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I'm hoping you're not accusing me of those actions !!?!

The notion of "once saved, always saved" has always been a bit problematic for me, but that's what makes studying the Bible so delicious. Adults can read it, discuss it vigorously, and interpret it, with or without a pastor.

There is one passage (forgot where) which says that Jesus does not lose any members of his flock. The context is the ones who have been saved already; Jesus wants everyone to be saved, of course, but only guarantees "once saved always saved" to those who become a Christian.

What about, therefore, those who become Christians yet have public backslidings, deny the faith, etc. Are they still saved if they subsequently enter the public square and cry out, "I deny Jesus!" I think the point there is that they were never saved in the first place. Because salvation is a personal contract, or relationship, between you and God, then none of us can look at another person and say, "Yes, he's saved." A person can say that categorically about himself. And he might be lying anyway to fit in or impress a crowd.

So if any angry and despondent, and saved, Christian, was tempted to deny Christ in the public square, the Holy Spirit might intervene to prevent that behavior -- the car might break down, or he stay home sick in bed that day, or whatever. Then, when the fit of madness passed, he would silently and sincerely confess the sin. So Jesus does take care of his flock.

As for all those sins you mention, yes, one can commit all those sins and still be saved. Jesus saved the murderer on the cross next to him. I love the verse in the hymn "To God be the Glory":

The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Like tom h, I had a hard time grasping the concept of "once saved always saved". You understand if I say that it is hard to understand for people who come from a Catholic upbringing. The best answer I got came from a Pentecostal preacher who came to preach a revival at our Southern Baptist church. After explaining that a saved person may sin but will not live a sinful lifestyle, he asked me about the prodigal son. While he was feeding the pigs, was he any less of a son than he was while living at home? He had walked away from his father, lived a life that the father would not have approved... but he was still his son. There are 2 important lessons in this parable, one is that a son will not be happy mingling with the pigs (a saved person will sin, but the Holy Spirit will keep on convicting him), and the second is that there was never no doubt as to the father's reaction (the son did doubt, just like many sinners doubt God will forgive them).

If anything, your criticism of "once saved always saved" makes you sound like the older brother, mad because "that was not the way it was supposed to work".

I also believe that I must live my life in line with the Commandments
Of course! We agree with that! "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15), "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Eph. 2:10)... We just don't believe that our works are requirements for salvation, rather consequences of it!

"I also believe that I must live my life in line with the Commandments."

Ahh ... now you bring up another of the key distinctions between Catholicism and evangelical Christianity. Salvation by faith or by works?

None of us can "keep" the Ten Commandments. None of us. We sin each day when we lie, when we have sexual fantasies, when we curse. Even the best of us commit these sins on a regular basis. When we shade the truth to our co-workers, friends, spouses, and even the IRS we are breaking the Ten Commandments. When we are arrogant, angry, and more we are breaking them as well.

And there is no partial credit for "better than others" or "good enough." The Bible says very clearly that everyone is a sinner and that all fall short of the glory of God, except Jesus.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say we shouldn't TRY to keep the Commandments. But we never will.

And because God hates ALL sin, not just the ones that we Christians and Catholics consider heinous, then here's the painful realization: He does not hold me, as a God-fearing man who lives what most people consider an exemplary life, in higher regard than the axe murderer languishing in prison, who converted through a prison ministry. I am no more worthy of heaven than the criminal.

You will not recognize this, I know, because the Catholic Church leans definitely more toward a salvation by works philosophy. And it was a very hard thing for me to swallow 20 years ago when I became a Christian. But it's eminently clear in the Bible to me.

So how to reconcile keeping the Ten Commandments, then? We have to recognize that we are better able to keep them -- still not perfect, but less likely to break them -- if we are a believer, if our hearts are right, and if we are in constant prayer and contact with God. So keeping the Commandments becomes less the result of our personal determination to keep them, but is enabled by the Holy Spirit through our faith and daily devotion.

Being saved by faith alone -- not works, which can include time and money -- means that Christians, regardless of their circumstances, remain humble in their faith. This helps fulfill Eph 2:8-9 where Paul says that none of us should boast.

Probably more answer than you wanted, but it's been enjoyable for me to write it.