Once Saved Always Saved

When we speak about “Evangelical Christianity” or “Protestant” we need to understand that those are a generic, cover all terms for all non-Catholic churches and denominations that at least subscribe to the basics of the Christian faith. These basics are, among others, the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the sinless life, death burial and resurrection of the Lord, His ascension and one day return. But in many other areas of doctrine they not only vary from the Catholic Church but with one another. That’s why there is, according to Pew Research, over 30,000 Protestant denominations.

One of the disagreements arises in the area of “the security of the believers”. The two main opponents are John Wesley, who believed that one could lose their salvation, and who founded the Methodist Church and the various denominations that grew out of that, and a man named John Calvin. Calvin was one of the best known thinkers of the Protestant Reformation, after Martin Luther. His theology is called “Calvinism” and is sometimes referred to as “Reformed Theology” or some variation on that.

Reformed Theology can best be summed up by what is called “The Five Points of Calvinism” or simply T.U.L.I.P. this acronym stands for:

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)

As you can see from the list there are one or two points where Calvin agrees with Catholic Theology…such as original sin, for instance. But it’s the last point I want to focus on in this article…for it is one of the most pernicious and spiritual harmful of the list.

One Saved Always Saved – Protestant Style

There are many Evangelical Christian denominations and churches which teach this doctrine. It also ties right in with the “Easy Believe-ism” that many of them teach. To summarize the latter: to them the whole plan of salvation is contained in one word: “believe”. They cite Acts 16:31 and Romans 10:9-10 as all that is required for salvation. As I talked about in the articles on Baptism, they either ignore Acts 2:38 or reimagine it so that baptism follows salvation by playing with the word “for”. Some do preach repentance, but many simply “believe” is all.

Once saved always saved (or OSAS for short) basically says that once you have come forward in an evangelistic service, or altar call in church, and prayed “The Sinner’s Prayer” then you are saved. No matter how you live your life or what crimes against humanity (rape, murder, etc.) you may commit, if you die, you are going to Heaven without even having repented of those sins. One of the verses they cite is John 10:29-30. They add to it by saying, “the verse says no man…that includes us ourselves”. But that is not what the verse says nor means. We’ll talk more about what the Scriptures say counter to this, shortly. This is why I call this doctrine “pernicious” above. How many thousands of souls have been led into Hell because of being taught this?

Once Saved Always Saved- Catholic Style

“What do you mean? The Catholic Church doesn’t teach Calvinism” That’s absolutely true…yet how many Catholics act like it does. “We’re Catholic” is just an easy way to avoid the Jehovah’s Witness or Mormons. Many believe that once baptized, and having received First Communion and Confirmation, they are set for life. They may or may not go to Confession once every couple years and receive the Blessed Sacrament maybe on Christmas, Easter and, of course, the occasional funeral. They don’t have to do anything more. If they have a Bible, it’s probably on a shelf somewhere or gathering dust on a small table under the mirro, along with an image of Jesus and Mama Mary.

It’s from these folks that Protestants get the idea that “We don’t need to study the Bible…in fact the Church doesn’t want us to! We’re read Scripture verses in Mass…that’s all that’s necessary!” They have no idea what the Church actually teaches on any subject or why. It’s also these folks that fall easy prey to the Evangelical Christian who knows his Bible and will tell them what the Catholic Church teaches…rather it’s true or not.

Once saved always saved is no more Bible based for the Catholic than it is for the Protestant. The Scripture is very clear “the soul that sins will surely die” (Ezekiel 18:20) with no regard to religious affiliation. The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that no one who sins will enter the Kingdom of Heaven in verses such as 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-20. The Apostle John records in Revelation 22:15 that those who sin won’t enter Heaven. Finally, the Lord Himself gave this warning:

“Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

But that doesn’t have to be you and me. Scripture tells us that, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God has provided us with all we need to obtain His Grace and His Mercy. After all, “we’re Catholic”.