Why do some say there is no Rapture?

These days it is not unusual to hear someone say that there is no such thing as the Rapture. Such people could edify (enlighten / teach) the church by simply explaining what they mean by the term “rapture” – instead, they often seem satisfied to spread confusion. What many of them are actually talking about is the “secret, end-time, pre-tribulation, all-fly-away” rapture; a false teaching popular among American evangelicals. Even though the pre-tribulation rapture is not taught anywhere in the BIBLE, many modern christians believe that they are chosen to escape all of GOD’s coming judgments on the world. (Tribulation refers to a series of disasters outlined in the BIBLE that signal the end of the world as we know it, i.e., the apocalypse.)

What the BIBLE does teach is the resurrection of the righteous dead at JESUS’ second coming. It says the “dead in CHRIST shall rise up and any righteous Christians who happen to still be alive at that time will also be caught up in the air with them to be with JESUS. 1 Thes 4:13-17

Note that the emphasis of the Gospel message is on eternal salvation; the promise of resurrection after death. The rapture of the living at the second coming is just an inevitable consequence of the general resurrection of all who are worthy to be saved.

The word “rapture”

One group that denies the rapture does so because the word “rapture” does not appear in traditional English BIBLE translations (KJV, etc.). This is a pointless and deceptive argument because the apostle Paul originally wrote in Greek. He used the Greek word, “harpazo,” which means to “seize by force, to catch up, or snatch away” to describe what happens to living Christians at the second coming. Early Latin BIBLES translated harpazo as “rapio/raptus/rapturo” – which also means to be taken by force. From the Latin rapturo, we get the English phrase: “caught up,” and the word rapture which is commonly used to describe the scenario at 1 Thes 4:17.

JESUS said that the second coming and the gathering of the elect (the saved obedient Christians) occurs after the great tribulation. Mat 24:21-31, 1 Cor.15:51-52  The pre-tribulation rapture is not in the BIBLE but the “catching up in the air,” the rapture of the living saints at the same time as the resurrection, certainly is.    

Other significant groups that dismiss the rapture are preterists / dominionists / post millennialists. Their false doctrines cause them to twist the scripture to support their presupposition that all end-time scenarios in Bible prophesy must have happened in the past – in or before 70 AD – when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. They want to believe that we are currently in the “thousand-year reign,” i.e., Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth, to support their ludicrous claim that white American christians have been appointed to take political control and rule the world for JESUS. Understand that JESUS consistently rebuked HIS disciples for suggesting that HIS kingdom had anything to do with seeking worldly political dominion.

Conclusions

Focusing on the rapture as a way to escape the judgement of the world is missing the point. We were put here to be tested and JESUS has challenged us to overcome sinfulness in order to be saved. Rev 2:7, 17, 26 ; 3:5, 12, 21  Aside from those who fall away when they realize that there is no pre-trib rapture, it could be said that the timing of the rapture isn’t really that important. Why? Because every person must still be spiritually ready to face their own personal judgement day. Being alive at the time of the rapture is no guarantee of salvation, particularly for those who have not produced fruit worthy of repentance; those living in sin who have allowed themselves to be convinced that mere acceptance of JESUS has given them the right to claim eternal salvation. (OSAS)

"…for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time.  …in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate…" Didache (1st Century letter from the Apostles)

Church Heresies that Encourage American Socio-political Dysfunction - Part 1(a.)

…and there was a glitch in the evangelical/reformed matrix…

In 2013 a shocking statement, made years earlier by the foremost reformed preacher in America, came to light. During a Q&A session, John MacArthur had been recorded saying that, in the end times, Christians can take the “mark of the beast” and still be saved. There was an instant out cry by those who considered this statement to be a heretical contradiction of scripture. One YouTube commenter said (paraphrase): “… MacArthur is clearly going against the word of God to promote his own interpretation; Calvinism first, everything else second.”

Scriptural background: In the Book of Revelation, the BIBLE says that in order to be able to buy food and live, people on earth during the reign of the anti-christ will be forced to take a mark on their bodies (666) - signifying that they worship/belong to the beast (satan). Rev 13:15-18

What does the BIBLE say about taking the mark?

Rev 14:9-10:  …"If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (indicating final damnation). This is an “if – then” statement. IOW, if you (take the mark), then you will be damned. The word tenses in the original Greek indicate that this is a certainty – not just a possibility. It goes on -  Rev 14:13 tells us that “… anyone who receives the mark…” will receive eternal punishment. The BIBLE plainly states that those who receive the mark are damned; it never teaches that you can receive the mark and be forgiven. The certainty of damnation after taking the mark is the accepted interpretation of these verses. Rev 19:20, Rev 21:8

A Mistake?

