Thursday, June 1, 2017

“ETERNAL SECURITY” DOCTRINE JUST GOT DEADLIER



 



Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.   I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. (Jude 1-5)

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him…..   Titus 1:16a 

“……If we deny him, he also will deny us: ” 2Timothy 2:12b 

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ” Titus 2:11 -12

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. ” Revelations 2:4-5  

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS, ye shall never fall:” 2Peter 1:10 

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelations 3:5

“…..but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”  Matthew 10:22b.
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Why Bother About OSAS?
You have probably heard of the teaching about “Eternal Security”, a.k.a. “Once Saved, Always Saved” (OSAS).  Chances are you probably don’t think it is worth splitting hairs over.  The Apostle Jude (Jude 1:1-5) however obviously encourages otherwise.  

OSAS is the belief that once a man is born again, he can never lose his salvation, irrespective of what he later does or fails/refuses to do.  The reasoning is that since man did not do anything to get saved (it is of course true that salvation is entirely by grace), it also follows that he should not need to do anything to keep his salvation. The parable of the wedding garment in Mathew 22:2-13 however debunks this outright. The fellow who initially got a free undeserved invitation to the Wedding later ended up in outer darkness for failing to show appreciation for the invitation by observing the expected simple dress code.

Another little extension takes the OSAS argument much further, from “not doing” to “doing”:  nothing a believer DOES (not even the filthiest, most despicable action imaginable) can make him lose his salvation! After all, using the analogy of the physical birth, can a baby become “unborn” simply because of his wrong and unhelpful doings? How can a “new creation” then ever go back to becoming “old” again!  The fallacy with this analogy is that it fails to recognize that salvation at this point in time is still an on-going process. The new birth saves us from the power of sin, but not yet from its presence (called temptation). We must ensure we continue to believe Him Who has saved us, and continue to follow Him, resisting all temptations hauled at us by the enemy of our soul, until we eventually reach eternity.  At that point outside of time, our salvation would become consummated and totally irreversible (1 Peter 1:3-5, Revelations 3:5).

OSAS comes with special in-built mechanisms and camouflages to make the Church continue to wave it aside as trivial.  On the one hand, most OSAS teachers are quick to shout themselves hoarse that even though their teachings clearly make sin a non-issue, they actually do not support living in sin. Of course, that unrealistic assertion is not borne out by evidences that clearly abound!  For instance, the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, one of the major purveyors of OSAS, recently (at their 2010 convention in Florida) had to admit “a scandal that has become all too commonplace in our own churches”. That scandal was higher incidence of adultery and divorce within the denomination compared with the “unchurched” they were trying to evangelize! Unfortunately, it didn’t occur to them that the situation might be related with their embrace of the doctrine of OSAS  (see http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1205/on-the-scandal-of-southern-baptist-divorce).

Then there is also the infamous caveat that goes with OSAS. Anyone who for some unfathomable reason loses his/her salvation (for example, Judas Iscariot) is readily denounced as never really having been “saved” to start with!   As such, many in the Body of Christ tend to, even if subconsciously, dismiss the doctrine as merely a juvenile theoretical model for describing salvation. Probably unhelpful, but not worth spilling hairs over!
Unfortunately, the issue is quite more serious than that.  

Two major problems have traditionally been associated with the OSAS doctrine, over the 700 years plus since it was brought to the fore in the medieval church. One is the implication for evangelism and discipleship.  By traditional Calvinistic teachings, those who are earmarked for salvation would eventually be saved, while those destined for hell fire can do nothing to change the outcome.  Under this scenario, the value of evangelism becomes questionable.  Most OSAS teachers would however, vehemently protest being called Calvinists and declare their commitment to evangelism.  However, the teaching of “once saved, for ever saved” clearly makes Christian discipline and discipleship redundant.   As will be shown shortly, OSAS has zero tolerance for such admonitions that believers should “take heed, watch, and pray” (Mark 13:33), live sober and vigilant lives (1 Peter 5:8), walk not carnally, but in the spirit, (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:1), etc.  Not bothering to walk worthy of the vocation wherein we have been called (Ephesians 2:10, 4:1) is the sure first step to becoming blinded (2 Peter 1: 9) to the invaluable worth of our salvation, and consequently rendering ourselves no better than pigs unworthy of such pearls, in the first instance (Mathew 7:6, 10:13). 

Clearly, OSAS is a great evil that must be fought! 

Unending Misrepresentations

OSAS teachers are constantly looking for various straws to cling to, in order to persuade their incredulous disciples they are really on to something nouvelle, profound, and not really so deviant.  By re-posting on social media, messages of highly-respected holiness preachers, OSAS teachers quietly convey the impression that there is only a small gap (which presumably requires “hyper-boldness” to cross) between their messages and those of such men of God.  Indeed, a portion of a message on the Assurance of Salvation can very well be mistaken for one on unconditional Security of Salvation, but in reality the gap is yawning!  And no one familiar with the likes of Pastors Adeboye or Kumuyi could by any means attribute OSAS to them.  As a rule, it is safe to specifically find out what a man of God believes about OSAS before linking them with (or, sadly, exonerating them from) the teaching. Later on in this article, we will be mentioning the one notable Nigerian minister who unfortunately now endorses OSAS; but many would probably be surprised to know that contrary to sly misrepresentations on the subject, the revered father of the Word of Faith movement, Revd Kenneth Hagin, categorially denounced the hypergrace teaching of OSAS while he was alive.  In his words:
“Today there are not too many old school Calvinists -- their doctrines have been watered down -- but now there are "new school Calvinists." "New school Calvinism" is basically the doctrine of eternal security, or "once saved always saved," 

I believe in eternal security as long as you stay in Christ. He is able to keep you secure. But just because you are a son of God does not mean you are not a free moral agent. You still have a will of your own, and you can choose to stay in Christ or to forsake Christ altogether.”
(Kenneth E. Hagin, The Present Day Ministry of Jesus Christ, pp. 11, 12)

On its website the Kenneth Hagin Ministries further maintains that there is need for holiness, and that salvation is an on-going process to be consummated only at the second coming of the Lord Jesus:

SANCTIFICATION—The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12–14; 1 Cor. 1:30).
[What We Believe.  (Copyright © 2016 Kenneth Hagin Ministries. www.rhema.org)]
If the teaching of OSAS represents “new school Calvinism,” there is yet a “new school OSAS” represented by the Hypergrace teaching which is currently on a wild rampage in Southwest Nigeria. Its major character is the vehement teaching against the concept of confession of sin and repentance from it.  By this assault on a foundation stone doctrine of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1), Satan is using the hypergrace teachers in his desperate attempt to effectively block the gate of salvation to sinners.

