Program 92: Once Saved, Always Saved
Precious promise? Or deadly heresy?

The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” may sound good, but it is actually a deadly heresy. Learn the truth from Scripture!

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Greetings and a very warm welcome to World’s Last Chance Radio. I’m your host, Miles Robey and I want to thank you for tuning in and making us a part of your day.

Dave Wright is with me to share with us knowledge and insights. Dave? What are you going to be talking about today?

Dave Wright: Today, we’re going to be talking about a belief that divides believers. Some people think it is a deadly heresy, while others think it’s the most comforting aspect of gospel truth! And that is the doctrine known as “once saved, always saved.”

Miles: Sounds good!

Just to begin with a word of explanation, though, on WLC, we take literally the Bible’s repeated encouragement to “call upon the name of the Lord.” But to effectively do that, you need to know His actual name.

In fact, in the original Hebrew. It doesn’t say “call upon the name of the Lord.” It says, “call upon the name of Yahuwah.”

Yahuwah, or Yah, is the Creator’s personal name. It’s also a very powerful promise because the name is a verb of being.

So, when you state His name along with your need, it becomes an incredibly powerful promise. It’s beautiful!

Dave: The Saviour’s name also contains a promise. The son’s name is Yahushua and means: “Yahuwah saves!”

El, eloah, and elohim are Hebrew titles that refer to the Father. They often are used in conjunction with the divine name.

Miles: Right. That’s the title used throughout Genesis 1: “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth. … And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Now, “elohim” is actually the plural form of “eloah,” right?

Dave: Correct. That doesn’t mean it was referring to the Father and a pre-existent son. Using the plural form was a fairly common literary device in ancient Hebrew. It was done when you wanted to emphasize the importance of the personage to whom you were referring.

Miles: So. This idea of once saved, always saved. What can you share with us about that?

Dave: Well, it’s either right or it’s wrong. There’s no halfway position on this doctrine. Some of our listeners may agree with what I have to say; others may disagree.

If you already agree, keep listening so that you can know how to explain your beliefs when asked.

Miles: Like Peter says: “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” [1 Peter 3:15]

But how many of us can actually do that on every point of doctrine?

Dave: And, if you disagree with me, keep listening. I might have evidence to support my position you’ve never heard of before. Besides, truth can bear the weight of investigation.

Miles: Reminds me of a comment in a book I read once. It’s always stuck with me. It said:

There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.

Dave: That’s good.

Miles: So. What do you say? Is the doctrine of “Once saved, always saved” Scriptural or not?

Dave: Not. It sounds nice (at first), but there is actually a very serious reason why it’s not a Biblical doctrine.

Miles: I’ve heard people refer to once saved, always saved as the doctrine of “eternal security.” That sounds pretty good, I have to say.

Dave: Of course! Who doesn’t want full assurance that no matter what you do, you’re still going to inherit eternal life?

But let’s look at it from a different angle.

Miles: All right.

Dave: The United Nations is headquartered in New York. This means that New York City gets a lot of people visiting that have diplomatic immunity. The problem is, a lot of these people take advantage of what is, in reality, a privilege. As long as their car has diplomatic plates, they can break whatever traffic law they want!

Miles: That’s an abuse of the system.

Dave: It really is. Last I looked at the numbers, foreign diplomats to the United States have racked up something like 150,000 parking tickets. That’s not $150,000 dollars-worth. That is 150,000 thousand separate parking tickets.

Miles: You’re kidding. That’s got to total in the millions of dollars!

Dave: Seventeen million, to be exact. It’s got so bad in Washington, D.C. with diplomats flouting the local traffic laws and driving so recklessly, that the police actually warn drivers to avoid driving behind cars with diplomatic plates.

Miles: That’s just rude. Reminds me of a story I heard about the Burmese ambassador to Sri Lanka. Apparently, he was convinced his wife was having an affair. So, instead of divorcing her, he killed her.

Neighbors reported to the police that he was building a funeral pyre in their back yard. By the time the police arrived, he was putting his wife’s body on the pyre.

Dave: That’s horrible!

Miles: Well, the problem was, legally it was considered Burmese territory so the police were not allowed to enter without the diplomat’s express permission and he obviously refused to give it. So, a murderer walked free simply because he had “diplomatic immunity.”

