The Philosophy of Once Saved Always Saved Pt 3.

In the various teachings of OSAS there are major differences. One group says you cannot lose faith, another says you can lose faith. They are worlds apart. But they both end up saying the same thing. In these variations there is some overlap between them. Sorry Baptists, you're going to get lumped in with the Calvinists. Southern Baptists, you get no apology :P

Both systems have a common defense for eternal security:
1. When Jesus forgives sins it includes the past, present and future
2. When someone has faith their sins past, present and future are forgiven.
3* If a believer denies the faith his unbelief is still forgiven.

There is a lot to unpack here.

But first, I'd like to note that as a Lutheran I reject the way both groups frame that. But I can also agree with all three statements. I noted number 3 because Calvinists will understand that differently as well. But if you notice, numbers 1 and 2 look identical. What's the difference? I think this might be the key to understanding the differences - because I think most people actually start the argument at number 2.

If someone supports eternal security using this 123 argument I would like to ask, When does Jesus forgive your sins? Likely this will go into when they got saved, invited Jesus into their heart and that kind of thing - and now if they apostasize they are still good to go.

This is where it gets curious. If God forgives your unbelief why doesn't he forgive everyone's unbelief? What's so sanctified about your unbelief? So if you can be raised without faith then that should be true of everyone who would otherwise perish.

Let's use this same line of reasoning to conclude something else.

We can say:
1. Jesus forgives the sins of all including their past present and future on the cross.
2. Unbelief counts as a covered sin
3. Therefore, Universalism

Sure its twisted and un-biblical but the argument works both ways. You see it is conditional. If it is conditional upon faith then why can't it not always be conditional upon a present faith?

As a Lutheran I believe God has already forgiven the sins of the whole world. But it doesn't benefit anyone unless they receive it through faith. Forgiveness is proclaimed to the sinner in order to create faith. Forgiveness (past, present and future) comes from outside of us and works its way into us and lives by faith. Forgiveness precedes faith. I would even go so far as to say that in God's forgiveness he forgives unbelief. But it still has this condition: it must be received in faith. If I fall away, I no longer benefit from that forgiveness, but if I return my unbelief is forgiven because Christ is always proclaiming forgiveness to create faith. And so in that stand point all sins past present and future are forgiven on the cross, but they are also forgiven past present and future in faith - because in this we are united to Christ and destined for glory.

Still with me?

Verdict: Whenever you try to make an argument first ask yourself, Can this same line of reasoning be used to argue all sorts of crazies? What makes the way you argue it seem so special? Then maybe it isn't all that great. Secondly, arguments for the sake of arguments are tiring and lead nowhere.

Yawn.