Work Out Your Salvation

Philippians 2 >>
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

What I want you to notice about this scripture is

1. It is absolutely talking about your salvation...not rewards etc

2. YOU are told to work it out....

3. You are told to do this "working" with FEAR and TREMBLING


Now, if the once saved always saved doctrine were true, why would YOU be told to WORK out your salvation? According to OSAS teachers, your salvation has already been "worked out." So whose speaking truth here? The bible or OSAS teachers? Why the fear and trembling if my salvation was already in the bank? Fear and trembling are polar opposite feelings one should have compared to someone who already has their salvation sign sealed and delivered. OSAS teachers like to quote only the second half of this scripture where we are told that it is God who works in us to will and to do his good pleasure. The Holy Spirit works in us, we know that. We also know that the Holy Spirit does not "possess" men like a demonic spirit does to force them to do what they don't want to do.

The OSAS crowd would have you believe that God does everything while you sip lemonade on a beach somewhere. The OSAS crowd would have you believe that sin, the flesh, the devil, the world pose no threat to your salvation anymore, just to your "rewards." At that point I refer you back to Matt 7:14 which tells you a few ..FEW will be saved. Why will few be saved? Because they believed a lie, and they found out at the wrong time (judgement day) that they were wrong about how salvation works.

We all agree that men are saved by grace through faith, that's a no brainer. Question is, how do you STAY saved? John 15 lays this out very clearly. The branches IN THE VINE that are not fruitful, are CUTOFF. That means, they are no longer in the vine, which means no longer "in Christ" which means no longer "saved." It's very straightforward, no mincing of words.

I have come to see one of the defining differences between the OSAS crowd and those who realize its a satanic lie is the perspective on sin. The OSAS crowd has a really easy time with the idea of sin, they accept it as something "we all do" apparently "all the time." I don't know which bible these people are reading, but my bible is very clear on what our God's attitude on sin is, as well as what ours should be....ZERO TOLERANCE. Yea, we all screw up here and there, but we instantly jerk our own chain, realize how grievous the sin is, and set ourselves with our WHOLE HEART to get rid of the sin. We serve a holy God, we are told to be perfect like he is. Tall order, true. It will take a lifetime of WORK, and effort, and WAR against sin to get closer and closer to the perfection we are called to. We are called to perfection, are you working on it, or have you taken the OSAS attitude that "we all sin all the time" so why bother?

The parable of the talents in Matt 25 tells us about the master giving "talents" to his servants and expecting a return when he shows up. Burying your talent in the ground will get you a seat with the wicked and the hypocrites. A lackadaisical attitude on sin will cost you dearly. If you don't hate sin with every fiber of your being, you might want to check yourself. Paul said to check yourself to determine if you are in the faith, are you checking yourself? It's better that you check yourself than to have yourself checked on your knees by Jesus when theres no time left to turn things around.

Today is the time to recommit, today is the time to repent, today is the time to summon the remaining strength you have to give your whole heart and soul to Jesus. Time is running out on this place called earth. Jesus is your judge, not me. I'm busy working out my salvation with fear and trembling just like you. WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, not with cocky false assurance like those who teach OSAS. Many will say to Jesus "Lord Lord" on the day of judgement and he will tell them "I never knew you." That will be devastating won't it? Can you think of anything worse than being in that situation? How is it that those people who are told "I never knew you" get into that situation? Figure it out NOW, today, not then. Why are'nt so called preachers and teachers today preaching on the FEW getting saved, and the warning embedded in that fact? Why are'nt preachers teaching what the error is that puts men into the situation where Christ tells them "I never knew you?" I'll tell you why, because the foxes are guarding the hen house. Why would men warn you of the threat that they themselves pose to you? It's self interest that they don't expose themselves.

