So in conclusion…to our little discussion on the topic of ‘once saved-always saved’ that we touched on the past two days here…or as some folks like to debate- ‘can a person lose their salvation…or not?’…I’m reminded of a framed cartoon/sketch my dad, (who was a dentist) had in his office for years.

The picture is of a dentist standing on a dental chair in the clinic with pieces of plaster laying all over the chair and floor. The bewildered dentist is sticking his head through a hole in the ceiling and asks: “Did I hit a nerve?” :- ). I have to wonder at times if when Jesus ran into opposition from the ‘religious experts’ of His day, usually in response to things He was teaching, if not doing…was He was ever tempted to ask: “Did I touch someone’s ‘golden calf’?” Church doctrines can become that to us if we are not careful; and usually it is the word of God itself that causes those ‘defensive impulses’ to rise up within us.

Personally speaking…I have no issue with anyone if you believe you are ‘eternally secure’, or if you personally believe you can never ‘lose your salvation’ (which is not even a term found in the Bible). I would caution anyone though who feels compelled to tell another professing ‘believer’ that not only are they ‘saved’…but that their place in heaven is ‘guaranteed’ since they have made a ‘profession of faith’…and that they are ‘eternally secure’ and are in no danger of ‘falling away from the faith’.

If I have learned nothing else over my six decades of living so far…it is this: People are gonna believe what they want to believe. I’ve also come to discover over time that I can’t teach anyone anything outside of the Holy Spirit ‘opening our eyes’ and teaching us ‘truth’. (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 3:16; Luke 10:21; 24:32,45). And the sad reality in all of this is found in the ‘verdict’ that Jesus declared when He made it known that not everyone will ‘come to the light because they love the darkness more’ (John 3:19-21)

But I will continue to share God’s word here as long as He compels me to do so, and I will ‘speak the truth in love’, and commit the results into His hands, knowing ‘His word will not return void, but will accomplish what it is sent out to do’. ( Isa. 55:11)

We read in Proverbs 14:12 – “there is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death”. Is it possible that Jesus had that proverb in mind when He made it known that the path that leads to life is narrow, (as is the gate/entrance) and only a ‘few’ will find it; but that ‘many’ will find themselves traveling the ‘wide road’ that leads to a ‘broad gate’…only to end up ‘destroyed’, in Matt. 7:13-14?

Jesus taught that unless a person is ‘born again’, they will never enter, let alone ‘see’ the kingdom of God. (John 3:3,5)

“We know whoever is born of God no longer sins, …and the wicked one cannot touch him” (1 John 5:18)

“Whoever is born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9).

“Of this you can be sure of- no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 5:5-6)

“I’ve told you before and will remind you again- those who continue to practice such things (the deeds/works of the flesh nature)…will not…inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21)

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE… some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

“If you live according to the flesh you will die; but IF…by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:13-14)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

And of this you can also be sure:…”It is not the will of the Father (who is long suffering towards us)…for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance…and He desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4)

Let us also never forget when Jesus taught that when others were ‘being destroyed’…it was not because they were ‘any worse sinners than anyone else…but unless we repent, we will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

Jesus did not want any of us to be dismayed by the widespread deception that would be found on the earth at the ‘end of the age’, but He did want us to be ‘aware’ it was coming (Matt. 24:4-5). This would be the same ‘Jesus’ who was/is the ‘only begotten Son of God who gave His life…and that whoever believes in Him would never perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). And yes, this would be the same ‘Jesus’ who ‘became the source of eternal salvation to all who …obey Him’. (Heb. 5:9). Yes, that verse is in there as well. No wonder we are admonished to ‘examine our hearts to see if we are in the faith’ (2 Cor. 13:5).

I believe it was Billy Graham who once told the story about a tightrope walker who strung a cable across a deep canyon which drew quite the crowd. He amazed them all with his ability to traverse back and forth with only that one pole he used for balance. Not stopping there, he then rode a bicycle across that cable, much to the delight of the crowd. Then he grabbed an empty wheelbarrow and scooted it across the canyon and then back. Waiting for the applause to subside, the tightrope walker than asked the crowd:

“Who here ‘believes’...I can transport a person across this cable while they sit inside this wheel-barrow?” Hands went up everywhere. He then gazed over the crowd and asked: “Who of you here that just raised your hand would be willing to get in?” Not one person came forward.

It’s one thing to ‘say we believe’; it’s another thing altogether to 'get in the wheel-borrow'...or to ‘take up our cross’ and begin to follow Him. (Luke 6:46)