Quite apart from the somewhat obvious conclusions (based on the strategic use of the question mark in the title) which are drawn I found this book fascinating. Pawson spends a large amount of time looking at Church history, mythology, and some seemingly misunderstood historic Christians to try and uncover where the idea coined by the phrase “Once Saved, Always Saved?” has come from. It is certainly, if you agree with the books conclusions, not biblical. This wander through the ages; while by no means complete serves as a real shot in the arm as it is quite clear that this idea, quite like so many others has not come from the biblical text but instead from some ancient interpretation of them and the tradition, and sometimes even superstition that has built up around them. Yet again a reminder why the whole point of this blog; to find out what is truly within the Bibles pages, is so important.
As I hinted at in my initial post on this subject, the idea behind this phrase; when unpacked, really just doesn’t sit right. However, it is a difficult one for us to swallow because; apart from our own personal situations with God, we all know people who have made a commitment but have ‘wandered away’. Or even people that have ‘passed away’ that we would like to think made a commitment at one stage or another, even if it didn’t bear a great deal of fruit in their lives. At its most basic level we want us, and the people we love to have a safe and happy eternal destiny. The idea behind “Once Saved, Always Saved?” gives us that assurance, which is why this is such an emotive subject and one which we all carry a certain amount of baggage; preconceived ideas and prejudice to.
Pawson’s book looks at how salvation is not a one time decision but a journey which we are all on; a race, as Paul puts it, which, possibly, we may not reach the end of. I would thoroughly recommend reading this one. Not because I totally agree with all thatââ?¬â?¢s written in it; I am still working through some of it and the consequences to my own life, but because at very least it challenged my thinking on a subject which I thought carried very little relevance to me but one which I soon realised I had made my mind up about without ever really considering it consciously.
I think I have accepted the idea that we are not “Once Saved, Always Saved?” but I also hold on to the fact God is a God of grace. He loves us and dearly desires that none should perish.
What do you think? Have you looked into this area or read this book?
I have read this book also, I fully agree with Rob Borley. Yes I am convinced that Once saved Always Saved? is not biblical, but we are all children of the WAY, receiving salvation, restoration, deliverance while travelling on the WAY. Reading this book I was taken back to very old mind sets of my childhood that you could never be certain of salvation, and that you have to wait after your death whether the gate of heaven would be opened for you, or not. As a child this has frightened me a lot, so much that I left the WAY, because I could not stand it any longer, I could not handle it emotionally. I think if you take God seriously, you walk with Him, you love Him, you want to serve Him, you share your life with Him, you give your life to Him, because He is the one Who knows what is best (sometimes it is not always easy, for sure……….it takes courage, faith and trust). But I do believe, that God never wants you to be ignorant of your salvation, and always doubt whether you are saved or not. He wants you to be certain, and have a firm foundation of love, grace and mercy. Also the thing about the unforgivable sin, is horrifying. A lot of people struggle with this, I have ……………….. Being afraid for committing the unforgivable sin. My Lord and Savior told me one night, I WILL PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT YOUR FEET WILL NOT EVER STUMBLE!!!!! It was a word of the Lord Himself, I was just a baby christian, I did not really know how the Lord would speak, but I will never forget this. In my very darkness, my Lord and Savior spoke to me very clearly. He will not allow that my foot will stumble. Weeks or months later I found the biblical confirmation in Psalms 121.
He is the also the Finisher of my faith. He will not leave nor forsake me. Of course my will has a part in this whole matter, but I trust in the working power of the Holy Spirit in me, that He will convince me of sin, danger, and so on. Often I ask the Holy Spirit, am I still on the WAY, please tell me (psalm 51).
I am so dependant on the Holy Spirit, He will lead me ……. Once my Lord told me (ps 23) that He will guide me on righteous ways for the sake of His Name. WHOUWWWWWWW
Isn’t He wonderful? Trust on to the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding….. Yes I will trust on to the Lord with all my heart, and He will take me to green pastures, He will guide me, and He will search for me if I am too far away. What a wonderful, gracious God. All that doom senario, I can not handle it, if I think of my Lord as gracious full of compassion I fall in love with my Savior and can surrender my heart to Him. Wonderful Savior. Let us adore Him.
Well now…… I wonder if any of you have come across R.T. Kendall’s book by the same title? That would also interest you I’m sure. Although you all seem to agree with David Pawson, I sense that the theology is not sitting well with your understanding of salvation by grace alone, through faith.
So I have a few questions for you…..
If salvation IS through grace alone, and not of works (Ephesians 2), then is it not of God and without the help of man? If we did nothing to afford our own salvation, is God so contrary as to UNDO a work that He has done, which cost the life of His Son?
If it is possible for a man to fall away from God’s grace, is this not saying that the work of the cross is insufficient for this sin? And again if it is POSSIBLE for any Christian to wander into sin and put themselves outside of God’s redemptive work, then surely it is IMPOSSIBLE for any of us to actually remain within God’s grace and be saved at all? For who can hold fast, unless God holds him? Wouldn’t we all fall away if it had the remotest dependence on us?
How does God categorise which sins are bad enough to constitute falling away from salvation? Does the Bible not tell us that our selfish thoughts are as evil in His sight as murder or adultery? So who can stand? Does my salvation then depend on every wrong thought and every sin of omission (ie. the old lady I did not visit or the poor beggar I have not helped) being confessed and up to date at the moment of my death? Because if each sin is equally abhorrent to God, then we cannot be saved and taken to heaven unless we are sinless.
I may not yet be saved from the power of sin or from the presence of sin, but I am surely saved at the moment of my new birth from the penalty of sin, and can this be undone?
Or am I already saved from all my sins, past present and future, by the finished work of the cross?
If any holding on to our salvation depends on us, then we cannot be assured that we will finish the race, and are we not left in the position of having to work FOR our salvation rather than simply working OUT our salvation, which is very different?
If we do indeed have to work for our salvation, then where is our peace with God? How much do you have to do in a day to please Him? Doesn’t this theology lead you down a path of legalism akin to the Old Testament? Doesn’t it rob you of your joy and your abundant life? Doesn’t it take away your freedom to abide in Christ, from which springs up the well of Holy Spirit power, without which we bear no fruit and run round in circles chasing our tails trying to work for God?
I think this is a very important and interesting debate, which will no doubt continue,
May God shine His light on it and bless us!
I think I would argue here that what Pawson is saying here is that there is a difference between committing sin and completely turning our back on God. We can sin – and we all do, but that is not affecting our salvation because of our heart to please God and ultimately do what He wills. Turning away from God on the other hand is an open renouncing in our mind of God as our Lord and Saviour – and I wonder I believe that Pawson would argue this as being something that could loose us our salvation.
Of course there can be a fine line between an open renouncing and a gradual slipping away – but I think one thing is for sure: that God knows our hearts and it is going to be clear to Him whether we have a heart that hungers for Him or a heart that does not care for Him no matter how ‘in the middle’ we may appear on the outside.
God bless you Sue Roseblade. Not only have you presented a clear and concise response which demonstrates the heart of the Gospel, but you have done so with a graciousness often missing from those with such an intellectually mature understanding. Heart, mind and spirit in harmony. Thank you.