MacArthur must have realized that he mis-spoke. He has a seminary, surely someone must have pointed this out and he made a correction – right?

Nope.   

A defense of this statement is still up on his website today. Typically, it begins by falsely re-stating the question that led to MacArthur’s heretical statement. The actual question asked by the audience member was: “once a person takes the mark, is there any possibility of him coming to Christ?” (The original Q&A transcript is here – search the word “beast.”) The website defense claimed that the original question was whether “taking the mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation would be an unpardonable sin?” The “unpardonable sin” is an entirely separate theological discussion that is specific to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. MacArthur’s followers are still using this red herring to defend his teaching – they claim that since taking the mark is not specifically said to be the “unpardonable sin” – then this must be a sin that can be forgiven. 

An honest restatement of the question would be: “If you take the mark of the beast in the midst of the tribulation can you still be saved?” MacArthur says yes, if you repent after taking the mark you can still be saved. This is a weak “argument from silence” debate tactic, i.e., since Rev 14:10 doesn’t say that you can't repent, then you must be able to. The scripture, however, says elsewhere that the worshippers of the beast (those who take the mark) will refuse to repent - even as their souls are being destroyed. Rev 9:20-21, Rev 16:9-11  There is obviously a spiritual aspect to this scenario where those who do not love the truth are eternally deceived. 2Th 2:8-12

Why would MacArthur teach this? It may be as simple as the need to defend the Calvinist system. Maybe this stance seems necessary to support Unconditional Election / OSAS; the Calvinist teaching that says if you are one of the elect, your salvation can’t be lost for any reason. However, selling your soul to the devil to live a short while longer during the tribulation is plainly the opposite of faithfully enduring to the end to be saved.   

Why bring this up now - decades later?

Is this statement the heresy I wish to expose? No, I point to this episode in order to set the stage. In recent years, John MacArthur has gone on to make a number of public pronouncements that use similarly faulty interpretations of scripture to support right-wing, proto-fascist, republican propagandistic talking points. Many other American right-wing political christians, from across the evangelical spectrum, have signed onto these statements and, no doubt, convey these sentiments to their congregations.  

In upcoming posts I will show how such statements contribute to the division in modern American society by heretically contradicting the most fundamental teaching of scripture - to love your neighbor as yourself.   

OSAS #4 – Grace vs Works: “Mud in the Water”

Intro

This is the fourth in a series of posts that compare the modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrine with what the BIBLE actually teaches. This post explains why Calvinists / OSAS believers have enshrined a false unbiblical distinction between grace and works as an inflexible part of their salvation doctrine. 

What is Grace?

Grace simply means favorable treatment from GOD. Eph 2:8 In regard to salvation, GOD’s grace is the act of drawing you to CHRIST so you can receive the offer of salvation. The parable of the sower shows that grace is given unconditionally to all, but it can be rejected - so salvation itself is not unconditional (as some falsely teach). Mat 13:1-23

What are Works?

Many religious systems share the belief that if your good works outweigh your sins, your afterlife will be in paradise. Modern agnostics believe something similar – that if there is an afterlife, their generally moral / charitable lifestyle should earn them a place in heaven. The BIBLE, however, teaches that you cant “earn” salvation, not even by being morally good. Christian salvation, can only be had through faith in JESUS. “Good works,” done in love, are evidence that you are living out your faith according to the commandments of JESUS. Rom 4

How Did the Grace vs Works Controversy Get Started?

Somewhere on its long march towards apostasy, the Catholic church started to teach that doing ritualized good works leads to salvation. One such work was making a donation to the church. Medieval Catholics could buy a certificate from the church, called an indulgence, that supposedly allowed them to sin and still be saved. This scam was made possible by the fact that the Catholic church generally didn’t allow the common people to read the BIBLE and had convinced medieval believers that it had the right to create doctrine – including doctrine that opposed the BIBLE. The accumulation of similarly outrageous heresies eventually led to a rebellion against the church known as the Protestant Reformation.

The 16^th century Protestants that left Catholicism created a dogmatic stance against “works righteousness” to separate themselves from the old Catholic practices. Unfortunately, they (notably Calvin) overemphasized grace to the point that they began to teach that willful sinners would also be saved – the genesis of the “unconditional salvation” doctrine.

What are Works (According to Calvinists / OSAS Believers)?

