I thought that I would offer a word of encouragement to those that take the position that the Bible does teach that one must maintain, hold fast, etc. his faith in Christ to be saved and stay saved. I also believe this, but I did not always believe this way. I was brought up a Baptist and, as you might guess, was taught OSAS. I went to Christian schools from 1 – 9 grades, and, although these schools were not necessarily Baptist, they still taught, as far as I remember, OSAS as well. I accepted what the preacher and teachers told me about OSAS. This is what my immediate family believed as well.
Not too long ago, I began reading other viewpoints, namely that it was possible for a Christian to forfeit his salvation. Rather than being closed-minded about this, I read those viewpoints with the Scriptures used to back them up. I also read the supports used for OSAS. I decided that I would do my best to not let my reading of this be filtered through my preconceived viewpoint of OSAS and I would let the Bible speak for itself. What I found was that I thought there was more support for the belief that a believer could in fact fall from the faith and become lost again. The idea seemed to flow more plainly from the Scriptures than the belief of OSAS. Now my wife and I are convinced that the Bible does in fact teach that one must maintain his faith in Christ to stay saved. Do I believe one must live a life of perfection to stay saved? No, I do not believe that. Do I still have questions about this? Sure I do. Regardless of the questions I have, I am sure that one must maintain, hold fast, etc. his faith in Christ or else he will fall away (become lost). The Bible also seems to teach that obedience to Christ is also a factor in staying in Christ. Did not Christ say that those that love Him are those that obey His commandments? Is not being a Christian the same as being a follower of Christ? Would not following Christ mean that one must obey the commandments of Christ? Is it possible for a Christian to always follow Christ's commands perfectly? I do not think so. However, Christ knows everyone's heart; therefore he knows those that are striving and wanting to follow Him. I think that as long as we have faith in Christ and are stiving to walk in that faith, that Christ's blood will cover where we do fail Him.
As a side note, one thing I notice about some of the arguments used by those that believe in OSAS are sometimes along the lines of trying to compare a natural, physical situation with a spiritual one. For example, the argument that when we become a child a of God, just because we sin or stray does not mean that we will no longer be a child of God. After all, they say, if I stray or disobey my earthly father, am I not still his son? The problem with this is two-fold. First of all, this is trying to compare a earthly relationship with our spiritual relationship with God which does not necessarily have to be the same. Secondly, if this argument put forth were true, then we would all be in trouble. We are all children of the devil before we get saved, and, therefore, if it this argument put forth were true, then we could not become children of God.
Also, I see many statements made by those that believe in OSAS where they are just saying the doctrinal beliefs of OSAS without giving any verses to back them up. I used to do this as well when I believed in OSAS. By this I do not mean that no one that believes in OSAS ever gives any verses to try to support the doctrine of OSAS, for I have seen many give verses on this forum. It is just that I have also seen what I just cited as well.
Again, to those that are putting forth your arguments that the Bible does teach a conditional security, do not think that all your efforts are in vain. There are those that do change their minds about OSAS.
Here is a link to an article written by a pastor's wife. It tells of how this pastor went from believing in OSAS to believing in a conditional security and what he encountered at his church when he revealed his new beliefs:
http://www.behindthebadge.net/osas/osas59.html
Not too long ago, I began reading other viewpoints, namely that it was possible for a Christian to forfeit his salvation. Rather than being closed-minded about this, I read those viewpoints with the Scriptures used to back them up. I also read the supports used for OSAS. I decided that I would do my best to not let my reading of this be filtered through my preconceived viewpoint of OSAS and I would let the Bible speak for itself. What I found was that I thought there was more support for the belief that a believer could in fact fall from the faith and become lost again. The idea seemed to flow more plainly from the Scriptures than the belief of OSAS. Now my wife and I are convinced that the Bible does in fact teach that one must maintain his faith in Christ to stay saved. Do I believe one must live a life of perfection to stay saved? No, I do not believe that. Do I still have questions about this? Sure I do. Regardless of the questions I have, I am sure that one must maintain, hold fast, etc. his faith in Christ or else he will fall away (become lost). The Bible also seems to teach that obedience to Christ is also a factor in staying in Christ. Did not Christ say that those that love Him are those that obey His commandments? Is not being a Christian the same as being a follower of Christ? Would not following Christ mean that one must obey the commandments of Christ? Is it possible for a Christian to always follow Christ's commands perfectly? I do not think so. However, Christ knows everyone's heart; therefore he knows those that are striving and wanting to follow Him. I think that as long as we have faith in Christ and are stiving to walk in that faith, that Christ's blood will cover where we do fail Him.
As a side note, one thing I notice about some of the arguments used by those that believe in OSAS are sometimes along the lines of trying to compare a natural, physical situation with a spiritual one. For example, the argument that when we become a child a of God, just because we sin or stray does not mean that we will no longer be a child of God. After all, they say, if I stray or disobey my earthly father, am I not still his son? The problem with this is two-fold. First of all, this is trying to compare a earthly relationship with our spiritual relationship with God which does not necessarily have to be the same. Secondly, if this argument put forth were true, then we would all be in trouble. We are all children of the devil before we get saved, and, therefore, if it this argument put forth were true, then we could not become children of God.
Also, I see many statements made by those that believe in OSAS where they are just saying the doctrinal beliefs of OSAS without giving any verses to back them up. I used to do this as well when I believed in OSAS. By this I do not mean that no one that believes in OSAS ever gives any verses to try to support the doctrine of OSAS, for I have seen many give verses on this forum. It is just that I have also seen what I just cited as well.
Again, to those that are putting forth your arguments that the Bible does teach a conditional security, do not think that all your efforts are in vain. There are those that do change their minds about OSAS.
Here is a link to an article written by a pastor's wife. It tells of how this pastor went from believing in OSAS to believing in a conditional security and what he encountered at his church when he revealed his new beliefs:
http://www.behindthebadge.net/osas/osas59.html