You are quite right. As I mentioned earlier, Psalm 69 mentions the fact that we can have our names blotted out of the book of the righteous…I’d say certain sins would be the cause of that. Luther, though he perhaps had some good ideas, certainly fell short in many ways.
Very true, and unfortunately it helps Satan’s plan of polluting their message.
Thank you for the question. I don’t recall Paul ever saying he wasn’t sure he was saved…In fact, he said: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Jesus said that he would allow no one who had out their trust in Him to slip away.
Actual it says as follows:
2 Tim 4 - 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Luther is not talking about Judas, or the unregenerate. He is talking to Melanchthon, in a letter, encouraging him to continue to preach the Gospel.
Even though even our good works, our preaching of the Gospel (in Melanchthon’s case), has the vestiges of our sin in them, continue to preach the Gospel, continue to try to live the godly life, and depend on the Savior to forgive when we confess, and lead us into life everlasting.
Amen.
Who preserved Paul to His heavenly kingdom? I is God my friend and no one else.2 Tim 4 - 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Context my friend!
Also don’t forget 2 Tim 4 - 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing
I am not sure how “keeping the Faith” “Fighting the Good Fight” “Finishing the Race” correspond to Once Saved Always Saved
No it’s not actually. Granted all good works come from God. The love of God is written in our hearts, but we also have free will.
I will only enter into this conversation to point out that OSAS has NO direct conncection to Luthers 95 thesis. AND to po9int out that OSAS means in their understanding: that they cannot loose there salvation for any sin
I think you are on the right track. Notice that in Revelation, the “believers” were “lukewarm”; in other words, they appeared to have faith or said they had faith, but their actions were not showing it.
People that are slaves to sin. where is their free will?
Aahhh…that is free-will. What about people slaves to drugs? So who tells them or forces them to sin? God? Who?
We were dead in our sin and God made us alive in Christ Jesus.
So that eliminates free-will in its entirety? Again…who forces or encourages people to sin,if there exist no free-will?
This is the depth of their argument
Philipians 2:12 Paul said work of salvation in fear
It might for some. Lutherans and Catholics agree that we cannot come to saving faith without grace. I say this because the Augsburg Confession’s article on Free Will was accepted by the Confutation. Where free will comes in, and this relates directly to the thread, is only after regeneration. IOW, the free will to refuse grace.
Agreed. We believe we are saved at Baptism. It is after Baptism that we, however, must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We through grace, have been given the precious gift of eternal life and it is up to us, with the help of God, not to loose it through the commission of grave sin; a rejection of grace. Grave sin is not possible without free will. The point is that God first gives us the gift of eternal life in Baptism. So it certainly is not anything earned. Its up to us to accept that gift and guard it throughout our lives. In Christ’s great wisdom he also gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation, again, a font of saving grace. I’m not sure what more one could expect from a loving God in his efforts to save us.