Question of the Week
" Eternal Security"
( Once saved, always saved ~ Fact or Fiction )

Please realize I am not a Preacher or Minister. I am just a Real Estate Broker who had Questions.
I have tried to answer questions that have been submitted by friends like you.
I hope some of these answers will help you on your search for the truth.

Please do not hesitate to send me an email with and questions or comments you might have.

Question		  
"Once Saved always Saved"   I don't believe that once saved always saved. I believe that you can lose your salvation if you turn from God or if you go back to committing sins.
       The Bible says you can fall from grace. Galatians 5:4 and in James 2 it says that faith without works is dead. Therefore you can lose your salvation. What do you have to say about that?
Answer   I know how you feel, I once felt the same way until I looked closely at what the Bible REALLY said about being saved.

Let's first look at the Bible verses you mentioned above.
  • In Galatians 5:4 you are absolutely correct. "You CAN fall from grace." but realize grace IS NOT salvation.
Go to Titus 2:11 11
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." (NIV)

Notice is says..."the grace of God the BRINGETH salvation...."
Example:
       If I said... " The water pipe that bringeth the water..."

Is the Water Pipe and the Water the same? NO!

and neither is Grace and Salvation.. "Look again at what vs. 4 says..." The Grace of God that Bringeth salvation..."

Can you fall from grace? Yes! but again, Grace and Salvation are two different things.

  • 2nd question   First of all James chapter 2 is talking to those ALREADY saved. It is not talking about how to be saved or how to stay saved. It talks about how they were showing favoritism towards some and then goes on to show them (as well as us) how we SHOULD treat others.
First look at James 2 vs 1. He refers to those he is writing to as "brothers" and as "Believers in our Lord Jesus Christ"  but that isn't the most important part.

Look also at James 2:2-4 2
vs. 2  "Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in."
vs. 3  " If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
vs. 4   "have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? "(NIV)

But here is the most important part of the chapter and the part that causes much contriversy. But when taken in light of what is REALLY being talked about it make sense.

" FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD." ?
Absolutely ! But the word 'dead' is (nekros) in the greek meaning "Fruitless or not bearing fruit or useless" in other words 'dead'

Lets take a closer look at what James 2 is talking about.
(
James 2:14-20

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (1st consideration.. "From What?")

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (If we don't DO something (works) there is no profit for that person.)

17 Even so faith, (our faith, not his) if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, (It doesn't say 'God may say') Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (Fruitless, it does not bear fruit)(KJV)

Question.

Where in these verses is it talking about eternal salvation. Salvation of the soul. It is speaking here about meeting the physical needs of those around us. Only then will they listen.

If we say to someone who is cold and hungry. Depart in peace. vs. 16. "OUR faith" can't save him. He needs food and clothing.

If we are willing to WORK then our faith will bear much fruit.


Can we lose our salvation ?  Absolutely Not!

Just a few scriptures to consider;
John 6:37 & 39  "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (KJV)
(We can't lose our salvation because we are not in control of it. Jesus said.; "...I will lose NOTHING..")

John 10:28  "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (KJV)
(He has a hold of us. Not us holding onto Him.)

John 6:47  "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (KJV)
(He has a hold of us. Not us holding onto Him.)
" One Saved Always Saved ? " How About.. " If Saved Always Saved ! "
Would you go for that ?

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