Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
I recently received a comment from a reader who stated in so many words that modern Bibles have done a lot of damage, but that the “Once Saved Always Saved” (OSAS) eternal security “heresy” has done as much or more.
Let me start with this: if you are saved, and are trusting that your position in Christ has secured you a place in heaven (Eph 2:6) and that you will be preserved in Jesus Christ, but you don’t think God could preserve his words, you have a problem. God has magnified his word above his own name (Psalm 138:2). If he can’t take care of his word like he promised, something that has always been pure (Pro 30:5), then why is he going to preserve you?
But here’s the flip side: if you are one of those people who claim to hold to the preserved word of God in the King James Bible, but think that your salvation is something that can be forfeit and lost, then you don’t understand preservation either! Look at Jude 1:1. God the Father is the great preserver — of both his own word, and those in his own Son.
Because I have had to field comments on this issue more times than I care to say, from folks who think they are Bible Believers, I have obtained permission to reproduce David F. Regan’s excellent booklet: So… you want to lose your salvation. If you have any questions about this issue — ever had any doubts as to whether or not something you have done (or not done) could cost you your place in Christ, please read it. Reagan presents the answer to this question as 14 steps you would have to take to lose your salvation. And of course, none of them are possible.
Why is this so important? Because if you truly believe you can lose your salvation, then it follows that you must also believe you have a part in cleansing yourself. You are robbing Christ of his own glory in doing this. Only Christ’s blood can clean your filthy soul (1Jo 1:7) — you certainly possess no faculty capable of affecting any of that washing. And do you really expect me to believe that I need Christ’s blood to cleanse me of my sin, but that after that has happened, I need to do something to keep it clean?
And please, if you think your salvation is contingent on your willingness to keep certain laws or avoid committing certain sins, don’t pretend to be a Bible Believer, because you certainly don’t know what it means for God to preserve something.
Sadly, those who believe they have to keep their own salvation don’t know what it means to be “Kept by the power of God” (1Pe 1:5) and should probably review this gospel tract to see if they have ever truly placed their full faith in Christ in the first place.
Finally, before posting an angry comment or your favorite proof-text, read the booklet.
For the rest of you: isn’t it amazing that the very same God who has preserved his word has also promised to preserve you? Amen!