There is an admonition in James chapter 5 that leaves me wondering how anyone could think that OSAS is true . We must balance scripture and rightly divide the Word ! In looking at scriptures that guarantee salvation versus scriptures that warn of losing salvation , the balance point is the God – given , free human will .
Consider James 5 : 19 – 20 :
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Brothers are Given Admonition that Wandering from the Truth can Result in Death of the Soul .
See , this is addressed to brothers in Christ ! Any Christian , really . Anyone of the brethren . For sins to be UNcovered would be to lose the Blood ! And it is talking about much more than a little back sliding ! Why ? Let’s look at Matt 10 : 28 :
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
So , the soul is destroyed in hell . That is what the admonition of James 5 :19 – 20 is warning about . That this CAN happen to a brother or a sister who wanders far enough from the truth . Far enough to forsake Jesus Christ in their hearts . Wandering from the truth ! The Apostle Peter says it like this in 2 Pet 2 : 20 – 21 :
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
In the beginning , they who know the Lord were previously lost . What is worse than lost ? It is to be irredeemable, having destroyed one’s salvation . At least the lost are generally redeemable .
Wandering from the truth . James . Turning from the Holy Commandment . Peter . Both the truth and the commandment are in the word . The Word incarnate is Jesus . Turning from Jesus . Wandering from Jesus . And James has another admonition for us about the Holy Commandment delivered to us !
Look at James 1 : 21 :
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
And John 15 : 4 :
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Receiving the word . Receiving Jesus ! Not wandering from Him. Not turning from Him. Abiding in Him . Obeying the Holy Commandment given us for our own good !
All controlled by the God – given , free human will . Which can be best employed to your highest advantage in the absence of the doctrinal error of OSAS !
