I too believe in OSAS just as Brother Robert so beautifully explained it... Did Christ say that he saved all the Father gave him?... No more, no less?... Some say I believe that but?... BUT WHAT?... IMHO... Throw in the BUT and you kick ALL Gods Redeeming Grace out of it!... Brother Glen:)
Hi Lorider 618, this response addresses your opening post, I did not read the follow-on posts.
One of the claims made is that if we "save ourselves" then we can "walk away from our salvation."
However if we do not save ourselves, but God alone transfers us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, then we would not be able to transfer ourselves back out of the kingdom.
John 6:37 says all that the Father gives Me, I will never cast out;.
So the idea that once you are transferred into Christ, you will remain always in Christ has scriptural support.
But what about all those verses that say we must continue or endure to the end?
If a person professes Christ, but God does not credit their faith as righteousness, then God does not give them to Christ, so they thought they were saved but actually were never saved.
As Matthew 13 teaches these fall away.
So enduring to the end is proof of salvation but does not provide salvation.
Another set of verses used to support the concept of loss of salvation actually refer to loss of our rewards.
Once saved, we are a new creation created for good works.
If our ministry for Christ produces fruit, we will enter heaven "abundantly" (with rewards) but if we have built on the foundation of Christ with straw and wood, those deeds will be "burned" and we will enter heaven as one escaping a fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15)
But note, while loss of rewards is a form of loss of a facet of salvation, remaining in Christ is not endangered.
Finally, what about those who professed faith in Christ, but then in a few weeks, months or years, fall away?
First they were never saved, and second if we are transferred into Christ, we are kept as in a cell, we cannot escape from the grip of God.
1 Peter 1:3-5 says God protects us through faith, so if we are actually born anew, our faith in protected by the power of God.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
What I would say is that Christ had not eternally redeemed the disciples at the time of this statement, so I do not see this as a relevant, or accurate statement in regards to Eternal Security.
I don't know what happened to OP either but the scripture I was thinking of was John 6:38 but the ones you quoted are good too... Did you want to get it going again?... Brother Glen:)
Nothing I have ever said implies men can save themselves. Again, you post something that not only doesn't contribute to the discussion, you imply heresy on my part.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Yes, both speak of the same teaching of Scripture.
OSAS has gotten a bad rap primarily because of the false argument that it is taught as license to sin. Meaning, "One can sin after saved and no matter what they do they will still go to Heaven." That is true, because all will sin after salvation, but, the impact of the indwelling of God helps us to understand sin better, and we usually have hearts which are grieved when we sin against God.