Often in the OSAS argument, one who is trying to explain the security of the believer because of Gods mercy and faithfulness, is accused of wanting to live like the devil and still be saved.
This is often due to the kind of definition of OSAS being used.
The easy-believe-ism version, or the actual scripturally backed one.
For my part, as I have said before many times, OSAS is only true, for the true believer. But OSAS IS biblical in regards to salvation.
This excludes any who would simply claim the name, but go on about their lives with no real relationship with Christ, and nor real change in their nature. IE: the ones who would say “Lord, Lord… ?!?”
So we can dispense with the easy-believe-ism definition right here and now, and we can also dispense with the critical, sarcastic, and scornful labeling of lost souls in a form of hypocrisy, as if they know better than others who is saved or not and are able to make that call. There is ONLY one judge over all and above all, and His name is Jesus the Christ.
I see the aspect of Free Will being only for the choice to accept Christ or not. Once accepted, you have entered a covenant much like that made with Abraham where our sacrifice is a penitent heart and broken spirit, to which He applies His Son’s sacrifice in exchange to meet the demands of this covenant. We surrender our (Free) will to God, and His will takes precedence.
This covenant is solely dependent on God to maintain and enforce to the point that He saves us from even ourselves.
- 2 Timothy 2:13 reminds us that it is He who maintains our salvation.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it is nothing we have done, or can do to earn it.
- Romans 8:38-39 would remind us that nothing can separate us from His love through Jesus Christ.
- And lastly John 10:27-30 shows that “NO ONE” can snatch them out of His hand. This is inclusive of ourselves. He saves us from ourselves.
Eternal life is not eternal if you can lose it.
If it is a gift, what kind of misrepresentation of God is it, to say He would take the gift back once received, or that we could be powerful enough to break a covenant He made solely that has nothing on our part to initiate or maintain?
And this is the crux of the problem, a lack of faith, and a dependency in our minds to require us to do something to maintain it. Turning it into a works deal, and therefore no longer a gift but a wage.
We are insufficient, but His grace IS sufficient!
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:27-30
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
No one can snatch them out of My hand.
My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all.
No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.