Dave: Wow. More and more people are questioning the fairness of diplomatic immunity. It’s not just or even reasonable to give anyone the freedom to break laws simply because of their diplomatic status.

But when you think about it, “diplomatic immunity,” in effect, is as unjust and unreasonable as a murderer walking free simply because he’s a diplomat. And I don’t mean just that it’s unfair to Yah. It’s always “unfair” to Yah and His son as well. That’s why salvation’s a gift of grace, or “unmerited favor.”

When I say it is unfair, I mean it’s unfair to the believer.

Miles: Okay. That’s a new thought to me that “once saved, always saved” would be unfair to the believer, but before you get to that, could you explain where people get this idea from? It’s not Biblical.

Dave: No, but because they can quote some passages of Scripture that seem to agree with the concept, a lot of sincere believers think it is Biblical.

Turn to John chapter 10 and read verses 27 to 29. Let’s take a look at one of the passages they use to support this idea.

Miles:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Dave: In this passage, believers are referred to as “sheep” who hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow him. It adds that “no man is able to pluck them out” of the Father’s hand.

But this isn’t teaching “once saved, always saved.” This passage simply promises that no spiritual harm can come to the person who, submitting to Yahuwah, lives in submission to the divine will.

Another passage frequently quoted is 1 Peter 1:5.

Miles: Let me look that up really quickly.

It says: “Who are kept by the power of Yah through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Dave: Again, this isn’t talking about “eternal security”. It’s not saying a person cannot be lost. It’s simply reiterating the fact that Yah has the power to preserve all who trust in Him.

Miles: It’s interesting that in the passage from John 10, believers are compared to sheep. Now, wooly little lambs might be cute, but anyone who has ever been around sheep will tell you that they’re not the sharpest crayon in the box.

Dave chuckles.

Miles: Seriously! They’re dumb!

Dave: More than that, though, sheep are notorious for wandering astray. Isaiah says: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” [Isaiah 53:6]

Miles: So, let me get this straight. What you’re saying is that if someone stops surrendering his will to Yah, if she begins to knowingly sin, then he or she will be lost even if he had previously accepted the gift of salvation.

Dave: That’s exactly what I’m saying. Yahuwah is never going to force the human will. Satan uses force; Yah never does.

This is why Scripture abounds with warnings of what will happen to those who, having once accepted salvation, “wander astray.”

Let’s take a look at another of the Saviour’s parables. This one is found in Luke 15. Would you please read verses 1 through 7?

Miles:

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Dave: It’s important to notice the context here. Those who teach “once saved, always saved” will say that the promise of “eternal security” is reserved for those who have already been saved. It’s not for worldlings.

But in this parable we can see clearly that this sheep at one time belonged to the Great Shepherd. It says so right there in verse 4.

Miles: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

Dave: “Having a hundred sheep.”

“Have.” That shows possession. The lost sheep was originally counted as one of the 100 sheep. He belonged to the Great Shepherd and the shepherd counted him as one of His—all before that one sheep wandered off!

Miles: Hmm. I see that. It’s interesting, too, that the last part of verse 4 emphasizes that the shepherd goes after the one which is lost. That really blows out of the water the idea that you cannot be lost after having been saved.

Dave: It really does. And for those of you who would argue that the sheep was never truly “saved” to begin with, I beg to differ. It says right there that this wasn’t just any old sheep. It wasn’t a sheep that had wandered over from Neighbor … Ebenezer’s flock. It belonged to the shepherd. It was counted as one of His flock.

And yet it still wandered off. This happens when a believer who has been saved and given his heart to Yahuwah, at a later date changes his mind and wanders away. We all have that “right.”

Miles: Applying the parable to modern, daily life, how would you say a person who has been saved actually “wanders away”?

Dave: It’s very simple and very easy to do. You start staying up too late the night before so that you’re too tired to wake up early for personal devotions with Yah. You hit your snooze button instead.

Instead of spending time in the Word of Yah, you’d rather spend it watching a movie or playing computer games.

The more times you sacrifice your spiritual walk to indulge in worldly pursuits, the more distasteful you’ll find Bible study and the less you will want to do it. It’s creeping compromise, and it honestly doesn’t take that long to fall a long, long way.