2009 is almost here. The rapture/escape, war and anti-christ are up to bat next. Many will not make it in the rapture, only those counted worthy of it. Remember the story of Lot, the Lord told abraham that if even 10 righteous men could be found in Sodom, the entire city would be spared, we know how that went, not even 10 could be founf in the entire city. Look around today, everyone considers themselves "good" "decent" etc people, yet Christ himself asked "why do you call me good"

Luke 18:19
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God

Homosexuality runs rampant in America and you have men like Jack Kelly telling you that they'll be taken in the rapture/saved. You still need me to explain why FEW will be saved, with teachers like that running around? Tolerance for sin is preached, you still want to know why few will be saved? Wake up, out of your slumber. I write not to condemn you, I am not your judge. Those who LOVE YOU will warn you. Men like me are hated, what do I care? If you are speaking the truth, men will want to kill you, that's what history shows us. When you preach a message like Joel Osteen and all the other apostate churches, men love you. Rick Warren will be saying the invocation for Obama, what does that tell you about the truth or lack of it that Warren preaches. If Warren were a man of truth, the world would hate him, as things stand, he is loved and embraced by the world. The road to life is a narrow one that goes through a small gate and few are on it. If you find yourself on a broad road with many on it, you know you are on the wrong path.

Take another look at your life, re-examine everything. The wrong time to do it is after the storm has arrived. You are dearly loved, grace and peace

Dismantling more of the OSAS Jack Kelly Doctrine

Yesterday I wrote concerning this same topic, but I only addressed most of the salient points made by Mr Kelly regarding OSAS (once saved always saved). There's one more I'd like to debunk this morning, this idea that we can't be "unborn" of God.

The OSAS crowd seems comfortable with the thought that once you are born of God, you can't be "unborn" so you must be "saved." OSAS teachers have to assume you cannot be unborn, because the bible does'nt say that. The bible does'nt say you can be unborn, but it does say YOU CAN BE CUTOFF, WITHERED AND BURNED UP. This whole debate is shot in the pants once you read John 15. John 15 makes the entire argument very clear. "in Christ" you are saved. If you are cutoff from being "in Christ" you are not saved (cutoff, withered and burned up, no sins forgiven without the blood etc). You get credit for what Jesus did on the cross when you are "in the vine" which means "in Christ" You get credit for nothing if you are not "in Christ."


<< John 15 >>Young's Literal Translation

1 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman; 2 every branch in me not bearing fruit, He doth take it away, and every one bearing fruit, He doth cleanse by pruning it, that it may bear more fruit; 3 already ye are clean, because of the word that I have spoken to you; 4 remain in me, and I in you, as the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, if it may not remain in the vine, so neither ye, if ye may not remain in me. 5 'I am the vine, ye the branches; he who is remaining in me, and I in him, this one doth bear much fruit, because apart from me ye are not able to do anything; 6 if any one may not remain in me, he was cast forth without as the branch, and was withered, and they gather them, and cast to fire, and they are burned; 7 if ye may remain in me, and my sayings in you may remain, whatever ye may wish ye shall ask, and it shall be done to you. 8 'In this was my Father glorified, that ye may bear much fruit, and ye shall become my disciples. 9 According as the Father did love me, I also loved you, remain in my love; 10 if my commandments ye may keep, ye shall remain in my love, according as I the commands of my Father have kept, and do remain in His love; 11 these things I have spoken to you, that my joy in you may remain, and your joy may be full.

There are many other places in the bible that sink the OSAS teaching, but John 15 does it outright, with no doubt, covering all the bases in one fell swoop. "in Christ" are the two most important words in the bible. If OSAS was true, there would be numerous commands in the bible that were irrelevant, like "remain in me" because OSAS teaches you that you have no choice but to "remain in him."

I'll come back to this subject as often as I have to. Once saved always saved is a doctrine of devils. How many people will end up in hell as a result of this teaching. How much sin will be committed as a result of people telling themselves "well, I can't lose my salvation, so why not sin this one more time?" or "I can always ask for forgiveness later" That is the thinking of fools, that kind of thinking will get you killed (eternally), and OSAS is the ENABLER for that thinking.