The acts of obedience that JESUS commanded are often ridiculed by modern Calvinists and OSAS believers as “works” that don’t contribute to salvation. They argue that (according to their doctrine) salvation can only be had by passively accepting GOD’s grace. IOW, trying to cooperate with GOD to achieve salvation is an act of unfaithfulness that proves that you don’t believe that GOD is powerful enough to save you. Their bottom-line belief is that salvation, once requested, is instantaneous and permanent so nothing that happens after that, including continuing to live in willful sin, can cause you to lose it. In order to uphold their false doctrine, they must reject the very commandments of JESUS – the ongoing actions HE requires from us to maintain and ensure our salvation.

Argument Framing – the “Mud in the Water”

Argument framing is a manipulative debate tactic that OSAS teachers, particularly Calvinists, have long used to set false, misleading boundaries around the “grace vs works” salvation argument. In an effort to justify their false doctrine, Calvinists and OSAS believers redefine the works of righteousness commanded by JESUS as “acts of Old Testament legalism, i.e., works under the law.” According to them, it is black or white; either you accept their unconditional salvation doctrine or you are someone who believes in Old Testament legalism. If you accept their “framing,” you have already lost the argument.

What Did Jesus Say about works?

When Calvinists / OSAS believers defend their “unconditional salvation / salvation by faith alone” doctrines and disparage acts of Christlikeness and obedience as “works,” they are willfully ignoring JESUS’ threat to damn people both for hypocritical religious “works” and for the works of righteousness that they did not do. Mat 7:21-27; Mat 25:34-46 The BIBLE repeatedly states that we will be judged according to our works.

What are Works according to Apostle Paul?

The purpose of the OT law was to teach people the difference between right and wrong – Paul called it a “schoolmaster.” Under legalism, the Jews did ritual works that were meant to earn forgiveness for specific sins, but their inner attitudes often remained unchanged. So, according to the New Testament (NT), OT rituals did not result in final salvation. Nevertheless, some early Christians assumed that everyone should become a Jew before being allowed to become a Christian. Paul opposed this in the strongest terms - he taught that returning to the OT law would be to reject the work of JESUS. JESUS was the final sacrifice – the fulfillment of the OT that activated the offer of forgiveness through eternal salvation. Mat 5:17-20 There was no purpose in returning to the law, i.e., continuing to seek forgiveness through ritual animal sacrifice.

This is the doctrine that the Calvinists twisted to claim that all works, including the acts of righteousness commanded by JESUS, are pointless attempts to return to the law under the OT.

The Necessity of Works according to James

James gave a simple BIBLE formula regarding works: “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-22 IOW, Christian belief without maintaining a Christlike attitude and doing Christlike actions is meaningless. James was talking about the works of obedience and Christlikeness according to the teaching of JESUS – actions that are evidence of loving GOD by loving others.

The “Mud in the Water” - Christlikeness and Obedience are Not OT Legalism

The Calvinistic argument that you must accept the “salvation by grace only” doctrine or you are a “works salvation” heretic, is the “mud in the water.” It is a false controversy that clouds the clear WORD of GOD in order to lead believers astray. BIBLE readers know that the scripture says both points are true - that salvation is by grace and that we must be Christlike and obedient to receive that salvation.

The grace of GOD is the primary action in the salvation process – drawing you to JESUS so you can hear HIS word and decide whether to accept it. Does this mean that you have no responsibility for cooperating with the salvation process? The BIBLE plainly indicates that you must continually do GOD’s will – loving GOD by loving your neighbor – to maintain your salvation. These are the very actions that Calvinists / OSAS believers denigrate as “works.”

Ironically, the people who teach Calvinism / OSAS count on ritualistic actions (works) themselves for salvation. The so-called “sinner’s prayer” (not found in the BIBLE) has become a ritual among OSAS believers. They insist that saying it just one time is a guarantee of salvation – even for those who continue living in sin. The same folks also seem to think that being part of the demographic that faithfully attends a right-wing “conservative” American church, a church body that is idolatrously loyal to republican politics (i.e., Christian nationalist), is a ticket to salvation.   

Regardless of what some want to believe, you cannot dictate your relationship to GOD - deciding which commandments you will or will not obey. Salvation is in reading and doing the WORDS of JESUS.

OSAS vs “Keep on Believing”

This is the third in a series of posts that compares the modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrine with what the BIBLE actually teaches. This post acknowledges the gospel truth of BIBLE verses that say “Believe and be Saved” but gives additional insight into these verses that is rarely taught in modern denominational churches. 

Believe and be Saved

In order to spread the gospel, the Apostles had to preach one thing before anything else - that if people believed in JESUS, they would be saved; and by doing so they no longer had to fear death. “Believe and be saved” was, and still is, the central message of the Christian faith. (Verses) Nevertheless, every New Testament author made pains to inform believers that they also needed to be righteous to achieve final salvation.