Hypergrace and Confession of Sins

In today’s ungodly world system, confessing one’s sins is the fastest way of getting an indictment, condemnation, and sure punishment. Hence. the soaring popularity of teachings on how to be brazen and self-assertive.  People are being taught to deny wrongdoings or at least push the guilt to someone else while finding some excuse to exonerate or justify oneself.  Slowly but surely, this teaching has now arrived in the Church under the banner of “hypergrace”.

The Bible however has a different perspective.  With a righteous Judge Who is not willing that people should perish in their sins, the only requirement for a sinner to go scot-free is that he admit the sin, be sorry for it, and accept the free offer of the substitutionary provision that would guarantee justification and discharge.  Of course, like the Lord told the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11) or the man healed of an infirmity of 38 years (John 5:14), the sinner must thereafter undertake to “go and sin no more.”  In the model prayer the Lord taught His disciples, we are encouraged not only to own up to our trespasses, but also ask for forgiveness from God.  Apostle John was unequivocal when he wrote: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive! 1 John 1:9. 

But more and more OSAS teachers are insisting that confession of sins is not only archaic and an “Old Testament concept,”  it is actually THE ULTIMATE SIN!  The argument often goes like this: “Isn’t repentance what WE do?  And does it not amount to adding Works to Grace when it is insisted upon as a pre-condition to our receiving forgiveness?  How dare we think that it is our repentance that brings us forgiveness of sins!”  Thereafter comes the big hammer: “bringing up our sins to God’s attention and asking forgiveness is actually nothing but an act of unbelief, the ultimate sin!”  For good measure, 1John 2:9 is thrown in, that the Bible has already unconditionally declared that “your sins are forgiven!” Incidentally, the same interpretation is however not given to a similar verse like 1 Peter 2:24 which also unequivocally declares that we already “were healed” under the same deal that took care of our sins. OSAS preachers believe they can pray for healings today.
In actual fact, this extremely toxic teaching is only a step away from the atheist’s teaching currently prevalent in Europe declaring that “sin” does not exist, and that the teaching of the concept of sin to children constitutes child-abuse and dangerous indoctrination.  Quietly but deliberately, hypergrace OSAS is firmly shutting the gates of Heaven against people by taking away from them, the key of repentance. How on earth did we get here?

There are two streams to this concept.  On the one hand we have hypergrace teachers, typified by Chris Onayinka of the Saints Community Church, who argue that confession of sins is purely an Old Testament concept. (e.g. Onayinka 2017: The Hyper Grace Gospel of Christ. pg 176-183).  Thereafter, he boldly asserts that the only place in the New Testament where confession of sins is taught is in 1John 1:9. This is of course not true.  As previously pointed out, not only does the Lord directly encourage believers to admit their sins before God and ask for forgiveness (Mathew 6:12, Luke 11:4), the Apostle James, further encourages that believers confess their faults (same as sins) even to one another (James 5:16)

Having falsely claimed 1 John 1:9 as the only verse in the New Testament that “suggests” confession of sins, Chris Onayinka thereafter picks on the word translated “confess” [homologia] and fraudulently suggests that the intended meaning of the word in the verse was actually “assent”.  Indeed, one of the meanings of homologia is “assent”; but there are also others, including “acknowledge” or “admit.”    In the statement in question, which is divided into two verses (verses 8 and 9), the apostle John began by writing, “if we say we have no sin…..” Clearly the only reasonable follow-up, in verse 9, is “but if we admit/acknowledge our sins”.  This is the translation in every other major Bible translation.  And to any reasonable reader of the King James version as well, the phrase “if we confess our sins” means exactly what it says, that  if we “acknowledge our sins,” we can trust God that those sins would be forgiven, they having been paid for anyway and justice already served.

Box: Strong dictionary, Greek  G3670  ὁμολογέω  homologeō. From a compound of the base of G3674 and G3056; to assent, that is, covenant, acknowledge: - con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.

With such fabricated and faulty foundations, Chris Onayinka  proceeds to insist that  “confession” in the New Testament can only be interpreted as an assent, in which case we can only confess positive things written concerning us in the Scriptures. Confession can indeed mean to assent to some scriptural truth, and keep holding to it -  as in confession of our faith, viz, confessing that Jesus is the Lord, that we have been crucified with Christ, that we are the righteousness of Christ, that we have victory by the blood, etc.    But the primary meaning of “confession” is “owning up, and admitting to some wrongdoing!” The more technical meaning could not invalidate the clear meaning that we should also confess our sins – both to God, and where necessary (mainly as a form of restitution) also to fellow men!

But then, even this insistence on a restricted and contextually inappropriate translation of “homologeo” could not sell a seriously flawed and clearly mischevious concept.  Chris Onayinka has one more joker in his sleeve.  He insists that the punctuation in 1 John 1:9 is incorrect.  According to the inspiration he has received, he believes that the verse ought to be correctly written as:

 “If we confess, our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us, …”

In summary, we can confess all we want to; but no, we are NEVER to “confess our sins”!
Not all “New School OSAS” teachers would attempt what Chris Onayinka pushes to his largely naïve and spell-bound audiences. These other teachers admit that confession indeed means confession, no more no less. But they insist that since the Bible says we are already forgiven, going to God for confession is actually an act of unbelief. An attempt to add some “work” to “Grace.” How dare we imagine that it is our confession that gets us pardon, the warped reasoning goes!

Unfortunately, one of the champions of this outrageous new reasoning is the highly respected Bishop Mike Okonkwo, former president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and current holder of many important offices in the Body of Christ in the country.  Declaring his shift from his position of some 40 glorious years, the Bishop said he is now keying in into the “present truth” which is making ministry much less strenuous for him.  He however freely admitted that he has refused to pray to confirm the authenticity of the doctrine, as he probably is being advised to do.  He insisted he was not going to do that – which in itself is a big eye-opener! 

On the issue of confession of sins, the Bishop declares:  
“Under the law, forgiveness of sins is predicated on your confession.  If you fail to confess it, you will never be saved.  But under grace, this grace we are talking about, in the New Testament, No, you have been offered as a gift, the forgiveness of sins…. Even before you open your mouth he has already forgiven you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSwbLujzltM (from minutes 5:53 – 6.30)

This would of course, have been okay, if the Bishop were referring to past sins. Or if his audience are not committing new ones.  As the Bishop repeatedly emphasized, God knows that the believer will continue to sin over and over again, and He has provided ahead for the forgiveness of those sins – even before they were committed.  So no room for repentance or even just some remorse. And definitely no need for any confession.  We might as well simply relax and continue in our sins, assured that grace will automatically expand to cover it. Sounds very much like the situation described in Romans 6:1! While a few members of the audience (apparently the pastoral assistants – on the front rows) jumped for excitement, most of the congregation wore confused pensive looks. What an extremely distressing scene for the Church in Nigeria.

Let’s learn more about this perspective from a somewhat less familiar figure.  Jack Kelley of the Rapture Forum is nevertheless a well-respected teacher of the Bible who we have cited on a few occasions on Church Arise!, especially on eschatological issues.  Sadly, he is one of the international purveyors of OSAS.
Responding to the rhetoric question in 1 Corinthians  6:9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” Kelley writes: “If we really read that verse carefully we would see it can’t apply to believers because we are righteous by definition.”

“By definition!”  This is indeed a central posture in the OSAS doctrine.  It is postulated, by definition, that all the exhortations in the Gospel requesting believers to stay off unrighteousness does not, and cannot apply to those who have been truly born again! To whom then were the epistles written if not the Church of God?  As a matter of fact, the same treatment is given to statements made by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels -  depending on the convenience and particular shade of the OSAS doctrine, that the teacher subscribes to.

John Kelley goes on to attempt some rationalization:
If you’re a human being, you’re a sinner. If you’re a saved human being, your faith in what Jesus did for you has allowed God to attribute your ongoing sinfulness to the sin that still lives within you. From His perspective it’s not you doing the sinning, but the sin that still lives within you.    https://www.raptureforums.com/once-saved-always-saved/and-such-were-some-of-you/

The problem with this teaching is that it clearly acknowledges that sinfulness is “ongoing,” but at the same time vehemently insists that such sin must be ignored and never “confessed.” In this new scheme, there is no place for  “resisting sin” (Hebrews 12:4), “resisting the Devil” (James 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:8-9)? “Denying ungodliness”(Titus 2:11-12), “walking worthy of the call” (Ephesians 4:1, Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:1) etc etc. Sadly, Bishop Mike Okonkwo counselled that instead of resisting, the Christian should rather rest and believe that his ongoing sins are being taken care of automatically.  Contrary to all these teachings, a Christian is not expected to be committing sin as a lifestyle. [He who commits sin is of the Devil – 1 John 3:8a].  Where through carelessness or foolishness he FALLS into sin, he is expected to quickly cry out for help and retrace his steps.[see for example, Revelations 2:5].

Of course none can do any resisting on their own strength.(Philippians 2:13, 4:13)  That, specifically was why Jesus came.  He came to save us from sins, destroying the works of the devil in the process (Mathew 1:21; 1 John 3:8). He has made available for us instruments to effectively deal with sin and remain victorious. It is left for us to cooperate with Him and make use of the instruments.  These include daily “submitting to God” (James 4: 6), abiding in Him (John 15:1-5), prompt repentance, confession and restitution of sins as instructed by the indwelling Holy Spirit as part of the sanctification process, (Philippians 3:12-14, 2 Corinthians 3:18) and of course, being assured that as long as we cooperate and yield to Him, we are eternally secure!  (Hebrews 3:6, 15 and 10:35)

As it were, based on the fallacious grounds they are standing on, OSAS teachers are compelled to deny even this basic purpose of the Lord’s coming as clearly stated in Mathew 1:21, 1 John 3:8, etc.  Hence, according to Chris Onayinka:  Mathew 1:21 does not mean at all that Jesus will save people from their sins.  Rather,  “He will save (rescue and preserve) his people from the danger of their sins, that is, what sin will lead to.  He will save his people from the judgment of sin” (ibid, page 129). All these violent re-wording of Scriptures are done on no other basis other than that they don’t fit the definitions these OSAS teachers have set for themselves, a priori.

Is it then any surprise seeing our nation  in the troubling spiritual and moral state it is in today? Amidst increasing preaching of the Gospel and increasing Church attendance, chaos continues to reign as people continue to revel in sin and addiction, not just in the larger Society, but also within the Church.  With no visible difference between so-called believers and the heathen (cultists, Satanists, homosexuals, etc) it is little wonder the Church is being reduced to a circus show.  

Clearly this matter of sin can never the trivialized.  It is the very core of the Lord’s mission.  Any so called teacher who spends hours preaching on the “I do not condemn you,” part of John 8:11, but fails to equally emphasize  the “go and sin no more” aspect is clearly a false teacher.  Irrespective of their sweet words of vanity (Ephesians 5:5-6). 

The Lord is very clear on the need for sins to be repented of and acknowledged, in order for them to be forgiven. And indeed, it is doubtful if the sinner can ever be set free from their bondage and addiction without first settling that issue in their heart!  It is therefore not a question of the Lord wanting to prove “difficult” or being parochial! While emphasizing that we need to forgive our brothers without any limits, if we expect God to forgive us our own sins, the Lord nevertheless made it clear that forgiveness  is reserved only for those who ask for it. He said:

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENT, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day TURN AGAIN TO THEE, SAYING, I REPENT; thou shalt forgive him. ”(Luke 17:3-4).

