Folks who think they are “locked in” to salvation due to their belief that Jesus died on the cross to save them need to read “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would have put it. (Paul Harvey was a radio commentator who told human interest stories that always had a surprise ending. After sharing the ending of the story when coming back on the air following a commercial break, Paul Harvey would then say, “Now you know the rest of the story!”). those who wholeheartedly embrace the “once saved, always saved” doctrine need to hear the rest of the story.
I have no doubt all the members of the congregations in Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea probably thought they were “locked in” to salvation and had nothing to worry about. Read what Jesus Himself says to them as recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Some of their pastors might have assured them that when Jesus spoke the words “it is finished” on the cross he was making reference to their secured salvation. Perhaps it didn’t dawn on them that when Jesus spoke those words He had not even died at that point. Therefore the penalty for sin had not even been paid yet when He said, “It is finished!” Therefore, He could not possibly have been referring to our salvation. And Paul plainly declares that Jesus was raised from the dead for our justification, and Jesus was a full three days away from being resurrected when He said, “It is finished!” So He could not have been referring to our salvation or justification when He uttered those words. (See Romans 4:25). The King James translators would have gone a long way in preventing far reaching confusion had they correctly translated the Greek word teleo (pronounced tel-EH’-o)) as “executed, discharged or performed” as teleo has all those meanings. Jesus realized there was one prophetic Psalm that had yet to be discharged or performed before He could die. He, therefore, cried out,”I thirst” prompting the Roman soldiers to lift a hyssop sponge filled with vinegar to His mouth (John 19:28-30), thereby fulfilling Psalm 69:21,”in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
Many preachers have a bad habit of parroting one another. What one says most others say the same, especially if they realize the “great theologians” of centuries past have said the same thing. That is why there are entire denominations that hold to the “once saved, always saved” error.
Romans 8:38 contains a long list of things that cannot separate us from God. Nothing sinful is mentioned in that list, though, because Paul well knew and taught what Isaiah had warned about long before – that our sins can indeed separate us from God if not confessed and forsaken. (See Isaiah 59:2). The apostle John warned that the sexually immoral, murderers, idolators and ALL liars would be denied entrance into the holy city. (See Revelation 22:15). He further warned that if anyone by their belief or teaching deleted anything from the warnings given in that book they would find their names expunged from the Book of Life. (See Revelation 22:19). It matters not how secure one thinks himself, or herself, to be – they can still forfeit their salvation. I came perilously close to doing so myself. I know of what I speak. Think on these things and may our Lord give you light and understanding.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley