The problem with Once Saved, Always Saved

I was thinking to myself, how many Protestants (though by no means, all, and probably not even most), believe they are saved the moment they say the “Sinner’s prayer”.  Whilst I have no doubt that many who say it, have a firm amendment to live good and moral lives, many of those same people believe in a doctrine of “Once saved, always saved.” (OSAS, for short). 

Now, I will concede, that there are verses, that, if taken in isolation, may seem to “prove” OSAS.  But, like anything else in The Bible, verses must not be read in isolation.

Now, even as a Non-Christian New ager (I’d have said Buddhist, but, let’s be honest, Buddhist westerner=New Age), I knew there was something wrong with that view. 

That said, as a baptized Catholic (baptized as an adult, at that), if someone asks me, “Brother, have you been saved”? (Indeed I have, 1 Peter 3:21)  I’d answer differently than if someone asks me if I am saved. 

So, what brought this about?  Usually, I have to plan what I’m going to write ahead of time, and I kept thinking about what Jesus said about righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees. 

As much as I love writing long articles, I’m not going to go through every single verse that contradicts OSAS.  Instead, I am going to focus on the verse I mentioned. 

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 5:20).

Now, of course, Jesus explains what he means, and I encourage you to read those verses.  But my point is this, if we’re saved no matter what we do, why bother with righteousness to begin with?

Now, do not misunderstand me.  I am not saying those who hold to OSAS are horrible people, or that they’re damned, or anything like that.  Just that OSAS can’t really be squared with scripture.  

*Verse (s) from the King James Version of The Bible