The Lord further leaves us in no doubt on who will NOT be forgiven.  He is the person who claims to be too enlightened to admit the sins he continues to flagrantly commit:

“Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. ”[John 9:41  Amplified]

CONCLUSION
From the Bible’s description of the devil, and our victory over him, he is a toothless bulldog, whose only available weapon is DECEPTION.(1 Peter 5:8,Mathew 25:1ff).  Not surprisingly therefore, about the most warned-about hazard of the endtime is DECEPTION.  However, in the OSAS worldview, deception is either meaningless or outrightly doesn’t exist!  Guess who would like people NOT to think of the possibilities of deception?  According to Derek Prince, “Anyone who thinks he cannot be deceived is already deceived!”
Eternal Life (just like eternal damnation), is indeed eternal. It is God’s will for all not only to acquire eternal life while here in time on planet earth, but that we should keep it beyond time to eternity (1 Timothy 2:4). The Lord has made adequate provisions for all these to happen. That is true Eternal Security. However saving “zombies” who play no role whatsoever in the salvation venture has no meaning for the Almighty.  He needs our participation as free moral agents, to receive and follow the instructions He has clearly provided to accomplish our salvation.  It is the lie from the pit of hell equating such required reasonable exercise of our God-given free will as “Works” that supposedly invalidates Grace. 

The basic error in most of Calvanism including OSAS,  is that it confuses scriptures that apply to corporate bodies and misapply them to individuals.  For instance, whereas Israel and the Church are unconditionally guaranteed eternal triumph, individuals in those entities have to work out their personal salvation with sobriety and vigilance, ensuring they do not develop a heart that departs from the living God. (see Numbers 14:30-32, Mathew 16:18, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Hebrews 3:12).  Likewise eternal damnation has no individual names written on it. For instance, though a close associate was to betray the Lord Jesus, it did not have to be Judas Iscariot; and though many people will have to join the devil in the lake of fire, it does not have to be you or me! (see Psalm 41:9, Mark 14:21, Luke 22:31, John 13:21-27, Mathew 25:41, Revelations  20:10,15).

Addressing those who have already “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” who are called, elected, and “established in the present truth”; the Apostle Peter went ahead to offer a few simple instructions which IF followed and allowed to “abound,” GUARANTEES Eternal Security:
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL:
2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Yes, Eternal Security is available – but we must accept it on the terms prescribed by its loving and omnisapient Author! 
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Some more Scriptures for further studies

Beware of Falling away: Hebrews 6:4-9, Hebrews 6:9-12, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Ezekiel. 33:12, Luke 9:62. Hebrews. 10:26. Ezekiel 3:20; 18:24-26, Mathew 25:1-13, 14-30, Luke 9:62, Acts 1:16-17, 25; Acts 8:13, 18-  24
Once deliberately throw out salvation, mocking God’s provision, proud and smart in own eyes, then hopeless! Hebrews 10:26, Galatians 6:7-8; Romans 8:1-6; Galatians 5:16,25-26;  Romans 6:1-4, 14-16, I John 2:15-16; Mathew. 4:1-11; James 4:6-7, I Pet 5:8, 2 Peter 2:20-22 John 10;10, 1Timothy 4:1

Things Children of God Can Do IF NOT SOBER, VIGILANT, TAKING HEED, PATIENT:
1. Fall from grace - Galatians 5:1-4,13
2. Be led away with error - 2 Peter 3:17
3. Err from the truth - James 5:19-20
4. Weak brother may perish - 1 Corinthians 8:11
5. Fall into condemnation - James 5:12
6. Be moved away from the hope - Colosians 1:21-23
7. Deny the Lord who bought them - 2 Peter 2:1
8. Depart from the living God - Hebrews. 3:12
9. Can be a castaway - 1 Corinthians 9:27
10. Can become accursed children - 2 Peter 2:14
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49 comments:

  1. Can I copy the post and post on Facebook, do not worry, I'll give the credit to you. 🙏

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  2. Oh, please do! You are welcome. Joshua

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  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  4. God bless you for this piece

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  5. Sir ure right to an extent, but sir do not be quick to conclude concerning this topic.. I urge u to study more... Not just from one point of view but from both points pf view... God bless u sir

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    1. Dear ChurchArise. Please do your study more on this subject matter. There's more light to this than all i have read on this post of yours. I want you to ask yourself these questions: 1. What exactly did Jesus die for??? 2. Why exactly did Jesus die for what He died for.

      Also, if you actually do listen to Onayinka well, you will realise you've only been misquoting and misunderstanding his teachings. See, Onayinka has been a blessing to me and my Spiritual life. My Christian conduct and character has actually changed for the better since i started listening to Onayinka. You just listened to part of his teachings and conclude he promotes sin!!! No no no, I don't like such judgemental act sire!

      I pray God give you more revelational knowledge to His word. Thank God for His Salvation!!! It's so GREAT indeed!

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  6. All I see is spiritual deejaying here.
    Scriptures and bible verses being quoted out of context.

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅







    Let every man be slow to speak, slow to wrath,

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  9. Lawrence, Uganda East AfricaWednesday, May 29, 2019

    Hello sir/madam.Thank you for your labour to save and preserve for Christ...Your writing shows how genuine your intentions are but please do not be quick to settle there because you may "reject the corner stone".

    For example I challenge you to do a personal study on the moral living of those that a seriously submitted to the teaching of Pastor Chris Onayinka against the moral living of them that you consider to teach truth.

    There is much more sir,there is much more for your eyes to see in the Scriptures you have quoted alone....I know as you contend with this,I is an opportunity to reach the roots,you can one day be the one and criticism for the same message you criticized.

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  10. @ Lawrence from Uganda

    Thanks for your comment. Any one who knows Pastor Onayinka knows he does not in anyway encourage indiscipline and immoral living. Rather, he is very quick and firm in rebuking such.

    @Writer please do as Lawrence has suggested you will see that this assertion is true. Pastor Onayinka is able to vouch for the conduct of the members of his congregation because of his very thorough bible teaching. Truth is, there are not too many preachers in Nigeria that are as thorough as him.

    Your investigation, if you choose to do it, will also reveal to you his dogged devotion to a life of prayer.

