I attended a non-denominational prayer meeting last Friday. It was a wonderful prayer meeting at first. When they learned that I was an Adventist, however, the scene changed. They literally assumed that I was "a deceiver and an antichrist," (2 John 7), and they accused me of "infiltrating" their church.





How the scene changed from a warm, friendly environment to a hostile one! God helped me to remain calm and speak in a "soft voice," which "turneth away wrath," (Pr. 15:1). I was astonished and told them that I just saw their sign outside inviting anyone to join their prayer meeting and came! I hadn't shared anything. I simply craved prayer. Their reaction was outrageous. I try to understand--they are afraid of others that believe differently.


One man grilled me on his idea of "once-saved-always-saved," and when I softly answered with a simple Bible text (Mat. 24:13), and affirmed that we certainly have the choice to accept salvation or to reject it--though it be a free gift--he became incensed and began to argue his point with a raised voice. I did not come to have such a conversation and I didn't want to justify their accusation, so I answered passively.


He then brought up his idea of eternal burning hellfire and asked me about that, to which I simply responded with John 3:16--those that reject Christ will "perish,"--that is, cease to exist. Well, he wouldn't have that! When I realized that they would not accept my simple honesty that I simply came to pray, I stood up, walked to the door, thanked them for praying for me, and walked out.

I have thought a lot about this experience. It was pretty intense. There are many lessons. I was alarmed at how uncomfortable they were to have a Christian of another denomination in their midst.

The two doctrines the man shared are very concerning.

Once-saved-always-saved is the idea that once we accept salvation we cannot lose it. If we reject God we're still stuck with salvation. Already the logic begins to unravel.

The man emphasized two texts to support the idea--John 10:28, 29 (Nothing is able to pluck us out of God's hand), and Rom. 6:23 (The gift of God is eternal life).

These both may be answered in numerous ways.

Salvation is a daily choice and experience (Joshua 24:15). Our sins (transgressions of the law of God--1 John 3:4), separate us from our heavenly Father (Is. 59:2).

These points address the first text and relate that we may pluck ourselves out of God's hand. If we accept Christ and then reject Him later on in life, will God become a monster and clench us in a vice-grip, not giving us the freedom to lose salvation? No, He will permit us to choose what we will. The Great Controversy that we live in revolves around CHOICE. The power of choice polarizes the world into two groups in the last days--those that receive the seal of God and those that receive the mark of the beast.

The second point--that eternal life is a gift that cannot be rejected after accepted--is another point that is in itself illogical. A gift may be free but why can I not return it or dispose of it? If I cannot reject it, does it not become--not free--but forced?

Here are some general texts and points against the concept of OSAS.

Mt. 24:13--Declares that only those that "endure unto the end will be saved."

2 Peter 2:20-22--Is a direct question revealing that man, as a dog returns to his vomit, may return to his former sins and reject salvation. His latter end is worse because he is now more hardened to the convictions of sin brought on by the Holy Spirit.


Eternal burning hellfire is the most monstrous attack on the very character and nature of God the Devil has ever concocted. Let's call a spade a spade. It is the idea that sinners will literally burn for ever in the fires of hell.This doctrine is built on another false and dangerous doctrine--the immortality of the soul (I'll write another blog on this point).

However, the Bible speaks of the wicked shall be burned up and be "ashes" under the feet of the righteous (see Malachi 4:1, 3). This language is wonderfully plain. However, there are many, many more plain texts.


Psalm 37:9  For evildoers shall be cut off (literally: Utterly destroyed): but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:10  For yet a little while (their time in hellfire), and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Psalm 37:20  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

I'll blog more on objection texts that are given  to support the idea of an eternally burning hell. The Bible wonderfully explains itself.