Is it True that Once Saved Always Saved? (The Process of Salvation) - 1

 

I marvel when sincere Christian believers asked me this question, will I make it to heaven after I confess Christ Jesus as the Savior and Lord of life whiles living in sin? A student at Koforidua Technical University asked me, should we pray for forgiveness of sins as Christian believers.

This Christian brother asked me this question because a pastor taught him that Christians should not ask for forgiveness of sins. After all, Christ Jesus has settled it. This means the Heavenly Father will not judge us (Christian believers) when we confess Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord of our life whiles living in willful sin.

I have never met this Christian brother before. I was relaxing in one of the summer huts on the school campus around 7:00 pm after my stressful activities. This Christian wanted to know whether the pastor was saying the truth.

Although we have discussed this question, once saved forever saved on my WhatsApp and Telegram Bible Scholars group. I have to answer this Christian because I discerned that he was worried about whether Christians should ask for forgiveness of sins? (Meditate on 1 Peter 3:15).

A pastor convinced him that Christ Jesus paid the price of sin, so Christians do not have to ask for forgiveness of sin. From my understanding, the pastor convinced this Christian that Christ Jesus had covered our past sins, present sins and future sins.

I know many Christian believers, churches, and leaders struggle with this doctrine. Even in the theological bible school I attended and received my ordination, I struggled with this question, once saved, always saved.

The theological school I attended approved the doctrine of once saved forever saved, but I had doubts and problems with it. Although the institution provided several Holy Scriptures to defend its doctrine, I found it challenging to accept them.

Till today I still struggle with the doctrine once saved, always saved. I will share my opinions and use the Holy Scriptures as my foundation to prove my point. Coming back to the tertiary student (brethren) that asked me the question, should Christians ask for forgiveness of sin.

I told the brethren to open his Holy Bible and read from the book of first John chapter one verses nine on his android phone. For clearer understanding (online reader), read from the verse eight to ten.

 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10 KJV

I told the Christian believer to read verse nine of the Holy Scriptures. After he read the Holy Scriptures on the phone, I explained to him that these are the writings of Apostle John, a close disciple of Christ Jesus.

The Holy Scriptures confirm that Apostle John was one of the disciples Christ Jesus loved. From the letters of Apostle John, we can see that John included himself as a sinner that needed forgiveness of sins.

If Apostle John wrote that if we (Christian believers) confess our sins to the Heavenly Father, He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, what stops us (Christian believers) from praying for mercies.

If Apostle John could write these words to the church after the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, why then should a pastor convince a Christian he should not pray for forgiveness of sins (transgression of the Holy Scriptures).

I further explain to the Christian that Christ Jesus settled the sin and curse of Adam. Christ Jesus has become a new Adam for us (Christian believers). We were supposed to live in pain and suffer under the bondage of Satan and his minions, but the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus have settled that spiritual debt, and it is our responsibility to exercise divine authority.

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we have become new creatures. We (Christian believers) are no more under the power of sin and Satan. Until we exercise divine authority, the devil and his agents will continue to manipulate us (Meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18).

You can read my series of books and articles for more profound revelations.

1. Should We Fight?

2. Dominating the systems of the enemy and

3. Divine principles of spiritual warfare 1 - 21.

Child of God, the doctrine of once saved, forever saved, is causing more harm in the body of Christ Jesus (the church). Because of this doctrine, many Christian believers live in willful sin. Some Christians die prematurely and become slaves in the demonic world because of sin (Meditate on Romans 6:23).

Many people live under the enemy's bondages and curses because of the doctrine of once saved always saved. Some Christians believe we cannot earn our salvation because Christ Jesus has settled it. One thing we must realize in God’s kingdom is that salvation is a process.

Justification is a process. Salvation works in the human spirit, human soul and human body. Christ Jesus only dealt with the salvation of our spirit, and it is our responsibility to work on the soul and body (Meditate on 2 Peter 3:17, Hebrews 6:4-6, John 15:4-6, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 2:15, Romans 5:9-10, Matthew 24:13, Acts 2:47, Romans 11:20-23, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Matthew 10:22). In the book of Thessalonians, Apostle Paul writes a powerful word to the church.

 

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 KJV

Apostle Paul writes that we (Christian believers) should abstain from all appearances of evil because it affects our salvation. In verse twenty-three, Paul writes that we must present our whole spirit, soul and body blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This means salvation works in three stages.

1. Salvation of the human spirit.

2. Salvation of the human soul and

3. Salvation of the human body.

In Philippians chapter two, verses twelve and thirteen, Apostle Paul expands the salvation of the human spirit, soul and body.

 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13 KJV

Apostle Paul writes that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. In verse thirteen, he writes that God (the Holy Spirit) works in us to help us fulfil the will of the Celestial City.

Christ Jesus has completed the salvation of our spirit, and it is our responsibility to allow the Holy Spirit to work with our regenerated spirit so that we will not become slaves to the desires of the flesh (Meditate in Galatians 5:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17 or get my book, How to Walk and Live in the Spirit for more profound revelations).

Until the Holy Spirit regenerate our spirit with Christ Jesus blood, we cannot work on the salvation of the soul and body. In the book of Galatians, chapter five, verses sixteen and seventeen, Apostle Paul writes a powerful word.