    More Grace to you Sir/Ma

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  11. @Julius, Lawrence:
    I had to cite Chris Onayinka so the issue would not be too abstract. It really is not about him, but the clear instructions of the Lord Jesus.

    We are eternally secure in Christ. But we are free moral agents and have the freedom to walk away - as the devil desperately wishes for us. So we must continually take heed. What is so difficult to grasp about that? For those who seek extra-biblical authority to affirm this plain truth, the Kenneth Haggins quote I think really should suffice. Onayinka claims to follow the teachings of Kenneth Haggins, doesn't he?

    Bottomline: this is the word of the Lord Jesus against that of the Deceiver. Brothers, take heed!

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    1. Thank you for all you do for the course of the Gospel. But,Its funny how you responded to the comment @ChurchArise. In a particular line of your article, you said something "Guarantees Eternal Security". For real? You mean what Jesus did for man is not enough you save him?? That Jesus will save a man and allow him to go to Hell again? No!!! Not Even Sin cannot make a man lose his salvation, although this is not to encourage immorality but it's just the truth. Anyone who is born of God do not sin anymore (1john 5)
      Our Culture has made us feel Christainity is the Same with Morality...but it's not. "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation" he is not of this world again, however to fully conscious of his new country, he need to Study and Pray so that the word will be fruitful in Him. I urge you to study the bible not basically to counter the truth, but to find out for yourself.
      There's a big difference between Christianity and other Religions, Other Seek Heaven...But as Believers, we already have it. "Heaven is in us" remember "he has put Eternity in the Heart of Men"

      As a person, I find out this truth even before I even heard any one preach it.
      The Holy Spirit does one thing when hear the truth, its bears witness.
      I pray the Eyes of your heart is Enlightened.

      And may the Gospel continue to prosper in your hands.

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    2. Dear author, I bless God for the Truth you just expounded on. You see, these heretics are everywhere. I have been a victim of the false doctrine of once saved forever saved. I have listened to them, believed them and eventually became so comfortable with sin and transgression. Those that deny the Truth you just brought up are blind. In fact, just like it was prophesied in Scripture that men will no longer give heed to sound doctrine...they will only listen those who will tell them what they want to hear. We are now in the days...

      I have fallen for that false doctrine but God brought me out of it. I only pray the eyes of this folks to will be opened. God bless you dear author.

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    3. Reading your post sir/ma makes me weep.
      Okay you once believed that your salvation was eternal and according to you,you were comfortable to live in sin.But now that you have heard the "truth" that you can lose your salvation or your salvation is not eternal.You are no more comfortable to live in sin right?
      But so far so good how has this truth helped you? Have you stopped the sinning or the difference is that you are not comfortable with it(but still you have sin) Anyway then you are still a struggling sinner who is not sure of eternity at least you are "working out" your salvation.
      You have no quarantee that you will make heaven at the end. Because you can't say that ever since you have heard this claimed truth, you have been more holy or you have stopped sinning.
      You know it's because of people like you that a lot of people mis quote the eternal security of a believer.
      This is because people like you (including the writer of this post) will always listen to things in a negative way.
      For example it's people like you that will say one is fighting prosperity when one says believing the gospel does not make you rich(materially) with the "are you now saying that we should be poor"
      Or when one says you don't tithe to secure or get God's blessings or favor.
      Then your reply will be.
      "are you now saying we shouldn't give to our local church or pastors".
      You know,the reasons for this kind of questions or funny conclusions is because your heart was never fixed on the right things.
      You see living holy as a burden that's why when you heard the truth of the gospel, you saw it as a license to sin.
      Which no one ever mentioned.. If indeed you ever followed pastor Chris segun onayinka.
      The work of salvation is for eternity but still our new found liberty is not to encourage a sinful lifestyle.

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  12. Thanks for this piece ... if OSAS was real Demas would not have followed the then world I. e departed from the faith. 2 Timothy 4:10

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    1. Good day sir/ma
      Demas leaving the faith wasn't referring to him losing salvation. It meant he left or abandoned the work of the ministry for the affairs of this world as many do today.
      The word faith in the epistles can mean
      *salvation
      *doctrine
      *ministry.
      Also, you find Paul using that word faith for doctrine when he spoke of hymenaus and philteus in 1st Timothy...
      He referred to them erring from the faith which meant that they departed from the doctrine of christ.
      So he wasn't referring to anyone losing his salvation

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  13. You can't be saved and lose your salvation. That is not scriptural. Jesus made it clear that no one can take you away from him. Pls what is difficult to understand there. Even Jn3v16 tells you forever saved in Christ..and many more.

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    1. Your first scripture was misunderstood. From jn 11 : 27 says " my sheep hears my voice and I know them and they follow me. Then verse 28 says "none shall pluck them out of my hands. So you have to hear and obey his voice before verse 28 can become a reality.
      Jn 3:16 says " SHOULD" not perish. That means after you accept Christ, you are under a should coverage until you aligne your will to obey Christ

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  14. I hope after two years of this writing the author still holds this as true. If so, he's not studied his scriptures ever since. If no, he should pull down this post.
    May the Gospel prosper in your hands!

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  15. Response to the last 3 comments, beginning from the last:

    Yes, after 2 years, it has become even much clearer how central the doctrine of OSAS/Hypergrace is in the Devil's business of stealing, killing, and destroying. Did anyone notice that COZA Pastor Fatoyinbo cited OSAS (deeper level of Grace) in response to Esie's query on how he could continue to engage in adulterous relationship with her, without batting an eye? In a recent article, I showed that both Pastor Fatoyinbo and Busola are actually victims of the satanic Hypergrace doctrine.
    http://churcharise.blogspot.com/2019/08/coza-rape-saga-hypergrace-doctrine-is.html

    And for those still trying to blindly defend OSAS, please note that the central issue here is NOT "morality" or immorality. Sin is far more than morality. Right from Eden, the main element of Sin is refusal to obey God, and rather choosing to follow one's lusts. Please read the above article again, what makes the Hypergrace doctrine to push OSAS to a new level of toxicity is its stance against REPENTANCE and OBEDIENCE.

