I was MAD about OSAS

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "False assurance..."

We should be concerned that people are saved in the first place.  If they are saved, their works will be evident (Col 1:10).  Although some in heaven will smell like they were purchased at a fire sale, their assurance is sure (1 Cor 3:15).  

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "Striving into rest..."

Well said.  We stand in grace (Ro 5:2) freed from legalism (Gal. 5:1).

Response to comment [from a Catholic]:  "Everything we need to follow Christ is in the gospels [Luke 18:13 and 14]..."

We say the same creeds but pour different meaning into them.  There are well meaning people sitting in Catholic and Protestant churches seeking to know the Lord (Mt 22:32).  We must continue to address error where we see it (deception [2 Tim. 3:13]; false doctrine [Matt. 24:4, 11]; misunderstanding [Matt. 22:29]; against Christ [1 John 4:1–6]; sign of the end [1 Tim. 4:1]).   

Response to comment [from a Catholic to a Christian]:  [Acts and the epistles] "Do they change anything?"

As long as our faith is in God (Joh 14:1) and in Christ (Joh 6:29; Ac 20:21).  We have the writings of Moses (Joh 5:46; Ac 24:14) and the prophets (2Ch 20:20; Ac 26:27), the gospel (Mr 1:15) and the promises of God (Ro 4:21; Heb 11:13).  It is the object of our faith that matters.  

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "The Bible is progressive revelation from Genesis to Revelation. No one is saying the Gospels are all there is. Acts...contains helpful revelation for the Church Age that is not included in the Gospels."

Believers can be united in grace (Eph. 3:4–9).  "We are living today in the economy, or the dispensation, or the mystery of the church (the gospel of grace), which from the ages past has been hid in God who created all things (J. Vernon McGee)." 

When the apostle Paul persecuted the church, he persecuted Christ.  Apostates (modern-day Pharisees) do the same today.    

Response to comment [to a Catholic from a Christian]:  [My gospel]
 

Don't miss "my gospel"?  It was not Paul's gospel but Christ's gospel now revealed.  There are not two gospels.  There is one--the gospel of grace.   

"[T]he calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8–11; Col. 1:25–27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet (17:7), are also in this sense mysteries. The anti-Christian power working in his day is called by the apostle (2 Thess. 2:7) the “mystery of iniquity.”"
Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897

Response to comment [from a Catholic]:  "[T]hat is where the word redeem comes in Jesus paid the price for all our sins but our sins are not forgiven until we repent."

When we are saved, our sins are forgiven--past, present and future.  Confession is the the Lord (not a priest) and is followed by a pardon [Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9].  

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "Can someone show me the scripture where it say this exactly " Jesus died for ALL of someones sin"? I am not trying to split hairs here but I just realized that I can't find a verse that says this specifically. If there is one...can someone please show me."


Christ's blood redeems (Eph 1:7) and cleanses from all (1Jo 1:7) sin.

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "And those who do 'believe not', including apostates (see Demas, an apostate-2 Tim. 4:10), may suffer loss of rewards , including reigning with Him, but they are still eternally secure."

Apostates do not belong to Christ (1Jo 2:19) and saints do not become apostates (Ps 44:18,19; Heb 6:9; 10:39).  We do not know that Paul was sure about Demas (Col 4:14).  

"Believe the good news, despite any inevitable apostasy, however 'slight'."

I wish.  Unfortunately, apostasy in the church is not slight.  The references in 2 Timothy (the apostle's swan song) indicate that Paul was very concerned with apostasy in the church.  2 Timothy 3 sounds like today.   

Response to comment [from a Catholic]:  "[O]thers have a different interpretation..."

If they would like the right one, then realize that the replacement theology that Roman Catholics teach is false.  The Roman Catholic Church did not replace Israel.   

11:11–32 IN THE FUTURE REVIVAL
In Romans 11:11–24 Paul revealed the good that came as a result of Israel’s rejection—the provision of salvation for the Gentiles. The first piece of dough (11:16; cf. Num. 15:17–21) and the root (cf. Rom. 9:5; 11:28) refer to Abraham and the patriarchs. The holiness attributed to the part is applied to the whole. Israel was consecrated by virtue of its patriarchal heritage; thus, its rejection was not final. The branches (11:17) represent Israel; the wild olive shoot, the Gentiles; and the root of fatness, the Abrahamic covenant—the source of blessing for Israel and all nations.
The promise of future restoration shows God’s equal mercy to Israel (11:25–32; also note 11:25–26, 29). Note 11:32 as the end of the presentation of the gospel. A divine “mystery” (11:25) is something hidden in the counsels of God, not accessible except as God is pleased to make it known. In Romans 11:26–27 Paul quoted from Isaiah 59:20–21 and perhaps Isaiah 27:9 to show that Israel would one day be saved and enjoy the benefits of the new covenant. Romans 11:32 is a restatement of all Paul tried to assert in Romans 1–3.
Hughes, Robert B. ; Laney, J. Carl ; Hughes, Robert B.: Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (The Tyndale Reference Library), S. 538
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off [Rom. 11:22].
These are stern words. Paul calls upon the Gentiles to behold two examples. Rejected Israel reveals the severity of God, but to the Gentiles who have turned to God, the benevolent goodness of God is revealed. These two sides of God need to be revealed today: the judgment of God against the rejection of Christ and against sin, and the grace of God to those that will trust Christ.
Paul did not have the complete picture of the severity of God toward Israel. The history of Israel in the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70 and all that succeeded it is a terrifying story. My friend, let’s not trifle with the grace of God. It is grace which has brought us into the family of God and granted us so many privileges. After over nineteen hundred years the gentile church is as much a failure, if not more so, than Israel."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:725

See: 

What is Replacement Theology?

Does the Bible teach Moral and Venial Sin?

What Does the Bible say about Purgatory?

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  [OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved)]  "It basically gives everyone carte blanche to do whatever they want on earth and ignore the law.

A child of God wants to serve his Father.  It is a labor of love (Heb 6:10).  The true believer, like the prodigal son, goes back up to the Father's house.    Adrienne Rogers said:  "A slave serves because he has to.  An employee serves because he needs to.  A son serves because he wants to.  I'm all three."  We abide in Christ to continue in good works (Jn 15:4,5). 

The law is absolute and perpetual (Mt 5:18), but we are freed from it by grace.  The law is not grievous to God's children (1Jo 5:3).  Love fulfills God's law (Ro 13:8,10; Ga 3:10; Jas 2:10).  Men in the flesh cannot fulfill the law (1 Ki 8:46; Ec 7:20; Ro 3:10) but in Christ, we walk as God intended (Re 12:17).

Response to comment [from a Catholic]:  [When we are saved, our sins are forgiven--past, present and future. Confession is to the Lord (not a priest) and is followed by a pardon [Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9].  "[B]ut you are not saved.

What must a person do to be saved? 

"[D]ie among other things..."

What other things?

"[S]ome sort of action that would confirm that you really believe we were redeemed by Jesus."

Like what action?

"[H]ow you treat your neighbor."

Ok, anything else?

"[Y]our love of God..."

Love God, love your neighbor.  Ok, is that it? 

"[A]ll the law hangs on this."

Agreed.  So loving God and loving our neighbor is all that it takes to get us saved? 

"[I]n that it would confirm that you really believe we were redeemed by Jesus, yes."

Alright.  And how are you doing keeping the law?

"I sin every day."

Me too.  So, can we be justified by the law?

"I don't know what that means."

I mean, can we be saved (or justified) by our obedience to the law? 

"No."

Then, if we can't keep the law, how are men saved? 

"[W]e are saved when we die if our belief that Jesus redeemed us is confirmed by our actions demonstrating our love of God and our neighbor
even though we cannot get through the day without sinning, we will still be judged on our effort to keep his commandments."

God is perfect and we must be perfect (Mt 5:48).  How can we be perfect and enter heaven if we have not met God's standards?  (Ec 12:13) .  If our effort falls short of God's holy standards, what happens then?  When we stand before God, how will we explain to him that his law has been established in us? 

"[W]e are not perfect but He loves us just the same.  [A]ll He needs is our appreciation that we were redeemed.  [O]ur demonstrated love for Him and our neighbor, our clear efforts to keep His commandments--all of which show that we can be trusted.  [T]his is a test."

Although God loves us, he says that there is no partiality with him.  He will render to us each according to his deeds (Ro 2:5-11).  When we stand before God (Heb 9:27) and are asked how we were redeemed, what should we claim?  

[Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved]  "[Y]ou better add something to that...[A]ctions speak louder than words...[Are your actions a result of who you are or are they a means of becoming who you wont to be?]  "[B]oth".

The words "I trust Jesus."  [August 19th, 2009, 10:06 AM] did not amount to much.--The demons believe in Jesus and they shudder.  Are demons are going to heaven?  Lip service (e.g. the mass) can't buy a person anything (Jas 2:19).

I had asked how the law is established in a person (answer still pending).  

The words "[H]ow do we get sealed?"  [August 21st, 2009, 02:47 PM] did not amount to much.  It will have to be based on the word of God so you may not like the answer.  It does not come from Rome.

I was MAD about OSAS