* * *

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Just before our break, you were saying how easy it is to leave off prayer and lose our spiritual devotion. Do you almost get the idea that those who teach “once saved, always saved” are trying to … I don’t know … circumnavigate around that very human tendency?

Dave: Absolutely! But we must always remember Yahuwah will never force our human will. Think of Christ’s parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. Over and over, whether it was the man who found treasure in a field, or the merchantman who purchased a pearl of great price. Every time, it cost the person everything. That’s what it will cost us, too.

And if we get lazy and neglect our personal walk with Yah, He’s not going to force Himself where He isn’t wanted.

Miles: Yeah, He’s polite that way.

Dave: Let’s take a look next at Jude verse 24. There’s only one chapter in Jude, so just drop down to verse 24. This is Jude’s closing remarks to his short epistle. What does it say?

Miles: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

Dave: Yahuwah has the power to keep us faithful, but He does not do this by taking away our freedom to choose, which is exactly what happens with the idea that once you are saved, you can never be lost. Instead, as we surrender, He writes His law on our hearts. This is what Jude is talking about. It’s a complete and total transformation of character. This is how He keeps us from stumbling, not by removing our free will.

Miles: It’s that daily surrender that’s so important. And yeah. It requires the free exercise of our will. You remember Christ’s analogy of the vine and the branches? He told that parable so he could explain what happens if we choose not to abide in him.

I’ve got it here. John 15, verse 6. It says: “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

The branches aren’t weeds that were never connected to the vine.

Dave: That’s an important point. A branch can only grow if it’s connected to the vine. The branches in this parable refer to those who, at one time, were closely connected to Christ. They received the spiritual nourishment to grow! But, exercising their divinely given freedom of choice, they withdrew from their source of life.

They became unfruitful and were eventually cast off.

Miles: It sounds like Scripture teaches the exact opposite of “eternal security.”

Dave: You’re right. It is possible to accept salvation and, at a later date, exercise your free will and return to a life of rebellion against Yah.

Paul understood this. Using the illustration of a race, he talked about the sacrifices athletes make to try to win a prize. Let’s read it. It’s in 1 Corinthians 9, verses 24 to 27 and what I want you to notice is that he closes this passage by saying that even he might still be lost!

Miles:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Dave: Paul himself is acknowledging that even after he’s preached to others and won so many souls to Christ, it’s possible for him to be lost, too.

Miles: Being saved didn’t remove his personal freedom of choice. He could still, by the choices he made, lose out on eternal life.

So, could you say Yahushua’s death provides “diplomatic immunity” for sins past. But it does not remove accountability for current sins, knowingly committed.

Dave: Precisely. The word here translated “disqualified” comes from the Greek word Adokimos, which means: “unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication worthless . . . castaway, rejected, reprobate.”

Miles: Hmmm. “Reprobate” is an interesting word choice. We don’t use it much anymore, but it has a lot of meaning. When used as a noun, reprobate refers to “A person abandoned to sin; one lost to virtue and religion.”

Dave: It’s used several times in Scripture. The clearest use of the word, also directly refutes “once saved, always saved.” And that’s in Romans 1:18-32. We’re not going to take the time to read it, but if any of you want to read it later on your own, you can. That’s Romans 1:18-32.

Paul specifically states that, although these reprobates “knew” Yahuwah–verse 21–they still stubbornly clung to sin.

You can’t say these were heathens with no knowledge of the Creator. But, even knowing Him, verse 28 states that they did not want to remember Him. It says, quote: “And even as they did not like to retain Eloah in their knowledge, Eloah gave them over to a reprobate mind.”

Miles: Interesting that Yahuwah “gave them over to a reprobate mind.” Yahuwah offers salvation, but, much as He longs to save everyone, He’ll never remove your right to choose for yourself. You don’t want a relationship with Him? He’s not going to force you to have it.

Dave: Peter understood this, too. Would you please read 2 Peter, chapter 2, verses 20 to 22?

Miles:

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Christ Yahushua, 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.

Wow. That really obliterates the idea that once you’re saved you can’t be lost.

Dave: Both Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter, the apostle to the Jews, concur that even after a person has accepted the gift of salvation, by the free exercise of his will, he can still be lost!

