[NYer]

Once Saved Always Saved?

• We must persevere "to the end" (Mt. 10:22; 24:13) "in the kindness of God" (Rom. 11:22) in order to reign with Christ (2 Tim. 2:12).

• Scripture mentions several cases of Christians who have fallen away through sin (e.g., 1 Tim. 5:8; Heb. 6:4-6; Jas. 5:19-20; 2 Pet. 2:20-21).

• Saint Paul, who had one of the most dramatic and profound conversions in 2,000 years of Christianity, writes, "I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27).

• Saint Paul further advises those who are already Christians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).

• Christians are called to cultivate the theological virtue of hope, which is the confident expectation of divine blessing and eternal life with God (Catechism, no. 2090).

• Hope is not based on our own strength or ability to resist temptations, but on the mercy and goodness of God poured out upon us by the Holy Spirit (Catechism, no. 1817; cf. Rom. 5:5).

[raynearhood]

Christian fundamentalism is yet another form of presumption. Granted, Barry’s case is an extreme example of the “once saved, always saved” mentality.

Eh, I don't think that the "once saved, always saved" mentality is indicative of Fundamental Christianity. I once had a discussion with a pastor at a church about this very belief (He believed it, I didn't). His argument was that once the Spirit enters into a person, God's grip cannot be broken. However, he made himself the judge of whether this happened or not. So, he said, because such and such was touched emotionally and prayed the "sinner's prayer," that this person was always saved.

Well, I can say that the person he was referring to didn't agree with him. She wanted to be saved that day, he told her she didn't need. She knew that she hadn't fallen away, but had never been truly repentant in the first place.

That being said, as a general rule, Fundamental Christians do not hold to the "once saved, always saved" view of either the pastor from my experience, or the guy from the article. A lot of Christians don't believe it at all, and Calvinist believe in a different sort of "once saved...." theology, that of election and justification.

I think what the author referred to her was a poor impression of fundamental Christians.

[xzins]

True believers hang in there. Period. No exceptions.

As an example, Do YOU intend to stop believing?

[TASMANIANRED]

Good many are going to get the “I don’t know you” response and be terribly shocked.

[Salvation]

Christian, I Presume? (Salvation) [Ecumenical]

Rock Solid: The Salvation History of the Catholic Church [Ecumenical]

Who Can Be Saved?

Grace, Faith, and Works

Getting in Touch With Reality (good character and behavior as a ticket to Heaven)

My Personal Savior

The Early Church Fathers on Salvation Outside the Church [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

Extra ecclesiam - Outside the Church there is no salvation.

Is Faith Necessary for Salvation? (Part 2)

Good Will Equals Salvation? (Did the pope say non christians could be saved - part 1)

The Experience of the Salvation of Christ Today

Nonbelievers Too Can Be Saved, Says Pope

Worthy Is the Lamb?

Limbo and the Hope of Salvation