OSAS: Do We Have To Believe It To Be Saved

[Andy C]

Jack Kelley’s answer:

In my mind this is a real conundrum. Like you, I think that if we believe we can lose our salvation because of our behavior then we have to believe the Lord’s death might have been sufficient to save us initially, but it’s not sufficient to keep us saved forever.

Since the Lord’s death is a constant and our behavior is a variable we would in fact become responsible for maintaining our own salvation. We would have to be very careful to make sure that our behavior was always good enough to keep us saved, even though it wasn’t good enough to save us in the first place. This violates a number of clear promises the Bible makes to the contrary. It would also allow all those who arrive in Heaven to say that they got there at least partially because of their own efforts, in spite of what Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9 about no one being able to boast.

So, does the Lord save us forever when we first ask, whether we believe it’s guaranteed or not? Or, knowing that we don’t believe it’s guaranteed, does He not save us at all? We know He can’t save us conditionally because of the promises of Ephesians 1:13-14and 2 Cor. 1:21-22, which say that our inheritance is guaranteed from the moment we believe.

In Matt. 7:7-8 Jesus said everyone who asks receives, and in John 6:37 He said “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” which says to me that once we ask Him to save us, He will never “unsave” us. So I would say that everyone who asks for salvation receives it and receives it forever no matter what they believe about eternal security, or (as is usually the case) even if they’ve never heard of it.

OSAS. Do We Have To Believe It To Be Saved? – Grace thru faith

gracethrufaith.com

 

[1LoverofGod]

One requirement for eternal salvation....


"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved". Romans 10:9-10

 

[Goodboy]

As has been listed already, there are many Bible scriptures that I believe show that you don't have to believe in internal salvation (OSAS) to be saved. That said, I believe there are two simple principles that lead me to believe that understanding internal salvation (OSAS) is not an ongoing requirement.

1) Is salvation a one time event? I believe the answer is yes. So if one does what the Bible states and believes in and accepts what Jesus did for salvation, then they are saved no matter what they believe later on, like works. My point being you don't have to keep getting saved over and over again in your life. Once you are saved, that's it.

2) The word itself of SAVED is a past tense word, meaning it is done, it is finished. If you were ever actually saved, you cannot be unsaved as that would just mean you were never saved in the first place. That is why Jesus states in Matthew 7:23 below "I never knew you".

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The danger to me is in teaching that works are required for salvation to those who are not yet saved. If they start out depending on their works to save them, that dependency could cause them not to get saved in the first place as they are expecting their works to save them, like those prideful ones who Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:22 below.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Those are my thoughts anyway.

 

[Les123]

I believe some people make a head decision and not a heart decision. They try and live the Christian life and find it very difficult and give up. Without the Holy Spirit, it won't work. I assume that is why a lot of cults start and off teachings.
I do know one guy from a little bit in the past. He said he was a Baptist. I think he was going for his fourth or fifth time for being baptized. (I guess that makes you a Baptist, lol.) I believe that he was a believer but definitely mixed up on some biblical teachings. I worked for him for about 6 months at a ministry that he was trying to start, called Righteous Racing. The Lord let it fail. I am thankful that it did. Too many, not rights happening.

 

[Margery]

God looks on the heart.

I didn't have a lot of time to talk with my ailing ancient father in law. Just the basics.

He was scared of dying, he knew it was close. I'd told him before (but he didn't listen then) and so I said Jesus is the Son of God and He died to save you from your sins. Do you believe that? and he said YES. We talked a moment or two but he was too breathless to speak any further and we hung up, with me praying DEAR GOD PLEASE take care of him.

He'd been raised Russian Orthodox and they teach salvation thru Christ's death on the cross, burial and resurrection after 3 days and nights, seated at the right hand of God the Father, as well as the Trinity, Christ as part of the Godhead, very God and very man. It's part of the service every Sunday. They are big on the sinful nature of mankind and the 100% pure sinless nature of God and Christ as His Son.

He knew all that as head knowledge. But he ignored it as "religion". He figured he had time. Till he was 103 with a failing heart and afraid of eternity.

I believe it went from the head to the heart in that brief moment. He died in his sleep a few days later.

The Russian Orthodox priest and his wife had been up to see him a LOT in the weeks before his death. He conducted fil's funeral and we visited afterwards. He and his wife are very definitely saved-- they weren't at all sure about me (heathen protestant Canadian that I am) till we spoke and he relaxed and accepted that contrary to his concerns I was a real Christian. He had been working with fil, and I think he was doing the ground work so to speak.

Do I have issues with the Russian Orthodox church? yes. But it's like the Catholics. I know those who ARE saved in both those churches, regardless of the problem teachings. Even the best of churches probably gets it wrong somewhere. Some churches it's the exceptional few that are saved, others have a better track record but where that basic statement of belief --the apostles Creed is taught at least a few are saved.

The thief on the cross didn't have time to ensure his theological position was solid. He had moments before death. He believed Christ. Within hours he was with the Lord in Abraham's bosom aka Paradise.

If you got time to teach, great, do it. But if there's little time left it's the basics. Dying people don't have a lot of time.

JDFarag's ABC's are easy to remember. I am pretty sure I used the ABC's to quickly outline the basics before fil had to stop talking.

Admit you are a sinner
Believe that Jesus IS Lord (equal part of the Godhead- Father Son and Spirit) that He died for your sins, was buried, and God raised Him from the dead
Confess that Jesus is YOUR Saviour.


Those who cry Jesus Save Me on their death bed are saved. Even by their understanding that Jesus is the name whereby we can be saved -- in that basic cry is the understanding that Jesus can save them and they cry out to Him. Maybe they would need some work on their understanding if they survive, but if they don't they are safe.

God looks on the heart and knows the heart that cries out to Him for Salvation in the name of Jesus.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Belief in OSAS is not a requirement for Salvation. Simple test, it's not in the Apostle's Creed, which sums up the basic, core beliefs.

People, who don't believe in OSAS may believe in a works-based/contributory Salvation, or may believe that Salvation is by faith and grace alone and that the only way to lose one's Salvation is by purposely, consciously, and freely renouncing one's faith in Jesus Christ as Lord (God) and Savior (not by sinning or renouncing under duress/coercion). FWIW, God doesn't take away our free will when we come to saving faith, as evidenced by our continuing to sin, even after we're saved.

Those, who believe OSAS, will (often) say that someone, who renounces his or her faith, even if it's under duress or coercion, was never saved to begin with.

And then there are the issues of backsliding, prodigals, carnal Christians, and Christians, who don't bear fruit.

None of this is addressed in the Apostle's Creed. Or the Nicene Creed for that matter.