[Persevero]

If Paul, as you hypothetically state, had spent the first part of his life in a godly way and the last half persecuting Christians, no, he wouldn’t have gone to heaven.

But, someone who believes that once saved always saved, would say that therefore he was never actually saved.

The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints - “once saved, always saved,” is often applied in a backwards fashion. I suppose, that in our naturally sinful mindsets, it is natural to us.

It does NOT mean you can say the sinner’s prayer, live a life of evil, and go to heaven. That is totally unbiblical.

It DOES mean that if you are truly saved, you will never fall away. Not because you are so faithful, but because God is so merciful.

So, Templeton (presumably) was never really saved. That’s all his apostacy showed.

It really depends upon which side of the telescope you are looking through.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

“For it is impossible,” the Scripture warns, “for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

It DOES mean that if you are truly saved, you will never fall away.

So those who "fall away" although they "were once enlightened and ... partakers of the Holy Spirit" were not truly saved?

[Genoa]

So, Templeton (presumably) was never really saved. That’s all his apostacy showed.

So let me make sure I understand this. If someone totally rejects and repudiates their Christianity, they are just showing that they were never actually saved in the first place? May I ask: Can anyone know for sure that they will never repudiate their Christianity? If they can't know that, then neither can they know whether they are really saved now. Conclusion: No one can know they are really saved, and there is no reliable assurance of salvation for anyone.

At the least the teaching that a person can reject his salvation still allows for present assurance based on present faith.

[PastorJack]

I would like to argue the point with you but everything you said was devoid of the Bible. Although you alluded to what the bible permits/not permits, there were no biblical references. I am afraid that too many people are persuaded by “rational” arguments instead of Biblical facts.
See my response to the original posts for Biblical references and rebuttal to your post.

[Cronos]

So, Templeton (presumably) was never really saved. That’s all his apostacy showed.

That's backwards justification.

Technically Christ's one-time sacrifice was so effective that, technically, all of us have been "saved" as in our debts are paid by Christ's blood. We have to accept this saving.

If we fall and repent and fall and repent, that is human nature. We should not, but we may. In that case we do not get saved again and again, we are all "saved" i.e. debts paid. What Christ asks us to do is to persevere to the end with this acceptance of our salvation

Templeton may have accepted God's grace at his death-bed we do not know

[jimbo222]

OSAS is a lie from satan! Read mark 4 and compare it to your answer about the person was really never saved. You can be saved and fall away from grace, remember,its the choices We make in life, God has given all of us the freedom of choice as He did Adam and Eve, King David- if it weren't for his forgiveness of his sin(Psalm51) he to would not have made it to heaven. “Work out your own salvation!” Paul says to “persevere to the end” As you read Gods holy word make a note of how many times Jesus and others use the word “if”- “IF you abide in Me I will abide in you”. And multitudes of other verses! My brother don't be fooled by the great deceiver!