OSAS

ONCE SAVED, ALWASY SAVED

The doctrine of Once Saved, Always Saved is a common teaching in some Protestant circles, especially within Calvinism and certain Baptist traditions. It claims that once a person is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation, no matter what they do afterward. However, from a Messianic Jewish and Biblical perspective, this doctrine is incomplete and misleading. The Scriptures strongly emphasize faithfulness, perseverance, and the possibility of falling away.  Let's break this down clearly.

Why "Once Saved, Always Saved'' is Biblically Problematic.

1. Salvation is a Covenant, not a Transaction. 

Salvation is not a one-time event, but a relationship rooted in covenant faithfulness. Like Israel's covenant at Sinai, remaining in right standing requires obedience, not just belief (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 30:15-20). 

2. Numerous Warnings About Falling Away.

Hebrews 6:4-6, Those who were enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift can still fall away and be impossible to restore. 

Hebrews 10:26-27, Willful sin after receiving the truth brings a fearful expectation of judgment. 

1 Corinthians 10:12, ''Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.'' 

Romans 11:22, ''Behold the kindness and severity of God... you will be cut off if you do not continue in His kindness.'' 

2 Peter 2:20-22, if someone escapes sin through Yeshua but returns to it, their end is worse than the beginning. 

Matthew 24:13, Yeshua says: "He who endures to the end shall be saved.'' 

3. Salvation Can Be Forfeited by Unbelief and Disobedience. 

Paul warns the God-fearing Gentiles in Romans 11 not to become arrogant. They were ''grafted in'' by faith but can be cut off if they do not continue in that faith. 

Like the Israelites who perished in the wilderness despite being ''redeemed'' from Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:1-12), believers must walk in faith and obedience to inherit the promise. 

4. Faith Is Ongoing, Not Past-Tense.

The Greek verb for ''believe'' (πιστεύω) is present tense, implying continuous trust in Messiah, not a one-time confession. Yeshua Himself says: "Abide in Me.. every branch in Me that does not bear fruit is taken away'' (John 15:1-6). 

5. The Apostolic Writings and Early Church Did Not Teach OSAS. 

James writes: "Faith without works is dead'' (James 2:17). 

Paul says: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling'' (Philippians 2:12).

The Didache and early Messianic Jewish texts warn believers against turning back to sin and false security. 

Salvation is a gift by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it requires ongoing loyalty to God and Messiah. Like marriage, it begins with covenantal love but requires daily faithfulness to endure. A person can choose to reject that covenant, by rebellion, idolatry, or apostasy. 

Revelation 3:5: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.'' 

Once saved, always saved offers false comfort disconnected from the warnings of Scripture. True assurance comes not from a one-time prayer, but from a life of faith, repentance, and obedience, empowered by the Holy Spirit and anchored in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). 

MATTHEW 25:31-46, THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS.

Matthew 25:31-46 is one of the clearest teachings from Yeshua showing that how we treat others, is a salvation issue, and that neglecting acts of righteousness and compassion (Tzedakah) can result in eternal separation from God. 

In this passage, Yeshua (Jesus) describes the final judgment when He returns in glory. All nations are gathered before Him, and He separates people into two groups, sheep (on His right) and goats (on His left). 

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me food. I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink. I was stranger, and you took Me in. Naked, and you clothed Me. Sick, and you visited Me. In prison, and you came to Me.'' (Matthew 25:35-36).

This is not merely about charity, it's about Tzedakah in the Biblical sense: righteous justice rooted in covenantal responsibility. 

SALVATION BASED ON TZEDAKAH (RIGHTEOUS ACTION). 

Sheep (righteous) - Did acts of mercy and justice to "the least of these.'' They receive eternal life. 

Goats (wicked) - Failed to do those acts. Go into eternal punishment. No once saved, always saved. 

Yeshua identifies Himself with the poor, sick, imprisoned, and stranger, saying: "As you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.'' 

Why this is a salvation issue. 

1. Neglect of Tzedakah leads to judgment:

The ''goats'' are not judged for what they did, but for what they failed to do, sins of omission. Their neglect of human need is treated as rejection of Messiah Himself. No once saved, always saved. 

Yeshua taught that ''every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.'' (Matthew 7:19).

Faith must produce evidence, not legalism, but living Torah through love and justice. 

Isaiah 58:6-7: "Is not this the fast that I choose... to share your bread with the hungry?"

Ezekiel 16:49: "This was the sin of Sodom... she did not help the poor and needy.'' 

Deuteronomy 15:7-11: God commands Israel to care for the poor, or else face His displeasure. 

Matthew 25 demonstrates covenant loyalty through acts of justice and compassion = eternal life. Neglect justice and mercy = eternal punishment. 

Matthew 25:31-46 powerfully debunks ''Once Saved, Always Saved'' by teaching that final salvation is based not just on a past confession of faith, but on a life of active righteousness, compassion, and faithfulness, what the Torah calls Tzedakah. 

The Goats Call Him ''Lord''

These people recognize Yeshua as Lord. They assumed they had eternal security. But they are rejected, not because they lacked belief, but because they failed to live out their faith through Tzedakah. This parallels Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom.'' 

Yeshua identifies personally with the poor, the sick, the imprisoned. To neglect them is to neglect Him, proving that one's faith was dead and false. If salvation were irrevocable, this judgment wouldn't make sense. 

Yeshua (Jesus) does not say: "You believed once, so you're safe.'' He says: "You either did or did not care for Me, and that determines your eternal destiny.'' 

Ezekiel 18:24 "If a righteous man turns from his righteousness... he shall die in his sin.'' There is no once saved, always saved. 

Summary

OSAS says: You cannot lose salvation once you're saved. 

Yeshua says: You can call Me 'Lord' and still be cast out if you do not do the will of My Father. Therefore: salvation requires enduring faithfulness, lived out in acts of righteousness. Neglecting that path, even if one once believed, can lead to eternal separation.