Daily Devotions
Once Saved, Always Saved?
Reading for October 5th: Matthew 9-10
Weekly reading for October 4-10: Hebrews 10-13
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31
One of the most damaging false doctrines of all time would have to be "once saved, always saved." Those who hold to it maintain that it doesn't encourage sin, but how could it not? If there is absolutely nothing you can do to lose your salvation, who wouldn't feel a license to sin?
This doctrine is a lie. The Bible teaches the security of the believer, yes, but not the unbeliever. This letter affirms the truth that belief can become unbelief (Heb 3:12, 19). This passage clearly says that Christ's sacrifice can be taken away (Heb 10:26). In other words, we can be "sanctified" by the "blood of the covenant," and then be exposed to the wrath of God (Heb 10:29, 31).
There is no reason to be nervous or anxious about your salvation if you are following the Savior. No one is perfectly following him. We're all works in progress and we are saved by grace (1 Jn 1:9).
But don't be fooled, grace is not a license to sin! You can fall from grace! (See Gal 5:4)
Father, we don't ever want to do anything that would treat your grace or your Son's sacrifice as nothing! Help us to follow you more perfectly and express our gratitude by our obedience to your will!
