TABLE OF CONTENTS
Epistle of James VS Once Saved Always Saved
Like I did with the other scriptures, I will display in this post the passages warning believers not to fall away. These passages show that the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved is not sound from a biblical perspective. Please feel free to comment below if you have anything you think could be constructive to this article.
Do not Err, Beloved Brethren
Let us look at the first passage in the first chapter of the book of James, the Lord’s half-brother.
James 1:12-16 (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall (future tense) receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (if sin brings forth death, then this is loss of salvation).
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James is warning beloved brothers which suggests true believers).
Dear brothers, we see that the promise of the Lord Jesus is given to those who will endure temptation all their lives until they receive the crown of life. This is everywhere in the New Testament. According to James, temptation does not come from God but men are enticed by their own lusts which pushes them to sin and bring forth death. Therefore, the apostle James encourages believers to stay the course and not err by giving in to temptation that can lead to death.
Converting One who Errs from the Truth
This is the second passage in chapter 5 of the book of James.
James 5:19-20 (KJV)
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth (James talking to brethren says that they can err from the truth), and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (so the ones who erred was a soul destined for death), and shall hide a multitude of sins.
In this passage, James is addressing brethren. This suggests he means true born-again believers. He says some of them can indeed err from the truth. Of course, we have to have the truth before we err from it. Jesus Christ is the truth.
If any man converts a backslidden Christian, this man would save that backslidden Christian from death, which means eternal death.
Conclusion
Dear brothers, my sole purpose in bringing these scriptures to your knowledge is to show you the seriousness and danger of falling back deliberately into sin. If we don’t continue with the Lord until the end, we will not make it. That is why James speaks about erring from the truth. Do not err my friend. Don’t allow anyone to teach you any doctrine, don’t trust anyone with your soul. Read the New Testament yourself in context and you will know the truth about the false doctrine of “Once Saved Always Saved”.
May the Lord always keep our feet on the narrow path so that we don’t err from the Truth of Christ!