JESUS: "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Mat5:20 

Keep On Believing...

Sadly, many modern American churches scorn the parts of the Gospel message that encourage, and even warn us, to be holy They choose to focus only on the BIBLE verses that tell us to “believe and be saved.”

You might be surprised to learn that the very word “believe,” (as in John 3:16), has a generally unrecognized meaning. In the original Greek, the actual meaning is: “Keep on believing” / “Continue to be faithful.” 

The Greek word “pisteuon,” translated as “believe,” is grammatically a present active participle. This is similar to adding the ending “-ing” to a word in English. As an active verb, it means to keep doing something, i.e., “Continue in faith / keep on believing.” Most of the verses for “believe and be saved” imply a life-long spiritual relationship with JESUS – not a casual “set it and forget it” oath that buys you eternal salvation. John14:21-24 See this BIBLE hub link for more examples.  

This simple lesson highlights the fact that scripture tells us again and again that we must keep on doing what JESUS commands - actually live life according to HIS WORD; both in inner attitude and in outward action. It is yet more evidence that salvation is not necessarily instantaneous and permanent, as taught by OSAS. Even though scripture contains many verses that say “believe and be saved,” there are even more verses that tell us that we must overcome (be victorious) through holiness and obedience. We must do both to be secure.

Who’s Will?

People show that they have lost the fear of GOD when they decide that they can pick and choose which parts of scripture they will obey. OSAS people readily accept the “believe and be saved” verses and often reject the call to be obedient. Some have even come to believe that they will be saved in unholiness - in willful sin. JESUS himself stressed that HE was doing GOD’s will, not HIS own. The WORD plainly says that it is GOD’s will that you be holy, love HIM, and love your neighbor as yourself. To love what GOD loves is true obedience.

Amazingly, many American denominations actively and sometimes belligerently attack anything other than their “believe once and be saved” teaching. They casually accuse anyone who questions OSAS as trying to earn salvation through their own works. Some even take the “grace vs works” teaching so far as to encourage their parishioners to believe that they don’t even have to try to be good to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven! This attitude is easy to spot  in the hateful tone of modern right-wing political churches that brazenly repeat the lies of political leaders.

Entrance into New Jerusalem

Listen to what the apostle John said about those who will be allowed in the Holy City (the Kingdom of GOD):

“...there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean (unholy / defiled), or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb's book of life.” Rev21:27 Eph5:5

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life (eternity in Heaven), and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Rev 22:14-15 

Nothing, i.e., no one who is unholy, who lies, who does not obey GOD’s commands, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. It continues to amaze that people calling themselves Christians do not believe these verses apply to them; choosing instead to believe nationalistic doctrines brought into the church as recently as 20 years ago.

In the next installment we will examine the grace vs works controversy, as it pertains to OSAS.

Definitions

Righteousness - When GOD justifies a person, i.e., judges a person to be acceptable to HIM. Abraham was determined to be righteous for believing and acting on what GOD told him to do - nevertheless, he was far from perfect. The sinner in the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee was justified because he humbled himself before GOD and admitted his sinfulness. In Matthew 5:20, JESUS is referring to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees - their hypocrisy was the opposite of righteousness. Believers achieve righteousness through their faith in JESUS.   

OSAS vs the BIBLE #2 – Are there Additional Requirements for Salvation?

This is the second in a series of posts that compares modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrines with what the BIBLE actually teaches. I was challenged to list any BIBLE verses that add requirements for salvation (beyond just believing) so this post focuses there.

Sorry this is so long – but one of the problems in modern society is that so many things get reduced to oversimplified, propagandistic sound-bites that discourage thinking. So, this is not a quick, easy read; it calls for contemplating the linked BIBLE verses. Is it worth it? You have to ask yourself whether it is worth your time to read what the BIBLE really says or if you will just leave your eternal fate in the hands of a preacher who is being paid to (rightly or wrongly) quote his denomination's official doctrine.

The conditional verses listed below add responsibilities to the believer's initial decision for CHRIST - i.e., the believer is responsible for holding onto salvation, after accepting it. The conditional verses do not teach a supposed “works gospel” where people try to earn salvation; they warn the “saved” believer against maintaining a worldly sinful attitude and then still expecting JESUS to accept them. Again, please see Bob Utley’s teaching about BIBLE paradoxes (seeming contradictions) regarding perseverance and assurance (see definitions below).

Utley: “Christianity is an initial response of repentance and faith followed by a continuing response of repentance and faith. Salvation is not a product (a ticket to heaven or a fire insurance policy), but a relationship. It is a decision and discipleship.” Paraphrase: “… a believer’s salvation is described in the New Testament in all of the following ways: as having been completed, as an ongoing process, and as something to be realized in the future.” 

