Greetings to you Dan in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It has been a while since we have last crossed swords (i.e., the battle we fight in using God’s Holy Word).
I hope you are doing well and may all manner of good things from Jesus Christ be upon you and your family (even if we strongly disagree on this topic).
In any event, to get down to the business at hand:
Well, I am not looking to throw down any hammer of judgment on anyone specifically
alone. Meaning, I don’t’ set out to attack people and make it solely about them alone without it not relating to the argument or belief. I also strive not to make this my usual order of business, either. That’s not my game plan or how my mind works. I seek to love everyone, even my enemies (Granted, people have a funny idea about what they think love is according to the Bible). Anyway, my ultimate goal is to attack the wrong belief here and not the solely the individual. Granted, while one OSAS believer here claimed to not commit sins that are worthy of death, I had to challenge them on their belief. It was not so much about them personally really. I would prefer that they not tell me anything personal about their life at all. My goal was to show the inconsistencies in their own argument or belief in light of God’s Word. I never set out to make it personal unless somebody boasts about their conduct in light of their belief that is incorrect or immoral. I get no drug rush or satisfaction in trying to uplift myself over another. I am nothing. Christ is everything. We are dealing ultimately here with what we believe is the biblical belief here. Is salvation conditional or unconditional? That is the argument and where it should be primarily. This debate does not rest solely on any one believer and their life. We should say, ”For what saith the scripture?” as Romans 4:3 says. Yes, yes. I know. Romans 4:3-5 is dealing with what you believe refutes my belief. But from my perspective and understanding on Scripture this is clearly dealing with Initial Salvation and not the Secondary Aspect of Salvation (The second washing - Leviticus 13:58).
“Holier than thou” is an interesting phrase from the Word of God. There are actually 200 plus idiomatic phrases like this that were popularized by the King James Bible. I have been doing a study on these phrases found in the KJB, and it is quite eye opening to say the least.
In any case, Isaiah 65:5 has this phrase “Holier than thou” which is an idiom used today by even unbelievers.
But what is interesting is that this phrase was not said in context to a person who is seeking to obey God’s commands. In context, it was said of those who worshiped false idols and who broke the dietary laws of God. Okay. So now that we understand the context of Isaiah 65:5 and how it was used, you should understand that am not here advocating disobedience to God. However, I believe the OSAS position is for doing just that, though. They believe they can sin and still be saved all because they have a belief on Jesus as their Savior.
Titus 2:11-12 says God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world.
But in the OSAS belief, it turns God’s grace into a license for immorality or lasciviousness (Jude 1:4).
Isaiah 26:10 (NKJV) “Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.”
I 100% agree with Luke 18:9-14. It is a poignant and powerful parable on warning us believers of the dangers of self righteousness and denying God’s grace or allowing His grace to shine.
There are some believers out there who would fit this description. For example: Adam at “
Abide in the Word YouTube Channel“ would fit the description of this belief if I am understanding his belief correctly (From the few videos I have seen from him). if I am correct on understanding his belief, it appears like he does not believe like I do in the fact that we are initially saved by God’s grace through faith without works. So we are saved by a belief alone, but is only when we are initially saved. God’s grace (and not works) is also foundational to our salvation because if we slip up into a sin on rare occasion, we do not go out to do a good work to absolve that sin. But we can confess of our sins to the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven of sin according to 1 John 1:9, and 1 John 2:1. Let us boldly come to the throne of grace indeed. But the Pharisee made it all about Works and no grace whatsoever. He thought he was better than the one who was saved by God’s grace. But keep in mind this grace has to align with the grace in Titus 2:11-12, and not the false version of grace as shown in Jude 1:4.
The Pharisee also needed to learn the lesson that he is nothing and it was God who ultimately does the good work in Him and that without God He could do nothing. All praise should go to the Lord for any good done in his life. God is the One who makes us truly stand or fall. It is not solely our strength and power, but it is the Lord’s strength and power to do what is good and right.
But nowhere is this parable a defense for OSAS which leads men to think they can sin and still be saved. Yes, men can be in sin. When we first came to the Lord, our old life was one of sin. Yes, believers can stumble into sin on rare occasion, but they can go to God’s grace By confessing their sins and forsaking them and not say, I am saved even if I don’t confess or forsake these sins. I am already saved despite my being in sin. That’s not what the Parable is teaching. We see the Tax Collector seeking forgiveness of his sin with the Lord and not justifying that sin.
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
No doubt about it.
But we must also understand that one can be proud by not agreeing with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, though.
1 Timothy 6:3-4
”If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing,…”
I hope this helps, and may you be well.
With loving kindness to you in Christ,
Sincerely,
A mere bible highlighter.
And may Jesus get all the glory.