    As for John 10:29, indeed no devil can pluck us from the Father's hand. But it is also true that the Father will not stop anyone from exercising their freewill (as did Adam and Eve initially) and walk away from Him if they so choose. [Penitent prodigals always welcome back with great joy!] Even more seriously, the Lord Jesus warns that the Father Himself can take away branches already in the Vine and cast away if such would not abide - evidenced by fruitlessness. (John 15:2,6),

    Long and short, God does not want anyone to perish. But He expects us to follow simple instructions out of trust and love for Him. Shalom.

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  16. Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

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  17. My first question is that which verse of the scripture validate the fact that one can lose his/her salvation?

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  18. I should think there are enough verses cited in the article!

    OSAS adherents are often confused trying to use the analogy of physical birth: "Can someone become "unborn" simply because he sinned/distrusted/disobeyed his parents?"

    The truth is that our salvation is only "consummated" when we reach heaven [that's borrowing directly the language from Kenneth Haggins in the article above; and the famous paradigm from Buyan's Pilgrim's Progress).

    In other words, Joseph could legally have chosen to put away his bethrothed "wife" since the marriage was not yet solemnized or consummated (Mathew 1:19-20). And a pregnancy could become aborted despite all the provisions by God's genius if somebody thinks God's rules are irrelevant.

    When you received Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD (i.e. someone to be obeyed), your salvation becomes conceived as a pregnancy. When you cross the final river away from the realm of temptation and time (or at Christ's return), your salvation becomes birthed or consummated.

    The whole process from conception to birth is guided and guaranteed by God's genius, love, and wisdom.We can safely and confidently bank on it... But He expects us to trust Him and obey basic instructions!

    Hope this clarifies things for you, beloved.

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  19. Thank you so much Church arise! God bless you. You hit the nail on the head.

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  20. First, are you antagonizing the doctrine as a whole or you're so particular about Pastor Segun, because you mentioned his name even more than Jesus' name (chuckles)..

    By the way, I'll advise that you do a lot of investigation and listen to the teachings of ANY minister clearly before throwing stones at them.

    And lastly, I want to ask that, all what you're trying to tell me is that, you can still go to hell (or be damned eternally) even after believing in Christ as the saviour??

    Do more of a diligent bible study, sir/ma

    shalom!

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    1. The writer is right. That OSAS doctrine is HERESY.

      There's another heretic message on FORGIVENESS that is being preached now. They say Jesus has already died for sins so there's no need to ask for forgiveness, that once you sin, it is automatically forgiven. What's really happening in Christianity? That's why you see gospel artists, singers and preachers who are lesbian and gays all hiding under GRACE.

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  21. Dear "Anonymous" and "Unknown",

    It’s unfortunate that of the scores of Scriptures cited here (several of them direct quotes from the Lord Jesus), what really catches your attention is the number of times Chris Onayinka is mentioned in the article. And in the typical OSAS way of flippantly diverting issues, (even while flagrantly pushing easily refuted “facts”) you aver that the article contains more mention of your mentor more than of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, a simple word count shows the Lord’s name was directly mentioned 14 times in the article in contrast with Onayinka’s 7 times. (Actually the Lord was simply referred to as “Lord” 18 other times, without including His proper name)

    Just to again underscore this baffling OSAS fact-bashing trait with a simple example, did you note that Onayinka boldly teaches that “confession of sins” is “suggested” in the New Testament ONLY in 1 John 1:9; whereupon he goes forth with the most ridiculous attempts to redefine the word homologia? Whereas, apart from James 5:16 plainly asking we “confess our faults”, the Lord Jesus clearly teaches that we should confess our trespasses to our Father in heaven, AND ask for forgiveness (Mathew 6:12, Luke 11:4). There are at least a dozen other key “facts” Onayinka boldly bandies around to prop up the heretical OSAS doctrine, that are directly and straight-forwardly refuted in the Scriptures.

    It’s really amazing we are spending so much time debating whether or not one who commits what is admittedly wrong and sinful, ought to admit the guilt (not to talk of saying “sorry”) before he could expect to benefit from forgiveness lovingly and freely provided!

    All said and done, dear Anonymous, the choice is yours whose words you would believe.

    Wishing you all the best.
    Joshua

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  22. Ohhhh...not again! 🤦🏽‍♂

    I still can't wrap my mind around the reason any one who's not thinking treachery and treason against Christ Jesus would claim "the Cup of the Blessing, which we bless (1Cor.10:15-17)" has become a normal meal.

    Given the so dare warnings by the Apostle Paul in 1Cor.11:20-39 over "normal meal"...and the clear declarations of how he *Received* it of the Lord Jesus Christ and *Delivered* the same?

    Given also that the Pauline Epistles which Chris Onayinka supposedly stands on clearly stated the above? I still wonder at the entire twist of the contexts and content of those scriptures.

    I heard him myself when I was first invited to his convention in Lagos. And I thought immediately that I had gotten some really tough meat to chew and strong bone to crack on. Somehow, I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt to see from his perspective.

    Alas! It was no scriptural perspective at all, but entirely human...not in the least as supportive of the Unity of Faith of any of the Biblical Apostles we know.

    It dawned on me that we could be dealing rather, with the spirits of the false Apostles of 2Cor.11:12-14...the such as opposed the Apostles of Christ Jesus, and for which Apostle sort out the most effective means to cut off occasion from by which they glory...that they might be exposed and found for who they are, even as the Lord's Apostles.

    As such, I am fully persuaded that there's simply no more arguments trying to understand Chris Onayinka and his disciples. There's really no point understudying and arguing with him or his followers. The bulk of the work is to state, and present the obvious truths and facts of scriptures as presented by the Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles laying strong emphasis on the young and upcoming generation of believers who are often prone to exposures in wrong exegesis before they have the chance to know the truth and Him who is true.

    My great concern yet, is that not many Christians seem to study their Bibles enough to notice the subtilities that sway away from the true Gospel, unto another Gospel.

    It's so easy to get carried away with the charisma of Apostles of another Gospel as Chris Onayinka...even worse, is to have insufficient knowledge of the word of God with which to filter through the barrage of ideologies cunningly infused with known scriptural quotations.

