Product Description

This work provides a summary of biblical teaching. It reconsiders the phrase "Once saved, always saved" and challenges the reader to re-examine the security of his or her salvation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #220064 in Books
• Published on: 1996-11-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

Even Calvin Believed Christians Can Shipwreck Their Faith
Can a Christian lose his/her salvation? For centuries Christians have argued about this subject. David Pawson shows clearly from the Bible that living by faith is not based on a one-off decision but is to do with on-going 'faithful living'. This is a timely reminder for the complacent Christian. An excellent, if somewhat uncomfortable and challenging read!

Not the right book to read...!
The topic of once saved always saved is a brain teaser for many. David Pawson's book only adds to the confusion. Assurance IS a reality, but we need to find it from God, not from this book. It completely lacked in spirit inspired vigour and I had trouble staying awake. Read RT Kendalls book of the same title and you will find the 'dunamis' of the Spirit at work in it's pages. Do not completely neglect this book though, the combination of books will challenge you to find your assurance in God through personal revelation.

Arguing against strawmen
This book is possible more informative of the state of Evangelicalism in Britain than about the actual topic under discussion.

The fundamental problem of this book is that Rev Pawson argues against a strawman version of the Reformed Doctrine of 'Perserverance of the Saints'. There's some irony that this book was written at the same time as the Lordship Salvation debate was taking place in America, as the doctrine Pawson puts forward under the rubric of 'Once Saved, Always Saved' is closest to the 'Free Grace' position of Zane Hodges and others. In defending the Reformed position, John Macarthur and others have conclusive shown the difference between this and the doctrine that is the subject of this book.

Furthermore, Pawson exaggerates the differences between Calvin and Reformed Doctrine, and misunderstands the subtlety of Luthers arguments against Erasmus, nor does he seem to articulate clearly the place that santification and works have in Reformed soteriology.

Perhaps unwittingly, the book is more revealing of the rather wooly way in which British evangelicals can do theology - the opening scene where Pawson was rebuked in a fairly clumsy manner by his fellow speakers after laying out some of the ideas that make up this book. Thus it is mainly best seen as a historical study of the Church in Britain circa 1990, rather than as a serious theological tome on the place of works in salvation.