The Unconditional Salvation Doctrine

First, let’s look at a verse commonly used to teach OSAS and an accompanying denominational argument for unconditional salvation.

Joh 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This seems entirely straight forward – believe in JESUS and be saved. A typical related denominational argument for “salvation by faith alone” is given at (Calvinistic) gotquestions.org: 

“Any (Bible) verse that ascribes salvation to faith/belief, with no other requirement mentioned, is a declaration that salvation is by faith alone.”

I would contend that this very confident sounding statement is not borne out by the New Testament. In worldly terms, it might even be called a logical fallacy, i.e., an argument from silence. They are saying that because some “believe and be saved” BIBLE verses do not contain any qualifying statements in the same verse, then there must not be any.

None of the BIBLE authors who told us to believe and be saved, specifically indicated that only belief was necessary. On the contrary, the very same people who revealed the WORD that gives us assurance in salvation also warned us to “stand firm, repent, hold on, remain, be obedient, enter the narrow gate, be holy, overcome, and strive for Christlikeness.” Why give all these cautionary statements if salvation is truly instant and permanent at the moment the believer asks for it?

Conditions for Salvation Stated in the BIBLE

BIBLE commentators affirm that there are many more verses which present conditions for salvation than there are verses used to teach unconditional salvation. There are so many verses outlining conditions for salvation that it can be useful to break them out into separate categories:

• Verses calling for the believer to “stand firm” and continue living with JESUS to the end.
• Verses that warned the original saved Christians that they could lose their salvation.
• Verses warning people that if they are not Christlike, that if they maintain a worldly attitude, they won’t be allowed in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I. Stand Firm / Abide in ME / Keep on Believing / Persevere – to be saved

JESUS and the disciples never said that we only need one moment of faith at the beginning of our Christian walk; they repeatedly warned us to remain faithful to the end of our lives in order to gain the final victory (salvation). Why would it be necessary to emphasize the requirement to abide, if salvation is instantaneous and permanent at the time of conversion?

But what does it mean to abide / stand firm? It means to stay, endure, to remain in a certain place, condition, or state of mind. IOW, you must live with JESUS and continue to do HIS will, which is to love GOD and love your neighbor as yourself, until the last day of your life. I Joh 5:2-3 says that we prove our love for GOD by obeying HIS WORD. The BIBLE, in its entirety, shows us that although GOD is love, HE is also Judgement – negatively judging those who refuse to obey in good faith.

A typical verse relating the commandment to stand firm:

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mat 24:12-13 

Comparable verses that call on the believer to be faithful to the end, abide, remain, hold firm, continue, etc. (Note that the shortened references and commentary statements are given for the convenience of the reader and are not meant to be “proof texts.” The links are provided so you can review the full chapter and verse where these statements occur):

• Matt. 10:22, Mark 13:13 - You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 
• John 8:31-32 - To the Jews who believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, (then) you really are my disciples. I.E., If you live according to the word (commandment to love each other, etc.) then you are the actual followers of JESUS.
• John 15:4-10 - "...I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Joh 15:6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (lost).
• Hebrews 3:11-13 “…Help each other to stand firm…” “…beware that none of you becomes deaf and blind to God through the delusive glamour of sin. For we continue to share in all that Christ has for us so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with which we began.”
• 2 Ti 2:11-13 – “…if we endure, we will also reign with him.”
• 1 Cor. 15:2 – “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
• Col. 1:23 – “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”
• Rev 3:21 - "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

II. The Danger of Losing Salvation

Does the BIBLE actually say that Christians can lose their connection to CHRIST and in some cases, lose their salvation? Those who teach unconditional salvation say no, but the BIBLE gives a multitude of warnings. A typical verse:

Joh 15:1-6  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit… …If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” This was/is a warning by JESUS to saved Christians that, like the Jews who refused to accept HIM, they too were subject to being cut off and cast into the fire (eternal damnation).

