I shant believest in Dr. Timo for there be only one mediator betwixed man and God; the man Christ Jesus. For sooth it is so.
But "believing" is a BIG PACKAGE!
How do you prove that you believe in Jesus?
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
To assume that all you must do is "believe" in the "mind" is to make mockery of the word of God.
Hebrews 10:38,39 --
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
The scripture can't get any plainer. By definition, and the simplistic wording of God's sacred writ, a saved man can "draw back" to perdition. But by faith, we "CHOOSE" to not be among those that draw back.
God never takes away the will. He never makes us robots.
There is no "Once Saved Always Saved".
Regarding the widows that neglected their duties in order to marry, take notice:
1 Tim. 5:12 --
"Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith." -- unequivocal evidence that it is possible to throw off your first faith. In order to have damnation because you threw off your first faith, logic demands that you once had to have been saved.
Now this is not to be meant that the moment you cast off your faith you are damned. The underlying implication is--you have now JUMPED on the road TOWARD damnation. And if you stay on that wrong road, it will eventually lead you to damnation. But you have to GET UP, turn around, and move forward in the right direction again! But it takes your will!
Ezekiel 33:18,19 -
"When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if [Notice the conditional element "if"] the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."
Those who believe in "Once Saved Always Saved" would actually be in more danger of losing their salvation than those who believe that salvation is a daily decision, because this calls for effort to be put forth to cling to Christ.
He will not let go of us, but we can let go of Him. The rope of salvation is always there, but we just need to hang on to the rope. We must exercise our will to grab onto the rope that Christ throws out for us. Then, we must put forth effort to hang on for dear life. From there, we will get towed to shore [heaven].
I have been saved. I am being saved. And I SHALL be saved! Salvation is a daily process.
We must keep our eyes FIXED on Jesus! Remember Peter when he was walking on the water? He took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. He cried out for "HELP!". Jesus came and rescued him.
The same lesson can be taught in the allegory of Pilgrims Progress.
Christian chose to be saved, and he began his journey toward the Celestial City. On the way, he ignored counsel and fell into the Slough of Despond. At that very moment, his life was at peril. But what did he do? He cried for "HELP!" Mr. Help came and pulled him out.
Now, at that moment, what would have happened if Christian had not called out for "help"? Help would have not come. He would have sank in the slough, and lost salvation. But because he made human effort, from his own will, the Lord delivered him by coming to his aid.
Matthew 7:7,8 -
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Christ knocks on the door of your heart. But we must open the door to let Him in. We can also chase Jesus out if we so choose, but He will continue to work on our hearts to let him in again.
Once we fall "off the path", and we "continue in our course toward perdition", there is no getting back on the path unless WE CHOOSE from our own will power to get back on the path. God will not force you to do anything against your will.
I believe the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine has the potential to cause many to make shipwreck of faith.
It has the tendency to deceive many people, causing millions of them to cherish a false sense of security in Christ. It creates a sense of laziness..."Oh, I'm saved, so no matter what I do, I'm sealed!"