Once Saved Always Saved ?

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED ?

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 

28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. (Romans 11:21-22, 28-29)

In the passage in Romans 11, Paul deals with a group of people that are the apple of God's heart ...a people group that God chose to reveal His purpose and plans for humanity.

In this passage comes a very much quoted verse especially by those that preach that when you are saved you will always be saved. Is that so ? That verse is in Romans 11:29 - "since God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable". This must include salvation because in salvation lies the fundamental purpose of Jesus Christ in shedding His blood for us. That is to reconcile man to God by removing the curse of sin and death on our lives. 

Many say the proponents of the Grace Gospel...tend to cheapen what Christ has done on the Cross...and causes Christians to be lazy, complacent and greater sinners than before. This is so if we do not subject ourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Eventhough we have be brought out of the law of sin and death, there is another law at work in us...the law of faith. Now faith can only come when we can hear Him. If we continue in sin, sin is basically living a life where we think we are God. We choose not to acknowledge (Rom 1:28) God as God...we like the prodigal son, pack our bags as live as we like and how we like. Therefore we bear everything for our own survival ! that is sin. Now when we live without acknowledging God's lordship in our lives, faith has no place in us...without the entrance of God's word in us, the Holy Spirit has nothing to improve us with ! So grace is only grace when the Holy Spirit is LORD of us.

So what does salvation being irrevocable mean ?. Jesus going to the cross and giving His life for us...now that cannot be repeated nor deleted. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly cannot be repeated nor deleted. In fact Jesus cried out on the cross "IT IS FINISHED !". In Hebrews 10, it says Jesus offered His life and He sat down !..When someone sits down after work is done..means work is done !

So Salvation and everything Jesus has done and is for us is irrevocable. When the prodigal son left His father's home, the Father's home was still standing. The Father was still in existent. The son CHOSED to leave. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Him in us is irrevocable.

And when we continue to be in the goodness and kindness of God, all that is Christ is yours ! Irrevocable. It is not Christ that will leave you...but salvation in us is lost when we choose not to belief and walk away from the Lord.

Otherwise salvation can never be lost. Keep walking in the Spirit and be governed by HIs word. 

Luv Edwin

8/10/12