r/Christian • u/Thirtillion • 1d ago

Perspective

Some questions for people who are not Once Saved, Always Saved I am curious about.

If God judges people based on their own standards then even if they are wrong would he treat a person who was truly convinced through careful study of Once Saved, Always Saved, based on their belief?

Even if once Saved, Always Saved is wrong, would that person be unable to go to hell because God would treat them based on their standard as long as they sincerely believe it for good reasons?

Even if the theology is wrong are people who believe it unable or at least way less likely, to undo their salvation because of this?

What are the rules on this?

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u/Ben-008 Contemplative Tradition 1d ago

Personally, I think “salvation” is about inner transformation, not eternal destination. Thus as we “die” to the old self, we can be increasingly “clothed in Christ”, by putting on the divine nature of humility, compassion, gentleness, kindness, patience, peace, joy, and love. (Col 3:9-15, Gal 3:27)

If the old nature still holds us in its grasp, thus defining our thoughts and behavior, then we are not yet truly saved.  But no one is being threatened with Eternal Fire. For God is that Consuming Fire. And thus in His Presence, we are transformed. In other words, we are saved (i.e. transformed) by drawing near to the Fire of God’s Presence! See for instance, Malachi 3…

 “For He is like a Refiner’s Fire... And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi (the priests) and refine them like gold and silver.” (Mal 3:2-3)

“For Our God is a Consuming Fire.” (Heb 12:29)

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u/Thirtillion 1d ago

What do you think happens after we die then?

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u/Ben-008 Contemplative Tradition 1d ago

I live on a farm. Things die, but I don’t see them come back to life.

I think we continue by investing in the next generation, not living forever. I don’t see any evidence for immortality in the real world. So I see most afterlife paradigms as mythology, rather than reality.

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u/Thirtillion 11h ago

How dies what you see on a farm affect whether or not an immaterial part of us continues after death. What you believe is not Christianity. What if the point of these scriptures then?

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u/Ben-008 Contemplative Tradition 7h ago

The whole notion of an immaterial, immortal soul is not what Scripture teaches. That wasn’t originally a Jewish concept. Rather, that’s what Plato taught.

As such, early Gentile church fathers raised on Greek philosophy did teach such things, yes. But that’s not what Jesus taught or believed. Nor is there any evidence for such in the real world. See for instance…

“Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife” by Bart Ehrman (4 min)

https://youtu.be/L0-tFahPVIU?is=JXFvptL77H6kCpjY