doctrine of once saved, always saved?
Romans 11v149 Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
I would like to open this up for discussion as there are many guys approaching me and asking about similar scriptures e.g.
John 15v6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15v6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
4 comments:
Hmmm, I'm a once saved always saved girl. However, I take the warning passages seriously. The point to remember is that most people who like to argue we can lose our salvation are themselves the most likely to be ones who have 'fallen from grace' themselves. Why do I say this? (By the way I used to be a fierce proponent of the other view)
Because they believe people can lose their salvation by sinning too much, that there is some line we can cross in sin that exhausts the grace of God. Actually they believe that we hold on to salvation by being good, not sinning to much, by self-righteousness (like the Galatians)and are very nervous when people start saying we are the righteousness of God at all times if we are in Christ, even when we're sinning.
But every warning given is always in context of going back to the law, just look at Hebrews, where several of these warning passages are found. So if we could lose our salvation, the only way to do it would be to turn from full faith in Jesus and his work and go back to the law and trusting in our own righteousness through works of the law either for justification OR sanctification.
I'm certainly not trying make the case that if anyone has legalistic beliefs (usually unknowingly, because of not being taught the true gospel) that they are not saved! But if someone makes a conscience decision to trust in the law instead of Jesus, then how can they be regenerated?
Also, I think it's good to bear in mind the context of the verses. God is showing us that we're not saved by our own great intelligence or spirituality so we should not boast or look down on Israel, but remain humble, not falling into the same trap some of them did, but at the same time not judging them for their unbelief. Our faith is a gift from God and he's consigned them over to unbelief (for a time) for our benefit that we could enter into salvation, so no pride allowed! Pride is self-righteousness...
Don't know if I made any sense at all...
A very sticky tricky you've posed! Can't wait to see the other comments.
Julia said a mouthful. Hard to explain it better than that.
But in the Vine and the branches analogy, Jesus (from my understanding) is talking about people who wander away from the Vine, trying to produce fruit on their own. They end up withering (getting worn out) and they are thrown into the fire and burned. I imagine it shows the person starting out in Grace, but going back to the Law.
oops. I have no idea why I called you Julia, Julie. lol easy mistake to make I guess.
That's ok, I answer to all forms of Julie...
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