Is "Once Saved, Always Saved" a Biblical Teaching?

Is the idea that Christians are once saved always saved an accurate biblical teaching that is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question.

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You can watch us live on YouTube and you can email us with your question questions at core, Christianity.com first of today. Let's go to Michael calling in from to lock while Oklahoma Michael, I hope I said the name of your town correctly. Hey Michael, thank you for joining us today on the broadcast with what your question really thirsty all God bless you brothers.

My question today is I haven't been able to take my wife and children to church last year. My wife is most in her medication compromises her knees, and I am desperate to get back and be a functioning part of the body, and I want my children have that experience thrown in. I really have.

You know the opportunity for the gospel and the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of family and my wife. My wife is afraid to go back to church because they are elevated and I kinda between a rock and hard place putting Christ and putting my faith in you, whether or not any of us to say and also being sued to her peers may not be there so well. Michael I will one III just appreciate the fact that your seeking to do the right thing here that you have the desire to be among the people of God.

We know that this is something that were called to his Christians were were not to forsake the assembling of ourselves with each other. Hebrews chapter 10 talks about this and so this really is an important thing, but that you're also wanting to love your wife well and and to prioritize her health and to make sure that you're taking good care of her and so this is a conversation that the two of you need to continue to have as a family, I don't know what kinds of accommodations in your ear church has in terms of, you know our is everybody worshiping inside is the social distancing those kind of things but are there things that you can do that that your family can do that would would help her to feel like were safe were were gathering together with the people of God with this is safe for work were able to maybe keep a little bit of distance that kind with Amy really do want to be want to be sensitive to her, and yet you also, as you mentioned you want to gather together with the people of God, so there there isn't an easy answer here and I definitely want to pray for you Michael and and also for your wife but II guess I would just want to follow-up and just say you know in terms of what the worship service looks like is it possible for for maybe your family to be seated. Off to the side of that kind of think that she feels like she's not interacting with this many people yet in church.

What I know from other members. Seeing it is a large building with you not at full capacity of members that have been going.

I believe everyone's wearing masks.

Jack told her.

If you feel like we need to set in the back and you know maybe even exploit faster. You know the situation and were wearing that you know you all the server cautions that we do when were you or else in public. I I just I'm almost afraid that it being used as a reason not to go to church and and that concerns me.

So I've been lamenting the church on Sunday with DVD teachings from several different pastors that I was thinking about radio and your read from the word myself and I just wanted to have Christian fellowship with brothers and sisters that can encourage her and you know hurtful words you know you cry absolutely and so I think that's, you know, it sounds like there needs to be some more conversation there about know that the importance of gathering together with the people of God and you notice I sound like I'm grateful to hear that your church is taking you know proper precautions. One of the things that this this entire pandemic has I think revealed to us is to serve gripping fear of death that people have that in one sense right. It's totally normal to be afraid of death, concerned about our health, but there is also a way in which we can be so concerned I've seen this in many people and and Michael. Maybe you have as well on people that are so gripped by the fear of of debt that it just paralyzes them and that that's one of the reasons why Jesus came was to deliver us from that fear and that's why we gather together to worship him to glorify him.

The believer said and in Hebrews chapter 2. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of debt that is the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

So there's a balance you want to take our health seriously want to take the health of our neighbors seriously want to care for them. Be sensitive to them, but we also don't want to be so consumed with the fear of death that that we almost suggested that there is no hope you know that Jesus didn't really rise from the dead. At least that's how we should think and live and so were walking this balance of loving one another, loving our neighbors but also knowing that Jesus has conquered death, and so having those conversations with your wife and and I think you know, again emphasizing the fact that hey, this is just a safe is going to the grocery store or anything else in the world were taking proper precautions here, but we need to gather with the people of God. We want to because were worshiping the one who conquered death and that should give us great great peace and so Mike, let me just let him just pray for you brother and I'm so grateful for your phone call in and for the fact that you listen to the broadcast father would you give Michael wisdom is. He has these conversations with his wife. I pray Lord for him and for his family, that you would continue to draw them all closer to yourself that they would have a sense of your presence that you would keep them safe, Lord, especially Michael's wife lived with with the condition that she has what you keep her safe and healthy and that you would help her learn more and more sick to know the piece in the hope and the joy that comes through Jesus's resurrection from the dead Lord, would you be with them. What you bless them and we just thank you once again for your goodness in Christ name we ask all of these things. Amen, amen.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question for Pastor Israel.

Here's the time to call his nose another number to call should say 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Speaking of times. Some of the stations of the radio stations we are on run this program at a later time. A delay time. So if you want to talk to pastor Israel live here is when you call 11:30 AM Pacific time. 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time.