Similar verses warning those who had entered into salvation that they could lose it:

• Matt. 18:21 – The parable of the unmerciful servant – he was forgiven an impossible debt – but because he did not forgive others, his forgiveness was revoked and he was sent to the “prison” (metaphorically hell)! 
• Matt. 13:1-23 – The Parable of the Sower (a farmer planting seeds) – JESUS tells us that three out of the four hearers of the Gospel accepted the WORD. According to OSAS this has to mean that they were “saved” at the moment they believed. In the parable JESUS tells us something different - that only one of the three hearers who initially accepted the Gospel went on to actually be saved because they had produced fruit in their lives – i.e., Christlike obedience.
• Matthew 3:10 – “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Judgement was prophesied for Israel because they would not accept JESUS.
• Matthew 24:4–14; Mark 13:5-13; Luke 21:8-19 – End time deception … Jesus: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray…. But the one who endures to the end (maintains belief in the real JESUS) will be saved.”
• Luke 21:34–36 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” Those who are in sin when their own individual judgement day comes are cast out with the hypocrites (not saved). Mat 24:48-51
• Phil. 3:18-20 - Paul, speaking to believers, told them that worldly believers are enemies of the cross of CHRIST.
• Heb 6: 4-8 - Indicates that believers who leave JESUS and do not produce fruit will be burned.
• Jas. 5:19 - James says that if believers would "wander from the truth" that they would be in danger of spiritual "death."
• Gal 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• 1Timothy 4:1 - Deception in the end times: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…”
• Rev. 2:7, 17 , 26 ; 3:5, 12, 21 – JESUS gave repeated warnings to the already saved believers in the Revelation churches that they needed to repent. He says that the ones who overcome, conquer, win the victory (over worldliness) will be saved. Doesn’t this infer that those who are not victorious over worldliness could be lost?

III. Christlikeness and Holiness

Two well-known BIBLE passages present a list of sins that make people ineligible for heaven if they do not truly repent of such sins - Gal 5:19-21 and Rev 21:7-8, 27. These warning verses were sent to saved Christians that had been evangelized by the original disciples. Note that they do not mention any exceptions for those who had previously made a decision for CHRIST. The OSAS concept, that continuing willful sin after being saved can’t cause you to lose salvation, directly contradicts these verses and many more. Review Galatians 5 and consider how many of these disqualifying sins could be said to characterize the general attitude in America's right-wing political churches.

Mat 7:21-23 warns saved Christians that they must maintain Christlikeness or be in danger of damnation:

JESUS: Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This verse was clearly written to warn Christians, who are entirely confident in their salvation, that they will be rejected by JESUS for hypocrisy and continuing sin – they were not living with HIM or in HIM, so HE says HE doesn’t know them. 

The scripture repeatedly calls on believers to be holy. 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 1:15-16,  Hebrews 10:26-29 Willful sinners (like some emboldened by OSAS) are warned that they will receive severe punishment because they have "insulted the Spirit of grace" – the very grace that they are counting on to excuse their continuing sinfulness. Heb 10:29

Related verses that demand holiness:

• Rom 6:1 – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Answered at: Rom 6:15  “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death (Thanatos/hell), or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” This plainly says that disobedience and continued willful sin after accepting JESUS leads to physical/spiritual death.
• Mat 5:48 – “Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like him.” 
• Mat 7:15-20 – “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” This verse leads right into Mat 7:21-23 above. 
• Mat 5:21 – Hatred shows that people do not know GOD and are not saved according to 1 Joh 3:15. It Is shocking how many people in modern right wing political churches (who are counting on OSAS) are filled with hate and prejudice when JESUS demands that you love your enemy!
• James 2:14 – “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” This doesn’t mean works of ritual religion done in an attempt to purchase salvation, but loving actions done for others which show that JESUS is living in you.
• James 5:19–20 – “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” IOW, if someone in the church starts to live in sin, they are headed towards spiritual death, unless someone warns them and they repent.
• 2 Cor. 13:5 – “Test your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.” Reprobate means lost forever.
• Gal 5:16-26 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. …The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
• Gal. 6:8-9 – “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” “Sows” means to plant, i.e., one's actions in life.
• 2 Ti 2:17-19 – “The Lord knows those who are His, and Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
• 1 John 2:3-6 - It is only when we obey God’s laws that we can be quite sure that we really know him. The man who claims to know God but does not obey his laws is not only a liar but lives in self-delusion. In practice, the more a man learns to obey God’s laws the more truly and fully does he express his love for him. Obedience is the test of whether we really live “in God” or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ.
• 2 John 1:5-6 - “… I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
• Rev. 21:7-8 - “….He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Outro

If you have gotten this far, you will recognize that all I have done is quote the BIBLE – and these are far from being all the verses that illustrate the point that your salvation isn’t necessarily secure until the day you find yourself in the presence of GOD. It is up to you to read and study the individual verses in their entirety – how can you know what JESUS actually commands and desires if you don’t read HIS WORD? (Note: If a verse is hard to understand, choose a plain English Bible from the dropdown list at the link.)