    The danger of these subtle scriptural twist within the church, is far greater than the danger external insurgence against the church. The latter may be a quick and rough pathway to Heaven, but the former is a gentle and pleasurable broadway to eternal damnation.

    I must commend my Dad and Proffesor for staying strong on this...as most ministers just log off from the interlocutions neccessary for the young people to observe and learn to understand the stark differences in believe and doctrine as given in scriptures and as presented by men today.

    May the eyes of the understanding of the church be indeed enlightened!

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    1. God bless you Sir. In fact I have been a victim of such heresy...but I have been delivered. Only those who genuinely seek God even if they are presently being deceived, such ones will be brought out into light.

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  23. Thanks for the above refreshing comments. Particularly instructive, coming from someone with first-hand personal experience with the OSAS movement.

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  24. people did not read that post very well and I see that some people don't understand it at all.
    well bible tells us in Romans Romans 6:12-16 KJV
    Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. [15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?......
    if u are servant to sin and bible made us understand that you cannot serve two master Luke 16:13 KJV
    No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
    so what are we saying, if after salvation you still yield yourself to sin, judge yourself

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  25. Good afternoon. I'm seeing these posts for the first time. I really want to appreciate God for CHURCH ARISE for rising up to the truth of the scriptures. I'm a minister of the gospel. Just 2 years ago, the Lord helped us deliver a youth in Ibadan from destructive doctrines of the Saints Community Church. He's serving God in a true bible-believing church now. Earlier, his elder sister and younger brothers had been delivered.

    The problem with the doctrine of eternal security (OSAS) is that it appeals to everyone who is looking for an "easy route" to heaven. They want to be living in sin and still claim to be God's children. Their doctrines appeal so much to young people. That's why they target mostly that group.

    The proponents of OSAS are similar to Charles Taza Russell, who went to a Christian meeting where the preacher was preaching about sin and hell. The thought of going to hell shook him, yet he refused to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. He decided to brainwash the idea of hell from himself, and started teaching people so. That was how the false doctrines of Jehovah Witnesses started.

    Paul talked about this:

    2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

    2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

    People don't want to hear the truth again that, "the soul that sinners it shall die (paraphrased)". This people will die of their deception, and their teachers, except they repent and turn to the truth.

    How is it that someone will say that the writings of the apostles were not written to Christians, or that they were misconstrued? The apostles spoke so much about the fact someone who once knew the Lord can, out of carelessness or willingness, fall away from grace. Otherwise, how do we explain, especially the books Romans and Hebrews.

    I urge those who follow the pernicious ways of OSAS to repent truly and walk away from these evil doctrines for the sake of eternity.

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  26. Dear CHURCH ARISE. I used your write up as a defence of the truth on another platform, but I indicated it's copied. I'm sorry for not taking permission before doing so.

    Thank you sir.

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  27. I am seeing this for the first time and I am very grateful to God because it is an encouragement to me that the truth I had always believed and often taught and defended most time to the disparage of many is known by others. When a young man or woman who is naturally rebellious and who resist orders and instructions hears that you don't need Jesus as your Lord (the one that you must obey His instructions and commandments) it will resonate with him. This satanic teachings have raised too many irresponsible believers who are usually very proud and can not follow instructions. Their trigger is usually any attempt to teach them submission to eternal truths, they demonstrate this anti construction life style to their parents and in their churches. My take is this simple, we should continue to teach the truth at every level,we should take responsibility for the next generation of believer go the extra mile in teaching the bible truth, desist from the confusing play of languages on bible interpretation (the bible in English or my local language should suffice for my learning) and very importantly remove the influence and contact of such proponents from our young (like a cancer cell). To think that this evil teaching can be waived aside will be suicidal for the church. When in Matt. 1;21 the mandate of Jesus was announced it was to save His people from THEIR sins (emphasis mine). May God have mercy on us.

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  28. Dear Pastor Chris,
    Haba, apologies for helping to share the truth of the Gospel?
    Thanks so very much sir. For sharing, and for your comments above.
    Shalom.
    Joshua

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  29. please sir,i would want you to do some thing for me. visit the living word media, and listen to the following teachings...
    I am Jesus.
    born again.
    knowing the love of the father. And please sir, make researh on the saints community church.
    I would be back next month to ask if you did it sir.
    much love from your brother in Christ.
    I pray that you may abound more and more in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ.
    I know you would honor my request.
    God bless you sir.
    you can search me on facebook
    fimihan akinyemi.

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  30. ONCE SAVED(BY GRACE/FREE GIFT) FOREVER SAVED(FREE GIFT)

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  31. I'll be glad if the writer will sincerely answer this question:

    How many sins do we have to commit to lose our salvation?

    It's just a simple question that everyone who rejects the doctrine of wtwenal security needs to ponder on. The truth is just that Christ did nothing if we are not eternally secured on the ground of His Grace. To do anything of our own to be secured shows that Christ isn't the Savior but we.

    We cannot preach justification by faith and preach preservation by the works of our righteousness. I'll be glad if this comment is not deleted but permitted to serve as a pinpoint to putting your thoughts into consideration.

    You made mention of Calvinism being the root cause of immoralities but that's far from the truth. The five points of Calvinism is all about our helpnessness in our spiritual and moral decadence and God's response to get the problem solved.

    Again, how many of the Preachers of eternal security have you seen living graceless life? Find, you won't see. Right from history, the pattern as always being “I preach the grace of God, so I live by the faith of God.”

    You cannot correctly in Galatians 2:20 where he said “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [NKJV]

    The living is no longer I but Christ. He wouldn't have given Himself for us in the first place if He isn't capable of keeping us saved.

    By the way, you cannot also explain your thoughts if you are to look into the doctrine of election - be it conditional (arminian perspective) or unconditional (calvinist perspective). For what did he elect us? Apostle Paul would tell you what he told the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 5:9-10 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

    Furthermore, opponents of eternal security questions the omniscience of God. Apostle James on the conflict over the subject of salvation in Acts 15, opened his words with this defense:

    “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” That's to say, He who saved us knew us before our creation and He has dedicated Himself to finishing thebwork He has began in us.