That's the time to call him at 833 the court let's go to Daniel from Yonkers, New York Daniel, what's your question for pastor atrial on my question is tenderly God mine through prayer are pray and hope that he had everything in control in reference to Genesis chapter 18 verse 16 where Abraham leave for Sodom and I appreciate this question is really important for one for us to to consider you. I I hesitate to say you know that when we pray were changing God's mind because we know that God knows all things. The way the way I think about and I think this is faithful to the Scriptures is that while there are times in Scripture, it seems like God is changing his mind because of our prayers are like like I think also of Moses's intercession Sito throughout the book of Exodus. For example, for the people of Israel in a seems like God you know is is about to destroy the Hebrews and then Moses steps any begins to pray for them and and God relents now course, God knows all things Daniel and yet he accomplishes his perfect will.

Through our prayers and we should pray in such a way that were calling upon the name of the Lord, knowing that our prayers accomplish things. But that is it God actually was working in and through our prayers ultimately to accomplish his purposes. We don't bend God's will to our will in prayer. I think that's that's a really important thing for us to to recognize it's not like were bending God's will, as we pray to him.

Actually when we pray and we pray according to God's will. Our wills essentially are being shaped more and more after his will and what it is that he calls us to. And so when you see passages in Scripture where you know with the people of God whether whether it's Moses or Abraham are praying and are seeking the face of the Lord and God responds right at I think what's taking place there is.

God is already placing those prayers those desires. If you will, in their hearts and their being prompted in their praying and God's purposes are being accomplished and and what a beautiful thing that is and I think that we should pray to the Lord and say, God, help me to pray in that way. Help me to pray according to your will, and we know this is another thing that I love Daniel, the book of first John and in first John chapter 5 juntas. We know that we when we ask for anything.

According to the will of God. He hears us. And so I think that's the best way to look at it. We are not bending God's will to our wills. He is through our prayers, accomplishing his purpose will in us is perfect will in us and in the world.

Thank you for that question right? This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. By the way, we'd love to tell you about our inner core. It's an opportunity for you to be one of our regular supporters and when you join the inner core you get some exclusive content including videos from Pastor Israel. Some sneak peaks or upcoming resources and Bible studies and will send you a copy of our wonderful book core Christianity, written by our founder Dr. Michael Horton.

You can learn more by going to core Christianity.com/inner core voicemail that we received yesterday, know that one. Always believed that the talking to my wife is also in believing I'm not sure log and like more you can please I thank you.

Hey God bless you and and thank you for that question. You know, we have the sort of statements we threw around in the church the one-liners you know once saved always saved.

I hear that one or you know God will never give you more than you can handle here that one and it's really important for us and we didn't we have Israel real I think simple one-liners.

We examine them according to what the Scripture says and in it really depends, at least as far as that statement is concerning a once a ghost. It really depends on what what we mean when we say that if if what an individual means is can someone who has a real relationship with Jesus Christ, who is who is born again been adopted into the family of God. They been justified. Can they ever lose that status can they become unjustified. If you will. Will that I think that the clear answer of the Scriptures is no. If you're a child of God, adopted into the family. He's not ever going to un-adopt you if you're truly born again.

You'll persevere in the faith, and I think that something that we see throughout the pages of the Bible in particular amino throughout the pages of the New Testament. One place where I would go in order to highlight this is in the book of first John first John. Over and over again.

John talks about you and these are the children of God and these are the children of the evil one, the children of the devil.

And yes, statements like first John chapter 3, beginning in verse nine, John said no one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God naturally. For that we understand here is not saying that we as Christians who have been born again are going to be sinless. That is completely without sin, because earlier in first John chapter 1 he said that's, you know, if you say your without sin. You're a liar and the truth is it in you. So he's already established the fact that were still going to sin as followers of the Lord is those who are born again, but he's talking about something else here. He's talking about essentially living a life that's completely out of line with what it means to follow Jesus to keep on sinning. In that way that he says in verse 10 of first John three. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. And so what I take that to mean is that those who are truly born again juntas that the seed of God abides in them.

They persevere in grace that they continue to grow in in the grace of God they're not perfect.

We all still have sin, but they don't abandon the faith. If you will. They never become unborn again or lose their justification and if people do leave the church even though it seemed like maybe they were they were believers you know they were going to church going to Bible study will that's that's an indication that they never really had apprehended the grace of God that they never really truly saved to begin with and I think actually John makes that clear again and in first John back in chapter 2 I and verse 19 he says they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us, but they went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us. And so we got to make sense of John's words, there is look as if they left know that that clearly shows it's that they really warn of us to begin with. If you're saved if you're born again, born of the Holy Spirit justified or not to lose that status. I think you see this and in Romans chapter 8 verses 29 to 30. All talks about you know the one who predestined and justified is also glorified. You don't have somebody was justified.

He doesn't end up being glorified also. The key here and and brother. We get all sorts of questions on this broadcast about you.

How can I know whether or not I'm truly saved. I'm so concerned that I'm sensitive to those questions because for a long time as a new believer. I struggled struggled with with assurance what you have to understand is your your assurance. The assurance of your salvation is found in Jesus in his word in the promise of the gospel in what he's done objectively to save you. It's not in your good works, it's not in your obedience, it's not looking within the more we we look within.

