Potentia Deo ad Destructionem

First of all I want to express how much I have come to hate this phrase. It does not emphasize the power behind our Salvation and what Salvation actually is. I do agree that once one has received genuine Salvation from The Lord God, who authored it, that no force on earth can deny you of it, and my life bears witness of that very truth.

That being said I want to express the problems  with the “Once Saved Always Saved” theology, as it derives from a bad, unbiblical theology known as  “Non-Lordship Salvation” or “Easy believism”.

First of all the underlying logic behind this, is that one can exercise one’s will and  choose to have genuine faith in the Lord, and of course there is an underlying contradiction to this belief to Scripture.  Let us take a look at Scripture here :                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”            (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So right here we see that a man dead in sin (As we are described in Ephesians 2:1-5) and does not  accept the things of the Spirit of God. So relative to this verse, how can one make a choice to understand the Spirit of God, when that person is dead spiritually? You cannot decide NOT to be dead once you are dead. This applies Spiritually, you cannot just simply decide to be Spiritually alive. It must be God’s decision. Which we see that he decided before time,if it is to be called time,  (Romans 8:28-30,  Ephesians 1:4) And for the ones known as the “Red Letterists” (John 6:44)  Which reads (Jesus Speaking) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day”. So Christ unpacks two HUGE truths for us right here. Lets look at it :

A) No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him;

This particular sentence is mind blowing. NO ONE can come unless the Father has drawn him. This is perfectly in line with Paul’s teachings in Romans, Ephesians, and 1 Corinthians listed above. So these scriptures do not contradict. We must look at the Scripture that explains a particular subject and use them to interpret others. Scripture interprets Scripture and we have this perfectly in what Jesus teaches and what Paul teaches.

B) and I will raise him up on the last day

This is another HUGE  promise made by Jesus. There have been many a time when reading this text I have glossed over it, which I have been learning now to always read the Scriptures carefully. The same “him” in A) is the “him” in B) . This “him” is the group known as the “Beloved” in 1 and 2 Peter also referred to by Paul as the group know as the Elect. From here we see the ones drawn by the Father are the ones raised up on the last day. Jesus makes that promise. This Group of very many individuals which are greater in number than the stars in the sky  (From every tribe, Tounge, Kind of people, and nation, whether Jew or Gentile) will be raised up on the last day.

So we should come to the conclusion that God chose us, and this is why we have chosen Him. He did not choose us because of something we good we have done, He chose us for the good intention of His will.

This had to be covered before we got to Salvation. We know from all of Scripture (specifically the ones listed above) that Salvation is the complete work of God. The book of Hebrews proclaims this wonderful truth.  Lets look at a couple of verses :

” Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The author obviously knew of the weight sin has on a man. Even after putting one’s belief in Christ, the weight of sin can be heavy, but look at the continuation of his thought :  “let us run with endurance that the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”.  So from this we see that Christ has FOUNDED (To establish or set up, especially with provision for continuing existence) our faith. This is harmonious with Ephesians 1:4 and Romans 8:28-30. Not only does He create or author this salvific faith, He PERFECTS it. Again this is harmonious with (John 6:39,44; Romans 8:28-30)  So right here we have the perfection of The Triune God’s perfect salvation, perfect meaning He will save who He has willed to save, The Father entrusts the Son with the ones chosen, and The Son raises them ALL up on the last day.

There is one more thought dealing with man’s responsibility. There is a time between God’s drawing the man to The Son, and the man being glorified by Christ Jesus on the last day:

“ Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).

Notice Paul saying “My beloved“. This (as mentioned earlier) is a reference to the invisible church aka the elect, or the ones believing in Christ etc.                                                                 He goes on to say  “as you have always obeyed” He is saying this to signify the nature of those who have believed in Christ. Christ describes us (the Elect)  as “His Sheep” and Himself as “The Sheppard” (John 1o:11) He goes on to says in v. 10 and the latter part of v. 12 that His sheep know his voice and listen to Him, or that His sheep obey Him. This is who Paul is referring to.  So going back to Paul we finish his though out  “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you , both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” So it is right here we are told to work out the Salvation (given to us by God’s Grace) , then he reminds us that it is GOD who is really working in us through the Holy Spirit. So this really hits it home for man’s responsibility. Having Grace through Faith, we are to WORK this faith out. God give us this power through the Holy Spirit because remember “for it is God who works in you” this part is really important to understand; The reason being that God is using us by His Grace “both to will and to work for His good pleasure”

O the power behind God’s Mighty Grace. These scriptures do not conflict with themselves. They are in Harmony with each other. Through His Word is the Life giving power of Faith. So in this we see that “Once Saved Always Saved” doesn’t really cut it in describing our Perseverance through God’s Grace, and His Grace alone. Not simply just our choice. It is His Grace that is empowering us not only to Choose but to Endure in the Faith He has given us.

Sola Gratia

-Justin