Let us first mention that “Once Saved Always Saved” believers agree with the theological position of Calvinism on the question of predestination. This position argues that God predestines people to salvation before the foundation of the world and that there is nothing that is done or can be done on the part of the believer to reject that salvation as it is the sovereign will of God. They call it “Irresistible Grace” in Calvinist circles. God will keep the person in His grace regardless of that person’s will.

 

Bible Study

It is interesting to see that this passage is also part of a commendation Paul does at the beginning of his Epistle.

Let’s look at the verses used in the King James Version:

 

Passage

Ephesians 1:4-5

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

Objections of “Once Saved Always Saved” Believers

Let’s look at the objection they use for this passage.

 

Objection: God chose the elect before the foundation of the world irrespective of any choice they make

This objection stems from one of the 5 points of Calvinism called “unconditional election”. The idea is that before the universe began, God in His sovereignty chose already those who would be saved and those who would end up in hell and that regardless of what their choices or actions would be. Since salvation is a free gift and we are saved by faith alone, they argue, then man has no part in the process of salvation which is decided by God’s sovereign will alone.

Verses 4 and 5 of Ephesians 1 are part of the predestination verses they use to back up that idea. Again, here are what these verses say with emphasis on God’s sovereign will seen from their perspective:

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

 

This idea is that these verses, they say, show that God had already decided who the elect will be before the world began.

But does this passage truly teach that our salvation is merely a matter of an arbitrary election by God, settled before the universe was created? Is this election irrespective of any action or choice that we might exercise in the matter?

That was the philosophy of John Calvin. Look at what The Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith states:

“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and other foreordained to everlasting death” (Article III).

Now, let’s dive more deeply into the verses.

 

Now we all agree that these verses designate born-again Christians.

But the real question we should ask is this: Are “Once Saved Always Saved” believers right in supposing that man has absolutely no part in the process of God saving them through His pre-election?

Now again, in order to remove any human responsibility from the equation, OSAS believers have to ignore parts of the verses that pertain to any action or response from man even though they are right there in the same verses.

So, here are the verses again with comments:

Ephesians 1:4-5

⁴ According as he hath chosen us (who is this “us”?) in Him (it is those who would be IN HIM) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (so the same chosen before the foundation of the world are the same Christians who would walk IN HIM in HOLINESS WITHOUT BLAME IN LOVE) 

⁵ Having predestinated us unto (unto what?) the adoption of children (HOW?) BY JESUS CHRIST (same concept: we are adopted as children if we live BY Jesus Christ) to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

Now notice the number of words clarifying who the elect will be. Paul is clearly identifying them as ones who would be IN Christ, walking in Holiness without blame and in Love. Does that sound like there is no human responsibility? Does that sound like the elect have no part in their own salvation as predestined by God? Of course not.

God in His foreknowledge, knowing that humans would fall, predestined before the foundation of the world the way to be reconciled to Him by His Son Jesus Christ. This predestined way of salvation is that Almighty God will save those who:

• would believe in His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of sins
• would be IN HIM
• would live in Holiness and without blame
• would be IN LOVE (God IS love)

So, in that sense, it is not that God chose the individuals to be either saved or lost but rather, God predestined that a certain class would be saved.

Which class of persons? It is those who willingly submit to the foreknown God’s plan of salvation and redemption, which involves believing and obeying Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9), and entering into that fellowship that is described as being “IN HIM”

 

Conclusion

Now I don’t know if you, dear reader, are a “Once Saved Always Saved” believer. If you are, I urge you to please reconsider your position and try to eliminate that doctrine and its false implications from your mind. Try to go back to the bible with an open mind and read everything over and over, again and again. If there is anything that you want to ask, don’t hesitate to contact me and I would be glad to help. All is with love and I am doing this because I care for your soul.

If you are not a “Once Saved Always Saved” believer and heard this objection from a OSAS brother, remember that, before the world’s foundation, God elected to save those who would be obedient to His Son. Underline “chose us in him,” and remember this: it is not an individual election, but a class election.