Is the doctrine of once in grace always in grace a Bible doctrine? If a man is truly converted, will he fall away forever? D.
There is no such Bible doctrine; it is a part of the theology of men. Take one instance in reply to the latter question. When Saul was anointed king, and yielded himself to God, God converted him, as Samuel predicted he would do. Here is prediction and fulfilment: “The Spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon thee, and thou . . . shalt be turned into another man.” “And it was so, that, when he turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart.” See 1 Sam. 10:6-9. But Saul, tho once in grace, and possessing a new heart, even being counted among the prophets, fell from grace; God departed from him; and he died because of his intercourse with familiar spirits. Read 1 Sam. 28:3-7; 1 Chron. 10:13, 14. To keep us from this, note the following instructions from the Word: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:14. “For we are made partakers with Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Heb. 3:14. “By which [the Gospel] also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory [“if ye hold fast,” margin] what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:2. This last is to them who “stand” in the Gospel. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9:27. We may rebel and refuse to go forward right on the very border of the Promised Land.