The problem with clinging to the error of “eternal security” is that, like diplomatic immunity, people use it to rationalize away cherished sins that they don’t want to surrender.

Miles: Salvation’s a free gift, but it doesn’t remove personal responsibility to choose to surrender to Yahuwah on a daily basis.

Dave: Well said. “Once saved, always saved” is popular because it, in effect, exempts you from the consequences of all future actions and decisions, regardless of how grievously, or frequently, the divine law is broken.

It’s a sort of divine “diplomatic immunity” that, they suppose, covers anything they do because now they’re saved.

Miles: That’s a dangerous supposition to make. According to John 16, verse 8, the Holy Spirit’s work is to, quote: “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

The Holy Spirit might be convicting you to lay aside a particular sin, but if you believe in “once saved, always saved,” you’re going to brush aside those convictions as nothing more than “doubt.” You never want to do that because rejection of the Holy Spirit is the one sin that’s unpardonable.

Dave: When the Holy Spirit’s drawing is consistently and continually rejected, there’s nothing more Heaven can do.

Let’s read Hebrews 6, verses 4 to 6. This is describing the fate of all who turn back from following the Saviour.

Miles:

For it is impossible 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 Yah and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of Yah, and put Him to an open shame.

Dave: Now, someone might argue that, if a person falls away, he was never saved to begin with, but this is not consistent with this passage of Scripture.

Miles: Well, yeah. Paul says right here that they “were once enlightened.”

Dave: If you turn your back on divine grace, divine Love will never force you to remain against your will. Hebrews 10, verse 26 says: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”

Miles: What would you say is the worst thing about this doctrine? That it creates a situation in which people dismiss the convictions of the Holy Spirit?

Dave: No, I’d say the worst thing about the doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” is what it teaches about the character of Yahuwah.

John 3:16 to 17: “For Yah so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For Yah did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.”

The inheritance of a sinful nature stole from every son and daughter of Adam, the ability to choose for themselves who they would serve: Yahuwah or Satan. Yahushua’s sacrifice did not guarantee that all would be saved. What it did was restore their right to choose for themselves, rather than lose eternal life through the choice of Adam.

Miles: Hmmm. I can see that. If Yahuwah sacrificed so much to ensure freedom of choice, He’s never going to take away that right to choose once the individual is in a saving relationship with the Saviour.

Dave: Sin enslaves the will; redemption restores it to harmony with Yahuwah. But that doesn’t suddenly turn you into a will-less mind slave. You still have the power of choice and Yahuwah will never take that away, forcing His will on you.

Miles: So, in essence, the Bible teaches that believers are secure while they remain faithful to Yahuwah. But if one chooses to let go of the hand of Yahushua, there is no such assurance.

Dave: Nope. Romans 6:23 says “The wages of sin is death” even for those who, at one time, had accepted salvation.

Error is what separates us from Yah, who is the source of life and love. The fact that He sacrificed His own son to ensure freedom of choice and that He continues to allow everyone to retain that freedom of choice, demonstrates a love so profound, so … far-reaching your mind starts to wobble. You can’t quite wrap your mind around a love like that!

Miles: Thank you, Dave. You shared some new perspectives with me, and I’m sure with our listeners as well.

I just want to encourage our listening audience: eternal security lies in Christ. Draw close to him. We don’t need the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” Not when Yahuwah is able to keep us safe from all harm.

Dave: That is where our assurance lies. And the good news is, He will never violate your individuality, your self-hood, your freedom of choice. However, when you choose to surrender your will to Him, He will keep you.

Miles: Like the hymn says, that is “Blessed Assurance.”

Don’t go away folks. When we return, we’ll be answering your questions sent in to our Daily Mailbag. Stay tuned.

* * *

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WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Uli Maier from Switzerland has sent us a question for our Daily Mailbag. I think you’ll find this very interesting. She asks: “What are your thoughts on the ‘God particle’? What significance does it have for our Christian perspective of the universe?”

Dave: That is a really interesting field of study. Before I answer Uli’s question, though, let’s define what is meant by the “God particle” just so everyone knows what we’re talking about.

The “God particle” is actually called the Higgs boson by scientists.

Miles laughs: Yeah, they don’t really care for any reference to “God,” do they?

Dave: Not really!

