Once Bathed, Always Bathed
In the religious world there are many manmade philosophies, ideals, practices and doctrines. The word “doctrine” basically means “a belief that is taught.” According to the Bible there is only one true doctrine (the gospel of Christ, and it is of divine origin - Gal. 1:6-12); all else is manmade and is therefore false doctrine (see verses 6-9).
One such manmade teaching is the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Proponents of this doctrine tell us that once a person comes to salvation in Christ, it is impossible to fall away and be lost. Yet, God tells us the opposite is true. Consider the following:
- “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” (Ezek. 18:24; cf. v. 26).
- “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again or themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” (Heb. 6:4-6).
In Galatians 5:4 Paul said, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”
- The word “estranged” is defined as [of a person] “no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated.” [Of a wife or husband] “no longer living with their spouse.”
o If you are saved in Christ, you are the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2).
o Thus, you cannot be estranged from Christ unless you are first saved in a covenant relationship with Christ.
- Paul said, “You have fallen from grace.” You cannot fall from a place you have never been.
o In order for a skydiver to skydive he or she must first be inside a plane. When they jump out of the plane (skydive) they fall from the plane. One cannot fall “from” the plane without first being “in” the plane.
o Likewise, no one can fall away from Christ (jump) without first being saved in Christ.
o Thus, the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is a lie.
Think of it this way: If a man takes a bath he is cleansed from the filth of his body. But if that same man chooses to roll around in mud he is in need of being cleansed again – for it is impossible to be “once bathed, always bathed.” So then, how clean are you?
Aaron Veyon