 

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:16-17 KJV

Paul writes that the desires of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-20) oppose the workings of the Holy Spirit in our regenerated spirit. Although we (Christian believers) are tempted to sin, we don't desire to sin as opposed to unbelievers who enjoy the pleasures of sin.

One reason people cannot dominate sin is that the Holy Spirit has no authority over their lives. Unbelievers are the most pathetic people on earth because they have no regenerated spirit (salvation of the human spirit) to help them dominate the desires of the flesh (salvation of the human body) and lustful desires of the soul (redemption of the soul).

As I wrote that Christ Jesus has dealt with the salvation of our spirit, we can see in it in Second Corinthians chapter five, verses seventeen.

 

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

We have no power to save our spirit because Christ Jesus has saved it with His precious blood. It is our responsibility to work on our soul and body. In the book of Hebrews, Apostle Paul wrote,

 

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV

Apostle Paul writes that the Word (Holy Scriptures) has the power to dissect the thoughts of our soul, spirit and body. It takes the power of the Word to work on the soul's salvation because Christ Jesus' blood did not save our soul.

The Word (Christ Jesus), in a human form, used His blood to save the human spirit. It takes the Word (Christ Jesus) in the written form (logos) to transform and save the human soul. Haven’t you seen some Christian believers behaving like unbelievers?

These Christians have a regenerated spirit, but they have not worked on their soul and body. Some Christian believers have a weak regenerated spirit because they have not trained it. Apostle Paul knew that without the Word of God, our soul could not receive salvation (deliverance), so he wrote these inspired letters to the church in Rome.

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1-2 KJV

Apostle Paul emphasized the salvation of the human body and soul. First, he wrote that we (Christian believers) must present our body unto God as a living sacrifice (becoming a labourer in the church) and set it apart (purity, sanctification and holiness) for the kingdom work because that is the will of God.

In verse two, Apostle Paul emphasized the salvation of the human soul. He writes that we must renew our soul (mind, emotions, desires, and intellect) with the Word (Holy Scriptures) because it is the will of God.

Secondly, Paul declared that the Word (Holy Scriptures) will deliver us from the unbelievers' corrupt mindset and deceptive systems. Child of God, it is our responsibility to work on the salvation of our soul and body with the help of the Word, Holy Spirit and ability of our free will.

You cannot declare that Christ Jesus has saved me so I can live anyhow. You cannot call yourself a Christian believer and live in willful sin because you have a role to play to complete the kingdom's salvation.

Until you work on your soul and body, you are still under bondage. Truly born-again Christian believers have power over sin because they have worked on their soul, spirit and body. For more profound revelations, you can read my series of books. In Apostle Peter’s letters to the church, he emphasized salvation of the human soul and empowerment of the human spirit.

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1 Peter 2:2 KJV

Apostle Peter writes that newly converted Christian believers must grow in the spirit and soul by desiring and feeding on the Word (Holy Scriptures). One reason some Christians act like unbelievers is that they are babies in the spirit. They have not worked on their soul and body.

These Christians have not developed a consistent or no fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Because they have no fellowship and relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Word (Holy Scriptures), they are weak and blind in the spirit, soul and body.

Child of God, you cannot sit idle and declare that Christ Jesus has dealt with my salvation, so I will not work on my soul and body. The Holy Spirit has a role to play in your salvation. The Word (Holy Scriptures) has a role to play in your salvation. You have a role to play in your salvation. In the gospel of Matthew, Christ Jesus made a powerful statement.

 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

On judgement day, some Christians will declare to Christ Jesus that they did wonderful works in His name, but Christ Jesus will deny them because they did not do the will of the Heavenly Father. Another reason Christ Jesus denied these Christians is that they worked wickedly and disobeyed the Word of God.

In God’s sight, some Christians are goats and sheep. Christ Jesus does not know some Christian believers, yet they call on His name. Some believe they are saved, but in God’s sight, they are not saved.

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 26:31-46 KJV

Child of God, are you a goat or sheep in the church? Are you a churchgoer or born-again Christian believer? Are you working on your salvation? Apostle Paul concludes that condemnation awaits people who walk and live in the fruits of the flesh and lustful desires of the soul. Secondly, such Christians will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:16-17 KJV

Apostle Paul further explains the salvation of the human spirit, soul and body in the book of Romans. Study them with the consciousness of the Holy Spirit.

 

[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:1-15 KJV

Christian believers who walk and live in Spirit are not under condemnation. Christian believers who walk and live in the desires of the flesh and lustful desires of the soul are still under condemnation. God only imputes the righteousness of Christ Jesus on Christian believers that walk and live in the Spirit.

Christian believers who walk and live in the fruits of the flesh and lustful desires of the soul become enemies to the Holy Spirit. For you to enter the kingdom of God, the Heavenly Father, the Word (Christ Jesus) and the Holy Spirit must bear witness of you.

The Three Witnesses (Trinity) will bear witness of you on the judgement day when your spirit, soul and body have the seal of salvation (Meditate on 1 John 5:7-8). Examine yourself, are you saved?

To be continued…

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