Essay: Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) is a false doctrine

The false idea of "Once Saved, Always Saved" is a TULIP principle that goes along with other ideas of Calvin. Examining them in the light of the Scriptures, the teaching of the Lord, the Apostles and the Prophets, we see that it is a false and impious doctrine - which gives some a license to sin.

Heb 10:29: Of how much worse punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done insult unto the Spirit of grace?

What does this passage teach us? That some of those who are sanctified by the blood of the covenant can sin so gravely (e.g. by publicly denying Christ) that they will thereafter deserve severest punishment, even worse than those under the Old Covenant received. It refutes OSAS.

How will someone who believes in OSAS answer it? If they say, such a person was not sanctified, that is contrary to the text. If they say, a truly sanctified person would not sin so gravely, according to their OSAS idea, that idea is also plainly contradicted by the text.

Gal 5:19: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies,21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

The passage is clear. It teaches the Catholic doctrine of mortal sin. Those who commit mortal sins like adultery, hatred, heresies etc lose the grace of God, and with it, their inheritance in the Kingdom, unless they confess their sins (see 1 Jn 1:8; Jn 20:23; Jam 5:16).

It was cited in the Council of Trent: "CHAPTER XV.

That, by every Mortal Sin, Grace is lost, but not Faith.

In opposition also to the cunning wits of certain men, who, by good works and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the innocent, it is to be maintained, that the received grace of justification is lost, not only by infidelity, in which even faith itself is lost, but also by any other mortal sin soever, though faith be not lost; thereby defending the doctrine of the divine law, which excludes from the kingdom of God not only the unbelieving, but also the faithful who are fornicators, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners,[88] and all others who commit deadly sins; from which, with the help of divine grace, they are able to refrain, and on account of which they are separated from the grace of Christ."^[1]

How can it be squared with OSAS? In no apparent way. If OSAS adherents say those who do such things were never saved, all who commit any of these mortal sins, according to OSASers, were never saved to begin with. Much more reasonable is the true doctrine that such persons were once truly justified, but now lost grace by their mortal sins; and can recover grace and justification by confessing their sins.

Romans 8:13: "13For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live."

This statement is self-explanatory. If living according to the flesh, i.e. fulfilling those works of the flesh like fornication, drunkenness, witchcraft, envyings etc did not cut one off from grace, St. Paul the Apostle would never threaten those who live like that that they will die and not have life. He clearly tells Christians to do the works of the Spirit and by the Spirit to put to death the works of the flesh, in order to have life.

So we see from these passages, Justification!=(not equal to)Salvation; rather, Justification+Sanctification+Perseverance in Grace=Salvation

1. ↑ Sixth Session. See article at: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01564b.htm