Posted on Sept. 10, 2025, 10:07 a.m. by Rev. Shobayo Kayode. The Gospel Study Centre
There is no doubt that the way and manner professing Christians deliberately compete with the world as expressed in their behaviors in the present dispensation is contrary to the tenet of the Gospel and should be a concern to the body of Christ. The worrisome behaviors could be because of so many factors including the misinterpretation and misconception of the “Once saved, always saved” slogan. It is true that Salvation is eternal, one does not lose it once one becomes a genuine believer of Jesus Christ, (John.10:28-29) which the ‘once saved, always saved’ slogan is trying to teach. However, it has become necessary and important to teach also that the fact that one is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is not a liberty to continue in sin. "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love to others." (Gal.5:13) Salvation is not merely a one-time experience, therefore saving faith is not enough, but continuing in faith is the action that can save to the end. (Heb,3:14) The scripture makes it known that if there is no progression in faith, it can lead to the point that one will abandon the faith, disown Christ and not be able to come to repentance, (Heb,6:4-6) The Bible explains thus: “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” (Ezekiel.18:24) It simply implies that there is consequence when a righteous man turns away to iniquity. Turning away from his righteousness means turning away from the righteousness of Jesus Christ, because man's own righteousness cannot atone for his sins. Apostle Peter put the message across, thus “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 in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” He says further that it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness. He concluded by describing them as a dog that returns to its own vomit. (2 Peter.2:20-22) Dear brethren, while the Lord does not have pleasure in the death of one who dies, (Ezekiel.18:32) He is saying, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. (Ezekiel.18:31a) Shalom Evangelism True submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ gives a new heart and a new spirit to repent and turn from all transgressions. Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre
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