How can Christians say, "once saved always saved" when God says he will cut unproductive fruit from the tree?

Question

If the christian faith is all about grace and salvation and how it's not what we do but what Jesus did for us then why should we fear him? How can God cut branches from the tree that do not produce fruit if its not up to the individuals actions or even heart once they have been saved? If an individual is saved, i.e. accepted jesus into his heart, then is he at risk then of loosing it if he does not follow some standard? It seems to me that it is a serious contradiction.

Answer 1

The bible contains NO contridictions. I know, I know, try not to blink too hard. I said it. Salvation is eternal. John 3:16 says if we accept Jesus we have everlasting life. The bible totally supports that once Jesus was sacrificed all one had to do was accept, believe and confess, and they were be saved. Sadly, there are many false christians out there. Sadly, we all still sin. We have the Holy Spirit, yet we are still in the flesh. There are three types of sin, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life. Anyway, about the fig tree illustration. That appears in Matthew 21:17-21. The fig tree is a picture of Israel. He was speaking about the Jews not accepting him as Messiah. This can further represent a christian who does not live a righteous life and will not bear fruit. You know a chrisitan by his fruit. No fruit---not a chrisitan. The bible is the living word. There are many types and pictures that foreshaow or represent an event or person. Trees are often used to represent Israel. In the book of Matthew this tells of Jesus bringing his kingdom to the Jews. This ends in the Jews not accepting Jesus as Messiah. Matthew is a book written by a Jew for the Jews. In that light of tradition and culture, things come together and you see no contridictions. I wish I had the time or forum to explain more indepthly.

Answer 2

ok, well first of all Christians dont go around saying " once saved always saved" look, to answer your question a more better answer than mine, open the Bible or since you have internet, there are sites where you can read from the Bible. and also everyone should fear God because he can take your life away and it doesn't matter that you died, it matters where you go. If you ever turn your back on God and start to have doubt in his existance than God will cast you down, and you will go to Hell. Now if that is not a good of answer to tell you why you should fear God then I dont know what is. I hope you make the right the decision before its too late!

Answer 3

No...there are those that will follow the steps in front of man but do not accept in their hearts where man cannot see, but God sees. These are the unproductive trees. If you are a true Christian, there will be fruit. There has to be. A true Holy Spirit filled Christian cannot go a day without talking of God or Jesus.

Answer 4

Not all Christians believe the same thing... the Bible says that faith without works is dead, and indeed, that unfruitful branches will be cut from the tree. You must act like Christ-like because you cannot at some point be saved in your life and then do whatever you want from that point on. You are supposed to live your life in the image of Jesus and strive to be like Him. And whatever you do, whether good or bad, you will answer for on Judgement Day.

Answer 5

Many say that if someone, having claimed to have accepted Jesus as saviour, falls from grace and sins and otherwise fails to live a godly life and to repent, then the claim to salvation was fraudulent. The sinner being an apostate was never in fact saved.

But you are talking about just one branch of Christianity, evangelical Protestantism, for whom faith is all. Other branches look to works, just as they baptise at birth rather than at age of reason.

Answer 6

"Once saved, always saved" is a tenet of the Baptist Church that is 100% WRONG. Hebrews 6:4-6 says "for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentence; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." See, it's not a case of being saved and then "losing" it; what happens is that you received the gift of Salvation and then you reject it by turning your back on God. While it is true that we are saved by grace, that doesn't give us an excuse to go on sinning. Read Romans Chapter 6 for an explanation of how the grace of God should lead us to obedience.

Answer 7

I'm Christian,but I don't believe that. I think daily we have to struggle with sin and have to ask for forgiveness all the time.I don't fear God, but I respect His power, omniscience, His love for us(despite our shortcomings). He is merciful and I am living proof. I'm glad He's not human----because He would've gotten tired of me a long time ago. Just like anything in life---you get rid of the dead weight---if He finds that we are not learning the lessons He gives---no one is prospering from the lesson(the teacher or student). Yes, there is a standard to follow,but He knew that it wouldn't be easy for us to do it alone, that's why He sent His Son to be an example and gave us the Bible(BasicInstructionsBeforeLeavingEarth).

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I personally don't believe in once saved always saved. The Word does seem to contradict itself, but that's something we will never understand until the end of time.

Answer 9

"Once saved always saved" is not true. First of all there are many saved people who are going to hell. Being saved is not what gets you into heaven. Having the holy spirit is. A person can become saved on Sunday and lose it Monday. A person can become saved over and over again. Being saved only means that you believe that you are born again. After you become saved you have to receive the holy spirit; moreover, a person can also lose the holy spirit. Lucifer wasn't always the Devil.

Answer 10

I don't believe in "once saved, always saved" because the Apostle Paul said the we are all "apt to sin" and that "we die daily" meaning that even though we're Christian and have a relationship with God, we're still human and can be tempted. The only way "once saved always saved" applies is if we "mortify (kill) ye the deeds of the flesh" daily, petitioning God to help us be rid of lustful desires and temptations every day. It is the only way to be able to tell Satan "Get thee behind me" and KEEP HIM THERE!