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?