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Saying they were never saved when they had professed Christ comes across to me as rationalizing to protect more than one part of doctrine that has no foundation in truth but is rooted in Calvinism and is fed to baby believers very early on. I've been told that what the apostle John wrote about the false prophets (ie: they went out from us but they
are not of us) speaks to this and means that these ppl were never saved to begin with which to me
sounds presumptuous. I don't see any of the apostles making
these kinds of statements even over Simon in Acts 8:18-20 who wanted to pay for
God's power. Peter gave him a talking to until Simon trembling with
fear asked for prayer but he was never told that he wasn't saved to begin with -
and he had just been baptized as a brand new believer. Also in
Acts Paul when talking to believers about the
grievious wolves who would rise up and not spare the flock, said "some
will be from among your
own selves".
People tend to name the name of Christ for all kinds of
reasons and we won't be able to positively identify the wheat and separate it
from the tares until the angels are sent to do
it at the very last. Jesus said we should not to do this because we
could mistakenly pull up wheat thinking it is a tare. So I have learned
that it is safe to challenge doctrine publicly that has been put forth publicly
and does not meet the smell test in God's Word; we can judge with
righteous judgment in certain areas - Paul turned ppl over to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh hoping they would repent so that their spirit
would eventually be saved; but the bottom line is that we must leave the
person's final destiny with God who is the perfect Judge because they
either serve or rebel against Him. judyt
Judy and Terry,
There is a position that says those that "let go" or "slip
from their
moorings" were never truly saved in the first place. This position preserves "once saved always saved". How do you respond to this position? Perry
From: Judy Taylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Terry, >I'm glad to see wisdom is still around :) How's the wind at your place? > >I once thought, "Once saved, always saved". I no longer believe that >because I see too many opposing statements in the Bible. I know that no >one can pluck you out of His hand, but I am convinced that you can let >go of that hand and go your own way. I am probably in the minority by >believing this, but the majority is sometimes in error. >Terry > >I agree with you and I also came to this conclusion in the same way. >Early >on I was taught "once saved always saved" and was then around the >Presbyterians with their Reformed faith both are rooted in Calvinism and >this is where those ideas come from whether it is pure or aberrent, they >have that TULIP acronym - several points of which confuse the simplicity >of the gospel. I don't believe anyone can take us out of His hand, nor >do >I believe we can fall out accidentally if we don't want to - but we can >certainly slip from our moorings and neglect so great a salvation. If it >were >not so we would not be warned not to do it. > >Blessings, >Judyt |