We often find that we begin to have questions because we still see that sin that's inside of us that John talked about the getting in first John, but we look up to Jesus and to his perfect work and to his cross, and it's there that we rest and we are just rest and what he's done, but we also rest in the fact that he ever lives to make intercession for us of the recent week we stay in the grace of God. If you will, is because Jesus is the one who keeps us he preserves us and for Christians who struggle with assurance.

I just I just point them to Christ to his work to his prayers because the fact of the matter is we can't keep our self if you will, were were were prone to wander, and so we rest in the Lord. Now we just add one more thing there that were saved. And this is why these the sort of one line statements can can be unhelpful that were saved as a broader range of meaning in the Bible than we often give to in our in our discussions. Sometimes the word saved refers to temporal salvation. You know, the psalmist would pray that God would would save him from his enemies is asking for for physical deliverance. Other times it's used in such a way that it is talking about being rescued from the evils of the world, but people who experience that are still not saved in the in the way that we oftentimes think about it I think about what you said. For example, in Jude 15.

Listen to this.

I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it that Jesus who saved up people out of the land of Egypt afterwords destroyed those who did not believe now, for those people described in in Jude 15 you know the phrase once saved always saved just doesn't it doesn't work and I take that to mean essentially that there are people who in one sense experience the great acts of God, you know, maybe they're a part of the church date date they've grown up around it, they hear the gospel they see lives being changed.

And yet while they've been rescued. If you will, out of the world and one since they still don't lay hold of Christ by faith for themselves and that's the key. There is are you trusting in Jesus personally for the forgiveness of your sins. If you are and you can rest and you can know that he is going to keep you if you're not if if you're trying to do it by your own works will then then there is reason for concern because none of us can do it on the basis of our own works or merit. God bless you and thank you for that question.

Great explanation of the gospel their Israel. We need to fall on our face for God and admit our need that's that's really the key.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and Easter is coming up here in just a couple of weeks and we have a wonderful resource that we want to offer you that will help you really get into the Easter spirit this year. Yet it is a devotional that we've put together and we really want to get this devotional in your hand it's it's focuses on the sayings of our Lord Jesus from the cross leading up to his his resurrection from the dead, and it is one of those devotional resources. It's really wonderful to go through especially in preparation for Easter and the Easter celebration and so head over to our website.

Core, Christianity.com. I had to get this devotional and that we know that it will encourage you.

It's absolutely free. You can find it@corechristianity.com/Easter again. Core, Christianity.com/Easter.

You can also call us for that resource at 833-843-2673 that's a 33. The core let's go to Lori who's calling in from Nashville, Tennessee Lori what your question for Pastor Israel.

I really kind, loving my enemies and I'm treating my enemy like my neighbors in terms not directly my Nate Miami but there enemies of man, and I think that holistic things are happening to children at the border in China, but people that are being enslaved applicant.

All of I'm, those are my enemies, because it might those folks are my neighbors and I am having such a difficult time knowing how to love. I can't do it on my own. I know that the Holy Spirit is in me, but to separate loving the person because their maiden got damaged to yelp hating theirs.

There asked him how to do it some really struggling with how I love the enemy gather there really is a balance there is there because I think were called as Christians to hate sin, and in the sort of righteous indignation that wells up inside of us as a wells up inside of you and you hear about the horrible things that that are happening all around us in our own lives. Even right that there should be this righteous anger and Scripture talks about this. Oftentimes Richard displays God himself is angry because of sin, and yet at the same time we also know Lori that he loves sinners that he sent his son into the world to die for sinners and so how do we balance these two things. One, I would say there's nothing wrong with having that righteous indignation when you think about Jesus cleansing the temple their unit and in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Why because the house of God in the worship of God was being defiled. Sin should make us angry. False worship should make us angry people being taken advantage of.

Should make us angry, and yet were called to love our enemies.

How do we do it, you're right it's it's only through the Holy Spirit. And I think one of the things we have to remind ourselves, over and over again is that we Lori were enemies to when God pursued us for while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Paul said in Romans five verse six for one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

When did Christ die for us was when we were walking with God being faithful.

You know pious that kind of thing it while it was when we were shaking our fist at God. When we were the enemies of God that God still sent his son into the world and pursued us in love now that that doesn't mean that we don't get angry about sin that God's righteous response to send assertive anger. This just is.

This wrath is is to be minimize know that that's a real man and we feel that as well. I think as the people of God that that wells up in us to and yet we remember man I deserve to be lost.

The wages of sin is death. I was an enemy of God and yet he pursued me as we meditate upon that. Lori is reminded of God's goodness to his enemies. Those who sinned against him.

I think we are, by the grace of the Holy Spirit enabled to love those who are difficult to love even those who persecute us. Think of the apostle Paul once Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the church waging war against Christians if you will. And yet Jesus pursued him and said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and he called him into the fellowship and he cleansed him of his sins and then he made him a mighty instrument for the gospel. God can use his enemies. Each one of us is an example of that.

And so may the Lord bless you and fill you with the spirit. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

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