Non "once saved always saved" doctrines?

Many errors and theological schisms have come from a misunderstanding of what election is, how it applies, and how it differs from predestination.

Election is according to God's foreknowledge (1 Peter 1:2), it is not a divinely exclusive choice by God, wherein He chooses to save some and hinders others from believing. Election is simply a term describing how God has known the end from the beginning as regards the individual, eternal destiny of each person: He knew whether or not each individual human would believe before He created. The invitation to be reconciled to God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is equally available to all. No one battles God trying to come to faith while God resists Him.

Predestination involves those who have already believed being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit living in them (Romans 8:28-30). Predestination does not mean that God enables some to believe and not others. Predestination means that those who have believed are irrevocably locked into the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. The process is not painless (Romans 7) but it will be carried on until completion. The ground of assurance lies here and it is a firm foundation.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. - Romans 8:29-30

Can it be that Almighty God has predestined a person for something (conforming to the image of His Son, in this case) and that person can then foil His eternal purpose by failing to endure? It is hard to imagine the Apostle Paul not being sure that the Lord would preserve him in his faith and bring him into glory.

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. - 2 Timothy 1:12

It can be a slippery slope to trust solely in what Christ has done for one's reconciliation and then trust in one's own effort to remain in Him. He is the One who saves and He is the one who keeps and He doeth all things well.

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? - Galatians 3:2-3

This is from the SDA perspective, as we do NOT believe in once saved always saved.

1. The believer in Christ must endure until the end to be saved.

If once you are "saved" you are always saved, what would be the point of endurance? What would be the point of remaining steadfast in the faith?

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:12

James here is writing to a group of believers, as he calls them "my brethren" in verse 2. It is also interesting that the Bible says they SHALL receive the crown of life, and not that they have already received it.

Jesus speaking about the end times, which is very relevant today (read all of Matthew 24), says,

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:36

Notice that it says shall be saved, and not he who IS saved will endure to the end. Jesus says the same in Matthew 10: 22, 23.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7

There is so overcoming that must be done, for those who will be in the paradise of God.

2. There are backsliders or those who draw back.

If once saved always saved, there would be no one who draws back or backsliders, as that would be impossible. That's not what the Bible teaches.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews 10:36-39

Once again, the theme of endurance. Its is important to note that God explicitly speaks of those who "draw back" and the author of Hebrews speaks of those who "draw back to perdition". If someone draws back to perdition, it means they were once heading in the opposite way, toward salvation.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

2 Peter 2:20-22

Though graphic, the apostle Peter clearly shows that a person can escape the world and again be entangled in it. This is completely contrary to the "once saved, always saved" doctrine.

3. Biblical Examples

There are examples all throughout the Bible of those who were believers and were used by God, only to have turned away and be lost.

Among those are King Saul, whom the Holy Ghost fell upon and prophecied, only to be used later by Satan to kill the prophets of God, and ultimately kill himself. (1 Samuel 10:11, 1 Samuel 19:23, 1 Samuel 22:17, 1 Samuel 31)

There is also Balaam, who was a prophet of God, and blessed Israel, even prophecying of the coming Messiah (Numbers 24:17). Yet his love for riches overcame him and he was killed while going against Israel and ultimately against God. (Numbers 31:8, 16)

Finally, there is the case of Judas. He walked with Jesus, heard the words of Jesus, preached for Jesus, was given authority by Jesus to "drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Matthew 10:1) Yet his love of money and power drove him to betray the very Son of God and ultimately, kill himself.

For a deeper read, see "Once Saved, Always Saved?"