The verses in question have been brought up to me in discussions I have had with people who believe in “Once Saved Always Saved”. However they really don’t prove this belief when looked at properly.
The quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church listed above is a good explanation of what this seal is referring to, our Baptismal seal. Baptism is how we recieve the Holy Spirit. However it does not guarantee heaven. Another verse of scripture that I like to bring up to show this is:
Revelation 20:3 and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and
sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a short time.
However we see that Satan (the “it” whom the verse above is speaking about regarding the seal) is released from under the seal:
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are completed, **Satan will be released from his prison. **
Now the same greek word,
sphragizo, is used in Revelation 20:3 as in Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, and Ephesians 1:13, the first three verses mentioned in the original thread. This can be proved from a Protestant website if that would help. Here is a link to the site:
blueletterbible.org/
As for the last verse brought up, 2 Corinthians 5:5, the New American Bible has that verse written as followed:
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment.
This translation gives us a better understanding of what the verse is actually referring to, our first installment, not our guarantee.
Also, there are some scripture verses that can be used to prove that we can in fact lose our salvation. I’ll list some of them below:
1 John 5:16-17
Galatians 5:19-21
Ehesians 5:3-5
Colossians 3:5-6
Revelation 22:19
1 Corinthians 9:27
1 Corinthians 12:3 in unison with Matthew 7:21
There are other verses as well that can be brought up, but these should suffice.
Now regarding the question of Christ death for our past, present, and future sins making us forgiven already even before we confess. There is a difference between the redemption of Christ’s death on the cross and our own justification. Christ died for the entire world (John 3:16) but we have to choose whether or not we accept this. Everyone can be forgiven of any sin (Matthew 12:31) but we have to actually ask for forgiveness and accept it when God offers it to us. If everything was finished on the cross 2000 years ago, then everyone would automatically go to heaven, but we know this is not so (Revelation 20:15).
Christ’s death secured the possibility for everyone to be forgiven of their sins and go to heaven, but it is left up to us whether or not we accept Him, His death, His forgiveness, and His teachings. This is what exactly what the definition of faith is. Here is another quote from the Catechism:
Faith
1814 Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith "man freely commits his entire self to God."78 For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith "work(s) through charity."79
78 DV 5.
79 ⇒ Rom 1:17; ⇒ Gal 5:6.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P66.HTM
The very fact that we can lose our salvation shows that even after our initial justification by the Sacrament of Baptism (John 3:5, Acts 2:38-39, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:1-7, Matthew 3:16-17) we still need to ask for forgiveness for our future sins, especially the mortal ones, in order to be forgiven, or else we would never lose our salvation in the first place. The proper way to ask for this forgiveness is through the Sacrament of Confession (John 20:21-23, James5:16, 1 John 5:16-17). Our justification includes sanctification as well. Let’s take a look at how the Catechism states it:
I. Justification
1987 The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” and through Baptism:34
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves as dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.35
1988 Through the power of the Holy Spirit we take part in Christ’s Passion by dying to sin, and in his Resurrection by being born to a new life; we are members of his Body which is the Church, branches grafted onto the vine which is himself:36
(God) gave himself to us through his Spirit. By the participation of the Spirit, we become communicants in the divine nature… For this reason, those in whom the Spirit dwells are divinized.37
1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."38 Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "**Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.**39
34 ⇒ Rom 3:22; cf. ⇒ 6:3-4.
35 ⇒ Rom 6:8-11.
36 Cf. ⇒ 1 Cor 12; ⇒ Jn 15:1 4.
37 St. Athanasius, Ep. Serap. 1, 24: PG 26, 585 and 588.
38 ⇒ Mt 4:17.
39 Council of Trent (1547): DS 1528.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Y.HTM
I hope this helps.
May God bless you and Mary keep you in her prayers always.
YinandYang