    Finally, your stand on progressive sanctification is totally unsriptural. God is not sanctifying us gradually, He sanctified us once and for us. He made us one with Himself, we have been made holy once for all time. Professor John Murray had an extensive teaching on this subject.


    If you still insist on this view of unsecured salvation, pls consider the question again, how many sins do we need to commit to lose our salvation? Count it a fruit of brotherly love to keep my comment on your page, deleting it will be a fruit of hatred.

    Thanks for bringing up the subject!

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  32. Thanks for your comments and question. We are just seeing the post. Please note the following:

    1. All "sins" are not the same. It is NOT the "magnitude" of the sin that matters, but its "direction/quality".
    (I Jhn 5:16-17). Is it a sin willfully committed with "grace" being wielded as a license to come cover it? Or a sin "fallen" into?

    In the first case, the fellow involved risks not being able to genuinely repent (except in mockery of God - Gal 6:7!). Without repentance, the sin remains unforgiven (Luke 13:5, Jhn 9:41). The primary manifestation of grace is the GIFT of repentance (Acts 11:18).

    2. Any ONE sin "deliberately" committed (Heb. 10:26) tantamounts to a conscious exercise of our free will to be excused from God's kingdom and given leave to go partake in the kingdom of he who "sinned from the beginning" (I Jhn 3:8). As much as God loves us and wants to save us, He will not force Himself on anyone. He will not override our free will. (Rev 3:20). See also Luke 15:12ff).

    I hope this clarifies things for you better. God bless you richly in Jesus name.

    Joshua

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  33. To the writer of the "Unknown" Post of Oct 20, 2020:

    I believe the above (previous) comment should be helpful to you also. But I'll like to make some additional comments/emphasis.

    It is a great tragedy for anyone called a Christian to be comfortable with sin!

    Being comfortable with sin means it becomes a lifestyle. 1 Jhn 3:8a addresses this very explicitly:

    "He that committeth sin is of the devil;"

    It is a tragedy for a Christian to continue in sin when the whole point of Jesus coming is "to destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jhn 3:8) and "save His people from their sins" (Mat. 1:21).

    If you believe Jesus truly can do this for you, and you embrace the disciplines of Repentance and Restitution, you will know first-hand the joy of genuine and eternally-secured salvation.

    Shalom
    Joshua

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  34. To Kevin Atamhen:

    Again, I apologize for not responding to your question, all this while. I'm just seeing it.

    Thanks for your question. You wrote:

    "Sir, could you pls explain rev 3:5"

    I believe Rev 3:5 is quite straightforward, especially if you read the whole admonition beginning from verse 3.

    Rev 3:3-5:

    3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

    4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

    5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels

    In Rev 3:5, the Lord Jesus is addressing ANYONE out of the many supposedly saved "saints" at Sardis but who are walking around with "defiled" garments (verse 4). [And also "he that hath ears to hear (verse 6)]. Such a one, who according to verse 3,

    1. "REMEMBERS" the first word of God that brought them to Christ (before they became introduced to some nice-sounding but vain teaching - see Gal.5:5-7, 21b; Eph 5:6-7); and

    2. "HOLDS FAST" that first uncomplicated plain teachings of the Gospel, and

    3 "REPENTS" and

    4 "WATCHES" (See Mark 13;33)

    such a person is "he that over cometh) (verse 5) and his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life.

    Note that this clearly shows that names can be blotted out of the book of life. Otherwise this promise from the Lord would have been superfluous.

    Clearly those who don't heed the correction of the Lord as presented to the Church at Sardis and to "those who have ears to hear"
    stand the danger of having their names blotted out of God's book (see also Exo. 33:32-33).

    Similarly, there's the promise that the Lord will "confess" [the name of such a fellow] before His Father, and before His angels. Of course this also clearly indicates that the Lord will also "deny" before His Father some presumed saints who chose to deny Him before men! (Matt. 10:33, Mat. 7:21-23)

    I trust this clarifies things for you, dear brother.

    God bless you.

    Joshua.

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  35. Oops!

    The passage that talks about names being blotted out of God's book in Exodus is in Chapter 32:32-33 NOT Chapter 33, as erroneously typed above!

    EXODUS 32:
    Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

    33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

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  36. Thank you for this wonderful submission. This topic is what I have discussed several times with a few of my friends who are Pastor Chris Onayinka's followers. Once saved Always saved / eternal security is one of the 5 points of Calvinism (John Calvin's) which I believe emanated as a result of misunderstanding of the Bible. It's saying that salvation can never be lost. This is not true. People don't need to argue much. Look at what Jesus himself taught about salvation. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus encouraged his disciples to endure to the end so that their salvation will be complete.
    John 13:26-27 Judas fell away from Grace. He was saved initially but he chose to walk away from salvation- Act 1:25.it is possible to fall away from grace and that's why Jesus kept stressing that we should press on.

    One of the most dramatic examples of the possibility of losing salvation is found in the book of Revelation. John explains his vision of the seven lamp stands and the seven stars- Rev 1:20.
    In this vision John received a message from Jesus for the seven churches at that time. The message had encouragements and warnings. The warnings were all the same - the churches must endure, overcome and remain faithful until death or when Jesus shall return if they are to receive their reward described in different ways. John wrote that they must endure to the end in order to eat of the tree if iife, no be hurt by the 2nd death, receive the hidden manner, the white Stone or the new name. They are all saying the same thing- eternal life/eternal reward. This is for those who endure to the end.
    This message was sent by Christ through John to the believers who were saved at that time. If they were saved forever, there would be no need for such warning from Christ.

    In Galatians 5:1-4, Paul is warning the Galatian Christians that if
    they forsake the gospel(which is what saves them) and they succumb to the false teachers who were preaching a salvation based on Law, he said if you do that you are cut off from Christ.

    2 Peter 2: 17-22 is another place where Peter admonishes us to endure to the end, if no grave consequence. If once saved forever saved, Peter would not have said all this.

    Hebrews 6:1-8 also sounds a warning about the possibility of losing one's salvation.

    So brethren, he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit is saying to the church. This message is not for everyone but he who has àn ear.



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