Once Saved Always Saved

The Bible and the

Catholic Church

Once Saved, Always Saved?

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you yield yourself to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? - Romans 6:15-16

I. The Protestant View A. Protestant Beliefs. ~Accept Jesus Christ into your hearts ~The “sinner's prayer” ~Only need to believe in Jesus (John 3:16) ~One way ticket to heaven; nothing can derail the train ~”Absolute assurance” ~Since works do not gain our salvation, works cannot contribute to our losing our salvation. ~We are “hid” with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) ~”No condemnation” for those in Christ (Romans 8:1-2) B. One Protestant writes: “However, it is not merely from the Levitical laws that we were discharged, but also from the moral ones. God only has one law. Does that mean we can sin freely? No, for God hates sin, and if we love God, we will live according to His commandments. However, it does mean that no sin will be held against us once we receive Christ, for upon receiving Christ we are discharged from the very law against which our sins would have been reckoned.” II. Showing the Protestant Doctrine to be False, from Scripture A. Absolute assurance… NO! Catholics say: ~ Romans 8:1-2 does not say absolute assurance ~ Romans 6:15-16 says that sin leads to death B. Discharges from the moral law...NO! Catholics say: ~ Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus does not discharge us from the moral law! There is consequence for sinning! ~ Matthew 18:8-9 C. Others ~ Matthew 13:40-42; Matthew 18:23-35 & Matthew 6:14-15 (we must forgive others); Romans 11:17-23; John 15:1-11; Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 6:4-8; James 5:19

Regarding the issue of whether Christians have an "absolute" assurance of salvation, regardless of their actions, consider this warning Paul gave: "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26–29, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).

Rom 11:22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, Heb 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. Heb 10:28 A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: Heb 10:29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 2Pe 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. 2Pe 2:21 For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Apologetics 101-13 Q: My Protestant friends say that their church goes by the Bible Alone, but that the Catholic Church has added a lot of man-made traditions to the Word of God...is that true? A: No, it is not true. Protestants have as their sole rule of faith the written Word of God, which we find in Sacred Scripture. The Catholic Church has as its sole rule of faith, the entire Word of God, as it is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. All of the Word of God was at one time passed on orally...Sacred Tradition. Eventually, some of Sacred Tradition was written down...this became Sacred Scripture, which is written tradition. However, Scripture itself tells us that not all of the things that Jesus said and did were written down. And listen to what Paul says about "tradition": 2 Thes 2:15, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." Traditions! Traditions taught by word of mouth, in other words, oral tradition, and traditions taught by letter. Traditions which they are being told to "stand firm and hold to". Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. 1 Cor 11:2, "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." The Corinthians are being commended by Paul because they maintain the traditions that he passed on to them. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. 2 Tim 2:2: "and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." What we have here in 2 Timothy is an instance, in Scripture, of Paul commanding the passing on of oral tradition. 1 Thes 2:13, "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers." So, they received as the Word of God that which they heard, not simply that which they read in Scripture.

In other words, the Bible clearly supports the Catholic Church's teaching that the Word of God is contained in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Apologetics 101-19 Q: Many Protestants believe we are saved by Faith Alone and they say Catholic believe they can “work” their way into Heaven. How do you answer that? A: First of all, I ask them to show me where in the Catechism, the official teaching of the Catholic Church, does it teach that we can “work” our way into Heaven? They can’t, because it doesn’t. The Catholic Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught a doctrine of salvation by works...that we can “work” our way into Heaven. Second, I ask them to show me where in the Bible does it teach that we are saved by “faith alone.” They can’t, because it doesn’t. The only place in all of Scripture where the phrase “Faith Alone” appears, is in James...James 2:24, where it says that we are not...not...justified (or saved) by faith alone. So, one of the two main pillars of Protestantism...the doctrine of salvation by faith alone...not only doesn’t appear in the Bible, but the Bible actually says the exact opposite - that we are not saved by faith alone Third, I ask them that if works have nothing to do with our salvation...then how come every passage in the N.T. that I know of that talks about judgment says we will be judged by our works, not by whether or not we have faith alone? We see this in Rom 2, Matthew 15 and 16, 1 Ptr 1, Rev 20 and 22, 2 Cor 5, and many, many more verses. Fourth, I ask them that if we are saved by faith alone, why does 1 Cor 13:13 say that love is greater than faith? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? As Catholics we believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone. We can do nothing, apart from God’s grace, to receive the free gift of salvation. We also believe, however, that we have to respond to God’s grace. Protestants believe that, too. However, many Protestants believe that the only response necessary is an act of faith; whereas, Catholics believe a response of faith and works is necessary...or, as the Bible puts it in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumsion is of any avail, but faith working through love...faith working through love...just as the Church teaches.

III. Other Protestant Arguments A. Sola Fide...NO! ~ Once saved, always saved stems from this doctrine. Since “sola fide” (faith alone) can be shown to be false, the basis for once saved, always saved crumbles. B. Once saved, you cannot sin...NO! ~ Romans 7:15 “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very things I hate.” C. Once saved, sin no longer holds any consequences…NO! ~ Paul writes to believers but preaches about avoiding sin. ~ Romans 12:21 & 15:15; Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 6:18 & 11:1722 & 15:12; Ephesians 4:25-32 & 5:5; James 2:1 & 4:1-4; Matthew 5:31-48 & 6:1-7; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:1-2 & 2:1, 2 Peter 1:1 & 3:17 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid , and the glorified God, who had given such authority to men. - Matthew 9:8

IV. Other Problems if Protestant View is True A. Must endure until the end ~ Matthew 10:22 ~ Hebrews 10:35-36 ~ Hebrews 12:1 B. Hope ~ Romans 8:24-25 ~ Romans 15:13 ~ Romans 5:2 C. Paul didn't have “absolute assurance” ~ Philippians 3:10-13 ~ 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 IV. Other Problems if Protestant View is True D. Other verses that wouldn't make sense if Protestant view is true ~ 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ~ Philippians 2:12 ~ Hebrews 4:1,11 ~ Colossians 1:21-23 E. The “Book of Life” ~ Revelation 20:15 ~ Psalms 69:28 ~ Revelation 3:1-5 IV. Once Saved, Always Saved...NO! ~ Hebrews 10:38 ~ Ezekiel 33:12-19 ~ Ezekiel 18:21-24 ~ 1 Timothy 4:1 ~ John 2:11 with John 6:16-22, 66 ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 Presented by: The Bible Christian Society P.O. Box 424 Pleasant Grove, AL 35127 Email: [email protected] (205) 744-1856 Copyright 2000, John Martignoni