Like many other things within churchianity, OSAS on the outside promises life, but scratch the surface of it, and out comes the stench of death. People want a guarantee today, that no matter what they do, no matter how much they sin, they'll see heaven anyway. This is a point that Jack Kelly over at rapture ready truly fails the test. According to this man, you can even be a homosexual and be taken in the rapture. Kelly says "we all sin all the time" but my bible says something different. Here's what my bible says about sin:

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

So..on one hand the OSAS teacher tells you that you are "born of God" and cannot be unborn of him, then on the other the same teacher tells you that christians "sin all the time" but will be saved/go in the rapture anyway. Can you see the bald faced hypocrisy in this? Within this one passage of scripture it says those who are born of God DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN.

Sin in the true believer is the exception, not the rule. OSAS teachers are full of the spirit of prostitution, consider the proverbs:

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

As with many things in the bible, this is a warning against BOTH physical and spiritual adultery.
Does this sound familiar to you:
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

The master of the servants is away on a long journey...
Matt 25
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Luke 13:25 "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts
... When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and yebegin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open

The master of the house is Jesus, and while he is away, there are many who call themselves servants who are up to serious mischief.

The bible has to jive with the bible. Read Matt 7:14, 7:21, and Rev 2-3. Few are saved, many call Jesus Lord and he tells them "away from me you evildoers", only 2 of the 7 churches were found without blame in Rev 2-3, throughout ancient Israel, the majority were punished, and over and over again a remnant were spared/saved. It's against this context that I submit your consideration of the OSAS question. Only a FEW will be saved, WHY IS THAT? Don't you think MANY would be saved if all you had to do was "make a decision" for Jesus, then sin, the world the flesh and the devil could'nt touch you anymore? OSAS teachers like to dilute the word of God on this issue by saying "you can only lose rewards, not "union/salvation" That's not what John 15 says. You are in the vine=united with Christ, you are cutoff from the vine=you are no longer united with Christ. It's that simple, debate over.

Grace and peace

A Rebuttal of the Once Saved Always Saved Teachings of Jack Kelly (rapture ready)

Mr Kelly is one of the outspoken defenders of the OSAS (once saved always saved doctrine). Today I read his article that rehashes the same OSAS arguments while avoiding all the biblical torpedoes that sink its ship
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/kelley/jack45.html

Mr Kelly asks, what does it take to "be saved" then he quotes:

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

What he does'nt quote..is this:

James 2 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Kelly tells you all you have to do is believe, Paul tells you even the demons believe...and shiver. Notice he is NOT talking about rewards here, he's talking salvation...in verse 2 he clearly asks can faith SAVE him....? Faith without works (talking about SAVING you) is DEAD....no rewards, no fellowship talked about, we're talking straightup salvation. You believe, the devils believe, what makes you think you are any more "saved" than they are?

Notice also, that neither Kelly nor any other OSAS teacher goes within a mile of John 15, which clearly describes "in the vine" = "in Christ" = saved, and cutoff, burned etc. "in Christ" is talking about union with him, period. If you are "cutoff" and burned up, you are'nt "saved" clear enough yea?

John 15 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

This is the clearest and most straitforward gaping hole in the Titantic called OSAS. The branch was in the vine, it did not abide, and was cast forth, withered and burned up. Please explain to me how a cast forth withered burned up branch is a saved person Mr Kelly? He won't touch it. Please explain how a person "in the vine" is not in "union" with Christ? The branch is "in the vine" then its cast forth and burned up, union, then no union, clear enough?

Then he quotes:

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:38-40)

Its not Gods will that any should be lost, but MOST will be (Matt 7:14), so the fact that God does'nt want men to be lost DOES NOT equate to them being saved. Read Matt 7:14 and Matt 7:21 until it sinks in....