DEFINITIONS

Argument from silence - Assuming that a claim is true based on the absence of textual or spoken evidence from an authoritative source. (In this case, the supposed "silence" is related to the fact that many "assurance" BIBLE verses don't include conditions in the same sentence. OSAS teachers act as though the moderating statements made elsewhere in the BIBLE don't exist. Nevertheless, verses offering assurance of salvation and verses demanding obedience are made often by the same author on the same page.)

Assurance – Also known as “assurance of salvation.” The desire to know that you are saved. Paul told his disciples in the churches he founded that he was confident in their salvation. Php 1:3-6 The verses listed in this study show how to remain confident. In my opinion, OSAS is a very broad assumption.

Justification - Judged and accepted as righteous (holy – separated from the world) in the sight of GOD.

Perseverance - A continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering: steadfastness. (The fact that the BIBLE continually calls for perseverance shows that salvation is not necessarily instantaneous.)

Proof Texting – Taking single sentences or phrases out of their proper BIBLE context and quoting those few words to pretend to prove something that the BIBLE does not actually teach, e.g., "twisting" the scripture by only presenting the verses that teach assurance while ignoring the verses that demand holiness.

Repent / Repentance – To repent doesn’t just mean to regret your sinful actions, it means to actually do something about them. Repent means to change your (sinful) ways and also change the way you think (your internal attitude – your desire to / acceptance of sin). IOW, to turn away from worldliness and towards Christlikeness. 

Is Salvation Really Unconditional?

The next several blog entries will re-examine the "Once Saved Always Saved" (OSAS) doctrine (and its variations), as taught in many modern American churches. The BIBLE verses typically used by proponents of OSAS to teach "unconditional eternal security" will be contrasted with the BIBLE verses that almost always accompany them; verses which add Christlikeness and obedience as requirements for final salvation. Note that I am not promoting a ‘works gospel’ – the idea that you must add works of ritual religion to the grace offered by JESUS to be saved. An upcoming article will address the grace vs works argument. (Please review the definitions below.)

It is extremely important that Christians begin to understand that the verses used for and against the unconditional security doctrine do not contradict each other. These verses reinforce each other in a way that presents a greater truth to the teachable reader. See Bob Utley’s teaching about how the ancient Hebrews presented spiritual “truths in seemingly contradictory pairs (paradox)” in order to encourage the hearer to contemplate GOD’s character. 

Once Saved Always Saved vs What the BIBLE Actually Says 

Many modern Christians have been taught that once they accept JESUS, they are saved and on their way to heaven. They are often told that there are no other conditions, and that no sins committed after their initial decision for CHRIST can cause them to lose their salvation.

This doctrine (teaching) is generally referred to as “unconditional eternal security." The popular variations of this teaching were derived from the Calvinist (Reformed) doctrine known as “Preservation of the Saints.” Various denominations teach unconditional security as “Preservation of the Saints,” “Once Saved Always Saved” (OSAS), and “Hyper-Grace / Free-Grace.” 

Even though none of the early disciples believed in or promoted the unconditional eternal security doctrine, many modern people have adopted it and are determined to hold onto it - especially those who only listen to the BIBLE verses that seem to support it. That said, there are many other BIBLE verses that present additional requirements for salvation - requirements beyond just believing. Some of these verses give stern warnings to believers about the possibility of losing their salvation. The modern church takes the fear of GOD out of the salvation equation when such verses are ignored or explained away by unconditional security teachers - even the Sermon on the Mount is scorned by some OSAS believers. 

But what if OSAS does not present everything the BIBLE teaches about the salvation process? 

It is my contention that much of the vicious hypocrisy and general un-Christlikeness in the American Right-Wing Political church can be attributed to OSAS. Their teaching and belief is that there is no reason to fear eternal punishment for willful sin because, according to OSAS, their salvation cannot be lost in any case.

The question I seek to address is whether believers who willfully and unrepentantly hold on to hateful worldly attitudes will be allowed in the kingdom of heaven? There are many BIBLE verses, plainly aimed at the original followers of CHRIST, that warned them (after they had been saved) to repent or be lost. Are people putting their eternal salvation at risk when they pick and choose which commandments they will obey?

In coming posts, I will provide biblegateway links to all of the popular BIBLE verses used to teach unconditional security, as well as to those verses which show that the promise of salvation has conditions beyond just believing. At the biblegateway links, you can (and should) click on “Read full chapter” to see the full context of each verse. You can also read and compare the verses using any of the BIBLE translations available from the dropdown list. Remember, you are responsible to work out your own salvation. Phi 2:12

Definitions:

Calvinism – One of the original protestant denominations, named after its founder John Calvin (d. 1564). It stresses a belief in GOD’s sovereignty / total control over everything, including predetermining people’s actions – both good and evil. According to Calvinism, although man does not have a free will, he is still held responsible for his sin. This is not consistent with GOD’s justice as taught in the BIBLE or the teachings of the original disciples.