The “God particle,” or Higgs boson, is a tiny particle that scientists have suspected existed for a long time. They just haven’t been able to prove it. Up until recently, its existence was purely theoretical.

In 2012, however, scientists were able to establish its existence.

According to CBS News:

The Higgs boson is often called "the God particle" because it's said to be what caused the "Big Bang" that created our universe many years ago. The nickname caught on so quickly (even though scientists and clergy alike do not care for it) partly because it's a great explanation of what it's supposed to do — the Higgs boson is what joins everything and gives it matter.

Miles: So, in other words, it’s the most basic element that creates the universe as we know it. It gives mass to matter.

Dave: Right. Scientists have not yet actually “seen” the “God particle,” but they’ve come really close. They say it is sort of like seeing the footprint of a dinosaur in the sand, and even seeing its shadow as it passes by, but not actually seeing the dinosaur itself that made the foot print and cast the shadow.

This is important because once we understand the Higgs boson and how it works, we get closer to understanding how the universe came to be.

Miles: Ooooh! So that’s why Uli’s wondering about the significance of this for Christians. If the Higgs boson explains the existence of the universe, then how does this impact our understanding of the creation of the world and the existence of Yah?

Dave: Exactly. I’m not going to spend time on a long discussion of the physics of the Higgs boson. That’s not her question anyway. Her question is asking what impact this will have on Christian theology.

My answer is that the only thing it will do is magnify the might and power of the Creator. Would you read Psalm 33 verse 6 for us? This is an absolute truth and discovering the so-called “God particle” does not change this truth.

Miles: All right. It says … “By the word of Yahuwah the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”

Dave: This is how the universe came into existence. Or, as Psalm 33 says a few verses later: “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” [Psalm 33:9]

Finding the basic building blocks does not change that fact. Now, turn to the first chapter of Colossians. What does verse 16 say?

Miles: Okay. Give me just a moment.

All right. It says: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

Dave: There’s no contradiction here! Yahuwah is still the Creator of ALL. This includes subatomic particles. They’ve been there all along. Just because we’re only now discovering their existence does not suddenly invalidate the Biblical account.

Yahuwah created the very laws of nature scientists are discovering. These laws reveal deep truths about the power, might, and intelligence of the divine mind.

Turn to Romans 1:20 now, please.

Miles: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power …”

Dave: John 1:3 tells us: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Again, this includes subatomic particles. Just because we’re only now becoming aware of some of the wonders of Yah’s handiwork does not mean that He did not create them. He’s the Creator of all and He works within the laws of nature that He Himself established.

Miles: He doesn’t need to break His laws, does He? He made the laws of physics! He can work within them to do His will.

Dave: Exactly. And it is all to reveal to us truths about His character so that we will have confidence in Him. In closing, would you read Hebrews 11, verse 3? This is a particularly beautiful verse about Yah and the purpose behind His creation.

Miles: “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of Yah, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Dave: It says right there that the things which are seen were not made by things which are visible. To put it another way: The things which are seen were made by things which are not seen. The so-called “God particle” certainly fits that description.

Miles: Huh. It really does. That’s interesting.

Okay, we’ve got time for one more question. This is from Henry Tezembong from Bafoussam, in Cameroon.

Dave: Cameroon! Now there’s a fascinating country I’d love to visit someday. Africa is a huge continent but did you know that every type of plant and animal found in tropical Africa is found in Cameroon as well? It has over 400 species of mammals and over 160 different species of birds.

Miles: “Africa in miniature.”

Dave: Yes, in fact, that’s what Cameroon is often called. You’ll find this interesting: Cameroon’s official languages are French and English but 230 other languages are spoken there as well.

Miles: Wow! That’s a lot!

Dave: So, what does Henry have to say?

Miles: He says: “Greetings, brothers, in the name of our Saviour, Yahushua! We listen to your broadcasts every day and are always so blessed with the messages you give.

“My family has been facing some difficulties lately. We want to remain faithful to Yahuwah but it has been discouraging. We are claiming the promise that all things work together for good to those who love Yah, but my question is: When things go wrong, how can we know when Yahuwah is punishing us? Or if it’s just circumstances that Yahuwah is using for our good?”