Kelly then argues:

When He says in John 10:28, "No one can snatch them out of my hand," they (we who don't buy into OSAS) have to insert the phrase "but us" after "no one".
It's the same with Romans 8:38-39.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here they have to insert the phrase "but us" after "in all creation".

We don't have to insert anything to read this to say what it says. Can a person "snatch themself" out of God's hand? Does that make any sense? No it doesn'nt. Being snatched out of God's hand tells us that no external force is going to "snatch you" OSAS believers have to put words into God's mouth by ASSUMING that somehow YOU are included in the group that cannot snatch YOU out of God's hand. OSAS says you cannot snatch you out of God's hand, does that make any sense whatsoever? None. So the fact that you can stand up and walk away freely (just like the prodigal son did) is perfectly plausible.

Kelly argues that the prodigal son story is a story about rewards. He has to overlook the entire story to make that conclusion since 1. the prodigal son took his rewards upfront and went away into the world 2. the Father said that son was DEAD...that sound "saved" to you?

Luke 15:21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

If "this son of mine was dead" means "saved" then I'm a monkeys uncle....there's no possible plausible, absolutely NO WAY.

You have the prodigal son story that disproves OSAS
You have John 15 which is a nuke strike on the entire argument
You have Matt 7:14 and 7:21 that give you background on the entire issue..A FEW WILL BE SAVED.

I'v already shown you from the bible that if all it took was to believe, then even the devils would be "saved" because they believe...and they tremble. If people like Jack Kelly want to prove the OSAS case, then they need to answer to the huge problems that John 15 and all the other OSAS debunking scriptures pose to their arguments. I'd love to believe that OSAS was true, who would'nt. There are just too many roadblocks between here and there for me to get there.

Revelation 3:1-5 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels”.

Here again we see the Lord talking about BLOTTING NAMES OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE. Ummm, if you want to test the Lord on this point and see for yourself what happens if you "don't overcome" then have at it. Would God really blot their name out of the Book of Life? If we say no, then we accuse God of using vain threats on His people. If God says He “will not” blot names out of those who are faithful, the natural and logical conclusion would be that He “WILL” blot out the names of those who are not faithful. I've said this over and over again, the wrong time to find out that you were wrong about OSAS is on judgement day.

Kelly also quotes this:

2 Cor. 1:21-22. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

sounds pretty convincing until you read a literal translation of the same passage:

21 and He who is confirming you with us into Christ, and did anoint us, is God, 22 who also sealed us, and gave the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Which says nothing about God being the only one responsible for making you stand in Christ. The bible absolutely does not say that. God puts the Holy Spirit deposit in us when we are "in Christ" We are "in Christ" and He is "in us." We are one. Mr. Kelly uses the example of buying a house, the person who promises to buy puts earnest money down, which is a promise that they will DO THEIR PART, and YOU do yours....What happens if before the transaction is complete, the seller decides not to sell anymore? Can they change their mind? Yes, they can. At that point the buyer who promised to buy has'nt changed their mind, THE SELLER HAS. If people are going to use metaphors, then flesh them all the way out. You have a free will. If you could not walk away, then why did Jesus constantly remind you to "abide in me" "remain in me" why did he use those words if there was no way you could walk away? OSAS teachers like Kelly would rather not go down that road.

Here's the bottom line and the background for this argument, A FEW WILL BE SAVED....let that sink in deep, a few. Research your bible about it always being a REMNANT..a few that are saved from Israel all the way through to today..its a FEW. If OSAS were true, don't you think MANY would be saved? If OSAS were true, why could'nt you "make a decision" for Jesus AND live a life of sin in this world to party it up while you are still here? Why not have the best that sin and heaven have to offer. You rewards might not be great, but if you are still "saved" who cares, its still heaven! Unfortunately, the bible does'nt read that way. Until OSAS teachers like Kelly can address the gaping holes in their theory (OSAS) why should anyone consider it further? If I'm wrong, I have nothing to worry about, I think the standard is high. If he's wrong then his teachings may have sent many to hell. That's something to worry about.

grace and peace