Once Saved, Always Saved

By R.T. Kendall

Book Overview

"R. T. Kendall is a dear friend with a deep love for the gospel and the ministry. His words are worth reading and taking to heart." --Ed Stetzer, author and president of LifeWay Research The Bible... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080246064X
• ISBN13: 9780802460646
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Moody Pub
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Beauty of the Scandalous Gospel

Kendall's book is a breath of fresh air to the current confusion over the message of the gospel today. Good reviews have already been written on Kendall's work, but I must say - more should be written. The book is thoroughly pastoral in its concern, yet engages with theological studies enough for Christians either be refreshed with its essential truths or reintroduced to the 'grace of the gospel'. For a non-Christian, this book is very helpful as an introduction to the 'gospel of grace'. Kendall, who essentially came out of an Arminian background, came to be convinced of his security in Christ a little later in his life. He began to understand that the Gospel was scandalous and was totally something he did not deserve or could not work for; either to earn or to keep. It is a promise that God has made to the believer in Christ and the promise is the His Son who has fully accomplished all we could not, and the Triune God is at work in the Christian and keeps the Christian by His grace, not losing one (John 6). The strengthens of this book are its pastoral care, it clarity in organization, its unwavering combating of unbiblical notions of conditional salvation-keeping, and its understanding that grace is essential and primary for the growth of the Christian. Grace (meaning what God has done for us as well as works and wills in us), is the focus-point for a believer's growth in the daily walk. Kendall does a masterful job of teaching this treasure trove of truth to every level of reader. His pastoral skill and aptitude shine through this work, as in so many of his others. Kendall has an excellent chapter on the 'Judgment Seat of Christ' where the believer receives rewards, sections on the 'active faith' of our Lord Jesus (especially in Galatians), 'assurance' in the Christian Life, and solid expressions on how faith in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is to be the single thread throughout every Christian's life for victory over sin. I applaud him for his clarity and his ability to express these truths so succinctly. Truly, a book like this is the result of a lifetime of work at his craft and calling. With this being said, I do have some small disagreements, though mostly within his use of Rom. 10:9, 10 to summarize/understand *only* justification. Kendall's use of the word 'confess' in its relationship to 'faith' is, at times, strained, especially in his central use of Rom. 10:9, 10 as the message of `justification salvation'. I agree with him that Romans 10:9 is a 'summary' passage of the gospel. But to try to make this verse, along with verse 10, encapsulate justification *only* misses the point Paul seems to be making, both in his immediate context in chapter 10, and in his *entire* argument throughout Romans - a deliverance from God's 'Present Wrath' on sin (Rom. 1:16-20). This deliverance can be seen in many different facets from Paul, though all these related in God's over-arching plan of redemption for His people. The point Paul

Beautiful, deeply truth-filled book!

I have believed in eternal salvation for a long time but it is very hard to find books about the subject. So many evangelical and Protestant churches teach that Christians can "lose" their salvation. What a terrible thing to teach people when it is not true! This book reminds us that God gives the gift, the Holy Spirit guides us, and Christ redeems us for all eternity. A message that needs to be restored to the church during these uncertain times.

He shall lose none...

The below reviewer obviously does not agree with Jesus that He should lose none that the father gave Him (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.) and that none shall be able to pluck His out of His hand ( John 10:28- And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) Was Jesus not telling the truth?

Once Saved, Always Saved

This book was definitely a highlight of my Christian experience. What a freedom to understand what God's grace really is--and is not, i.e., freedom to know God, not freedom to sin. This presentation of the Gospel walks right down the middle of Calvinism and Arminianism and sets the captive free--free to rest in God's unmerited favor, freely given, never to be taken away. Who wouldn't want to know and love and serve a God like that? Thank you, R.T. Kendall, for this wonderful book! I hope they reprint it soon!