Dave: You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that before, but it’s a good question. Let’s start by reading Ecclesiastes 9, verse 11. Would you turn there for us, Miles?

Miles: Sure, I’ve almost got it.

It says:

I returned and saw under the sun that—

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.

Dave: This says that even though Yah is in charge, we can’t assume that He is disciplining us every time something goes wrong. Sometimes bad things just happen.

Miles: It’s part of living in a sinful world.

Dave: It is. Perfect case in point? Job.

Miles: That’s true. Despite questioning Yah and, later on, starting to display a bit of self-righteousness, Job was not being punished by Yah. He was being tormented by Satan, but Yahuwah wasn’t in any way “disciplining” or punishing him.

Dave: It is true, though, that sometimes trials do come from the Father.

Miles: So, how can you tell if it’s because of a sin—and you’re being punished—or if it’s just Yahuwah trying to teach you something?

Dave: The best way to know is to simply search your heart and examine yourself to see if you have any unconfessed sin. Are you doing something you know to be wrong? Are you, perhaps, holding a grudge against someone who’s wronged you?

We all know if we’re knowingly doing something wrong but when things go our way, it’s easy to ignore the fact that we know it’s wrong.

Sometimes trials are Yah’s way to lead us to repentance.

Miles: Well, He’s our father, after all. The opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s apathy. He wouldn’t discipline us if He didn’t love us.

Dave: Suffering can teach us important lessons. Did the Children of Israel “suffer” when they ran out of potable water or ran low on food?

Miles: Well, sure. It’s not fun to be hot, thirsty, and hungry with crying kids.

Dave: But their extremity was Yah’s opportunity. Every single time they came into difficulty, it was an opportunity to pray and ask for help.

And, as Yahuwah delivered them over, and over, and over again, their faith was to become stronger. Then, as they saw His deliverance, they would feel gratitude for His loving watch care, and gratitude awakens love. It’s a beautiful cycle of divine grace. And it’s always for our good, because He loves us.

Miles: This reminds me of something Peter said. Give me just a moment to look it up. It’s in 1 Peter, chapter 4, verses 12 to 13. He says:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

So, his point than, is reiterated in verse 14. It says: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of Yah rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.”

Dave: That’s encouraging. It says that even in the midst of suffering, Yah will still be with us and bless us. Trials aren’t fun, but they aren’t all bad, either. They can be used by Yah to get our attention and to refine us into His own image.

So. How do we know why we’re struggling? Is it chance? Just living in a sinful world? Is it Yah teaching us? Or are our own sins the reason for our suffering?

If you don’t know, prayerfully examine your heart for any unconfessed sin, or ask yourself if there’s someone in your life you’ve not forgiven. That’s where you start.

But I do want to add one more caution: sometimes we just have to hang on by faith anyway. There are things we won’t understand until we’re in the earth made new, but the promise is that when we finally do get there, Yahuwah Himself will comfort us and we shall never suffer again.

Miles: Amen. I want read Revelation 21, the first four verses really quickly. This is such a powerful promise to cling to when we’re going through trials and difficulties. It’s a promise we can claim.

It says:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Yah, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Yahuwah is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. Yahuwah Himself will be with them and be their Eloah. And Yahuwah will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

That’s all we’ve time for today, but keep sending us your questions and comments. We always enjoy hearing from you. Just go to WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We want to hear from you, too.

* * *Daily Promise

This is Elise O’Brien with your daily promise from Yah’s Word.

In 2000, Cornealious Anderson III robbed a fast food restaurant at gunpoint. He was arrested, tried and found guilty. The court sentenced him to 13 years in prison but released him on bail. He was told to go home and wait orders on when and where to go to serve his prison sentence.

The orders never came! Because of a clerical error, Anderson never went to prison.

Many people in his position would continue on to commit more crimes, but not Anderson. He made the decision to turn his life around. He started his own construction business. He also started giving back to the community. He became a youth football coach and spent time volunteering at his church.

Eventually, he got married and started a family. He was well liked and a respected member of his community.

No one would have known of his past except that 13 years later, around the time he originally would have been getting out of prison, the state discovered the error. Anderson was immediately arrested and put in prison.

News of Anderson’s story, his transformed life, and his arrest spread around the world. An online petition was started seeking his release. It received over 35,000 signatures.

