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Sunday, June 27, 2004

OSAS ?

A co-worker of mine has been coming to church with us for the past few weeks. He seems to really like the style of music, the fellowship, and the teaching style of our minister. He asked me the other night about some of our beliefs. I asked him what he really meant, and he explained that growing up in a Baptist church and being entrenched in that denominations doctrines he always assumed that everyone believed the same way. He specifically asked me about the doctrine of "once saved, always saved" (OSAS) I asked him if I could have some time to research it and ponder it. He had no problem with that. I have been spending some time deconstructing the doctrine and have a few thoughts to bounce around.

1) OSAS seems like a great idea on first glance. "no matter what, once i accept Jesus, i am assured of salvation." The first problem i have with this doctrine is that it allows for followers to "cop out:" To cling to previous worldly lifestyles because their salvation is certain. it allows for followers to ignore the idea of living a life of kingdom-hood.

2) the second thought i have had is that those that buy into this idea make the stance that IF one "falls away" after conversion, then surely they hadn't been "saved" to begin with.

3) the third thought i have on this topic is that i can't honestly see it represented in the Bible. Sure the Bible is full of imperfect people that struggle between God's will and their own. But the one story that stands out to me is of Judas Iscariot. One of the 12 men that the Lord himself hand-picked and called into discipleship could surely not have entered into glory after betraying Christ and then killing himself. But then again look at point 2.

I really don't have the answers, and sometimes I'm not concerned with finding them. The search and journey is more important to me sometimes.

I have always taken the stance that "what I can't find as essential to my salvation, I will not waste time on."

I am a follow of Christ, I have been immersed in baptism, and I devote myself to a life of kingdom-hood. I am certain of my salvation. so I doubt i'll spend much more time pondering this topic.

any thoughts or comments are always welcome.

mike
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posted by Mike @ 4:21 PM