You are an amazing man of God and I appreciate what Christ is doing through you and your ministry. My question or comment is on eternal security, also called once saved, always saved: OSAS.

Let me first state that I fundamentally believe that we are saved by what we believe and not how we behave. I think that scripture makes that pretty clear.

But I believe we have to be careful how we disseminate that truth to others, and I think that is what has been the BIG problem in the OSAS doctrine. People have put it out there like, “Hey, say a prayer, you’re saved, and live the way you want. Don’t worry, God has forgiven you.”

We have to make sure that people understand that God paid a price to make a change in us “a new creation” and that is something special and beautiful. Does the change take some time and work? Yes, but that is where the Holy Spirit comes in to help us – to convict us! If the person is not feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then all they did is rattle off a prayer and there was no change.

OSAS should not be used as a scapegoat for their behavior. That is making a mockery of our Lords gift. Yes, I believe OSAS if there is a true confession and conversion!

Do you believe that the OSAS doctrine has been misunderstood, and if so what can we do as literal bible believing followers of Christ to change that misunderstanding?

I have a question about the Passover. I have heard it said that when the original Passover happened, the Jewish people actually made a cross in blood on their door for the angel to “pass over” their house to avoid death. If this was the case, wouldn’t this highly symbolic act be easily read today by the Jewish people as God working through prophecy and culminating through the Cross of Christ? Have you ever heard of the blood being applied as a cross? If so, I’m thinking what a marvelous way for the Lord to foreshadow His plan of redemption!

Thank you for your wonderful site and the effort and Christian care you put into it.

But now I am confused about the OSAS answer you gave to the recent question posted about that. I always thought that if a person does not experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit about their ongoing sins after saying the prayer that maybe they said it flippantly and did not really mean it.

Of course I know that it’s not up to me to determine whether they meant it or not – that’s God’s job as he sees the heart and we can’t. But it seems as if there is no change in behavior or consciousness, that there is little evidence that they truly have been saved. Please help.