Nearly a year after his arrest, Anderson appeared before a judge. The judge agreed that Anderson had indeed become a changed man and credited him for the years he should have been in prison. Just 10 minutes after the hearing started, Anderson was released, a free man.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Anderson told reporters how grateful he was to Yah for his release. The greatest miracle of all, however, was his transformed life, which began with a transformed heart.

In Deuteronomy 4, Moses warned that the Israelites would sin and turn away from Yah in the years ahead. The result would be their being taken into captivity into other lands. But they would not be abandoned. Moses assured them:

But from there you will seek Yahuwah your Eloah, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to Yahuwah your Eloah and obey His voice (for Yahuwah your Eloah is a merciful eloah), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. [Deuteronomy 4:29-31]

We all sin and “fall short of the glory of Yah.” [Romans 3:23] We’ve all made mistakes. We even make bad decisions that aren’t mistakes at all, but are still bad decisions.

Whatever your situation, whatever your past, Yahuwah still loves you. He is still willing to help you.

Turn to Him and begin anew to obey Him. “He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.”

We’ve been given great and precious promises. Go, and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: The really incredible truth of the gospel is that Yahuwah can and does save sinners while leaving their free will intact.

Dave: Well, I can see why people would be drawn to the doctrine of once saved, always saved. It does give you a sense of security.

Miles: I can see why they call it “eternal security.”

Dave: Certainly! What fallen human wouldn’t like to flout the law of Yah and yet still be assured of salvation?

But this assurance, this so-called “eternal security” comes at a high cost, and that’s free will. Yahuwah doesn’t want “mind slaves”!

Miles: If He did, He’d have created angels and humans without the ability to choose for themselves.

Dave: When Adam and Eve sinned, their wills became enslaved to Satan. That is the effect sin has upon the will. Always has, always will.

Yahushua dying on the cross did not dictate that every soul ever born will be saved. It doesn’t work like that. Revelation 20 makes it abundantly clear that some people will be lost.

Christ’s death on the cross did one thing: it provided atonement and offered forgiveness so that everyone could be given a second opportunity to choose whom to obey: Yah or Satan. It did not take away our right to choose all over again, forcing us to be saved whether we want to be or not.

What it did was guarantee our freedom of choice.

Miles: Yeah, Once saved, always saved takes away that freedom of choice.

But I can see why people would be drawn to this doctrine.

Dave: Oh, sure! There’s a reason why they call it “eternal security.”

Miles: So, what assurance does the believer have when this doctrine is rejected? I mean, “once saved, always saved” may not be Biblical, but we all want assurance. What assurance of salvation can believers have even though this doctrine is rejected?

Dave: The words of Yahuwah Himself. Remember: Every word that Christ spoke comes from the Father Himself. So, with this in mind, read John 6:37.

Miles: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out.”

Dave: Now, turn to Isaiah 55 and read verses six and seven. We discussed this chapter in an earlier broadcast. It’s a powerful passage.

Miles:

Seek Yahuwah while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to Yahuwah,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our Eloah,
For He will abundantly pardon. [Isaiah 55:6-7]

Dave: This is the word of the Almighty Himself assuring us that when we turn to Him, He will have mercy on us and “abundantly pardon” us!

To add even more assurance, the next passage tells us that the word of Yah itself contains the power to do what it says. He uses the illustration of how rain coming down from Heaven creates a reaction in the earth when plants grow and produce. Read verses 10 and 11 now.

Miles:

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. [Isaiah 55:10-11]

Dave: This is saying that divine power, the power that spoke the universe into existence, is contained in the very word of Yah. So, when you read 1 John 1:9—

Miles: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Dave: The power to fulfill that promise is contained in the words of the promise itself. That is where our confidence lies. That, and the infinite, exhaustless, matchless love of Yah. That is where our confidence lies. Not in ourselves. In Him.

Miles: I’m glad you said that, Dave. We all need to get to know the Father for ourselves. His character of love, as demonstrated through the life and death of the Saviour, is all the assurance any of us needs to know that He will do absolutely everything possible to save us. Everything but turn us into mind slaves.

He wants us to choose to serve Him freely because we love Him. And when we make that choice, that decision, He is our assurance. And that’s enough.

Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.