[OBW]

I believe that "once saved always saved" is an overly simplistic slogan that does not properly reflect some portions of the scripture that we read. It has even been said that Calvin (the alleged source of Calvinism, the original OSAS doctrine) did not believe what is taught officially as Calvinism.

When I look at the official doctrine of Calvinism, then at the official doctrine of Arminianism, I see issues with both. Yet I find truth in both. Neither is total right or totally wrong.

I think that, to some degree, the problem lies in the use of the word "saved." In scripture, it refers to something that happens when you "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," and it also refers to something that you must spend your entire life endeavoring to work out with fear and trembling. And that latter version is not just "by grace alone." It requires work over the remainder of our lives. It requires a sober mind that is diligent and a will to go with it.

Sometimes I wish I had at least one of those.

So there may be some real serious theology buffs that may want to take this on. But suffice it to say that I find little cause to completely buy the teaching, but also no reason to simply reject it. The fortune-cookie approach to Bible exposition is what got us the competing doctrines in the first place, along with others like "trinity." I like that one, but I doubt that it is really that important to put so much thought into it or fight about nuanced versions of it. (Not even sure that Modalists are truly heretics that believe in a different Jesus.)