Calvinism was influenced by ancient pagan philosophies and teaches an “unchangeable fate”, i.e., that some people are destined to be saved and some are born to be damned, regardless of what they do in life. This is referred to as double predestination.  

When people first accept Calvinism, they tend to believe that they must be part of the “elect,” i.e., those chosen to be saved. However, as Calvinists continue to learn the fine points of their doctrine, some begin to have a faith crisis revolving around the doctrine of predestination. They wonder if they actually are among the saved. One of the lesser-known Calvinist doctrines is called Lordship Salvation, where in keeping with perseverance, GOD supposedly forces the “elect” to maintain their salvation through some sort of automatic, ingrained obedience. This idea causes many Calvinists to feel the need to prove their elect status by actually being sinless, which of course, is impossible. Hence, when supposedly elect Calvinists do sin, they begin to question whether they are really saved. Even Charles Spurgeon (d. 1892), the most famous Calvinist preacher, other than Calvin himself and his successor Beza, wrote about periodically doubting his salvation. 

Perseverance of the Saints / Unconditional Election – Two of the five main points of the Calvinist belief system; i.e., GOD chooses certain people at random to be saved who can’t lose their salvation for any reason (a form of predestination). Note that not every person who regards themselves as a “Calvinist” agrees with all five points of the system.

OSAS / Once Saved Always Saved - A modern simplified version of the Calvinist doctrines of unconditional election, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. The non-Calvinist forms of unconditional election are generally thought to have been derived from the doctrine of “Perseverance of the Saints.”

OSAS is typically taught in Baptist churches which are not affiliated with one of the mainline reformed (openly Calvinist) denominations. OSAS generally means making a one-time confession of Christian belief after which, the person is permanently saved and any sins committed after confession can’t cause them to lose their salvation. Essentially it is like signing a contract where one party has to fulfill their promise (GOD has to bring you to heaven) but the second party doesn’t have to fulfill theirs (you never “really” have to repent or change who you are and stop sinning willfully). This sort of “easy believism” is often referred to as “fire insurance”, i.e., an easy, convenient, self-justifying way to try to avoid hell.

Grace – Undeserved favorable treatment from GOD – a gift. In the context of salvation, the BIBLE says we are saved by Grace through faith (in JESUS). Meaning that GOD offers us salvation for free, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but because HE wants us to be with HIM for eternity, if we agree to respect and obey the work of JESUS. In an upcoming post in this series, we will see how some OSAS teachers falsely claim that holiness and obedience are “works” that somehow oppose the free grace (forgiveness) offered by JESUS.

Hyper-grace - A recent, even more heretical version of OSAS where “believers” apparently only have to privately accept JESUS in their minds, for all “past, present, and even future” sins to be cancelled. Ongoing confession, repentance, and obedience are not considered to be requirements for salvation!

In a way, hyper-grace is not an unexpected development. Like other modern objections to Christianity, it is just a shiny new version of an ancient heresy that was refuted long ago. That heresy became known as antinominianism during the reformation (1500’s). Anti-nominian-ism literally means “anti-law or no law” and was/is related to Gnosticism. Both of these pagan philosophies encouraged early believers to disobey the commandments of JESUS; offering false, unbiblical methods of salvation.

Modern hyper-grace is similar, implying that since Christians are no longer under the Old Testament law, and because all sin is covered by New Testament grace, there is really no need to follow any of the commandments in the BIBLE. As such, hyper-grace is a ridiculous contradiction of all Scripture. Rom 6

Even so, it is unusual to see a church openly practicing a “anything goes” doctrine, but many will admit, if pressed, that this is the bottom line of their (false) doctrine: “that although people should try not to sin, since they can’t or won’t stop, they shouldn’t worry about it – they will be saved anyway.”

Justification – Judged by GOD as being free of guilt and therefore acceptable to HIM. (See the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee, Luk 18:9-14. The sinful tax collector humbled himself before GOD and was justified.)

Sanctification – The ongoing process of sanctification (becoming a saint) is the process of becoming Christlike and is for all Christians. Col 3:5 You come to JESUS as you are - but then the sincere repentant believer is supposed to begin a life-long process of separating themselves from worldly things and dedicating themselves to GOD. John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees to show fruit worthy of repentance (behavior showing that they had actually changed). OSAS teaching infers that seeking holiness is not necessary for salvation, with some even teaching that obedience is an attempt at salvation by works, that rejects the grace of JESUS.