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Author	: Bill Kochman
Publish	: Oct. 13, 2025
Update	: Oct. 13, 2025
Parts	: 01

Synopsis:



Over my past fourteen plus years as a regular participant on many of the social networks, I have occasionally come across certain Christians who reject the OSAS -- that is to say, Once Saved, Always Saved -- doctrine. If you don't know what the OSAS doctrine teaches, then I encourage you to read my two companion articles entitled "OSAS: Are We Once Saved, Always Saved?" and "OSAS: The Hebrews 10:26-27 Controversy".

But what has consistently bothered me concerning these Christian brethren is not just the fact that they outright reject the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine. Sadly, no, my friends; it is more than that. What has particularly irked me is the fact that these people claim that OSAS supporters -- which includes myself -- embrace what these OSAS detractors refer to as the "License to Sin" doctrine. In the simplest of terms, according the OSAS detractors at least, this doctrine claims that because OSAS supporters embrace the belief that we cannot lose our Salvation no matter what we do, we seem to have this type of "license to sin" attitude.

In other words, OSAS rejectors claim -- and in fact, insist rather strongly in some cases -- that OSAS supporters hold the view that we can do whatever we want, and we can sin as much as we want, because we remain saved no matter what. In short, the OSAS detractors would have you believe that OSAS supporters believe that there is no accountability for sin, once we are saved. They seem to paint it as some kind of a free-for-all game. "Go ahead and live and sin like hell, but it does not matter, because Jesus has already got you fully covered."

Now, to be honest, I don't really know who started this lie, or where this vicious rumor began. However, I can say with absolute certainty that this despicable rumor is definitely not true. Furthermore, I can testify to the fact that I have personally never met a single Bible-believing Christian who embraces this devilish doctrine, and much less promotes it with others. Not a single one!

In my own life and ministry, I have long believed and taught that there are consequences for sin, both in this life, as well as in the Hereafter. To be clear, just because we are sealed with God's Holy Spirit of promise for eternity does NOT mean that we are free to willfully sin as we please, as these OSAS detractors seem to insist. The fact of the matter is that if we step out of line, being the good Father that He is, the Lord will most assuredly deal with us about it. Furthermore, depending on the specific nature of the sin we commit, and the severity of it, He may chastise us rather harshly.

This is in fact a subject which I have amply discussed many times before in other Bill's Bible Basics articles, which you will find listed at the end of this same article. Simply click or tap on the link to be taken to each one of them. Being as I amply discuss this subject in so many other of my articles, I really don't want to become too redundant here. Thus, allow me to share just a few of my favorite verses regarding this particular issue:

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."


Please notice what the final verses state. When God finds it necessary to deal with us, and to give us a good spank, He does NOT do it so that we will become discouraged to such a degree that we will simply give up and abandon our faith. To the contrary, His primary goal is to motivate repentance in us, so that we can be healed and restored to our fellowship with Him. Chastisement is simply to purge us of our willful rebellion, so that we will once again become a vessel which is fit for the Master's use.

So as I hope you can plainly see, this vile "License to Sin" doctrine is utterly false. Being saved for eternity thanks to our faith in the precious Sacrifice of Jesus Christ most certainly does NOT give any of us the green light to just sin away as we so please. There will indeed be consequences, and very serious ones at that. As I said, if we step out of line too far, precisely because God loves us, and wants to restore us to the path of righteousness, He will swat us down if He deems it necessary and appropriate. As we also read in the Book of Proverbs:

"Open rebuke is better than secret love."


What I find interesting about this is the fact that many Bible-knowledgeable Christians are quite familiar with the previous set of verses from the Epistle to the Hebrews. So that is why I am even more personally convinced that they would never promote the "License to Sin" doctrine as some OSAS detractors try to insist. Yes, there may possibly be a few misguided Christians who really teach such a misguided doctrine. However, as I already stated, personally, I have never met or conversed with any of them.

While I may not know precisely where the "License to Sin" doctrine began -- because I have yet to conduct any amount of research regarding the issue -- I do have an inkling of an idea which is just my personal speculation. That being the case, you may agree or disagree with it as you feel led. You see, each time that I have come across an online social network post where an anti-OSAS individual brings up the "License to Sin" doctrine, for some reason, I have gotten the distinct impression that they already know that what they are saying is simply not true. In fact, I sometimes wonder if the "License to Sin" doctrine did not actually originate within the anti-OSAS camp itself. So does this possibility surprise you?

If there is any truth to this idea, exactly why would they do it? Well, my thought is fanaticism. If you have ever come across any of these anti-OSAS individuals in real life, or at least read some of their online posts, then you may already know that some of them are real hate-filled extremists. They are fanatics and doctrinal pharisees. If they discover that you hold to a pro-OSAS position, they will immediately cut you down and condemn you on the spot! They will accuse you of preaching a doctrine of devils, and just about damn you to Hell!

I am not kidding. I've seen some of these legalistic people treating their fellow Christian brethren in this despicable fashion. But personally, I choose to stay out of it. I won't engage them, even if I realize that they are wrong. If you are wondering why I have adopted this position, then may I suggest that you read my two-part articled entitled "Should Christians Engage in Doctrinal Debates?".

So you see, my observation is that even if they already know that the "License to Sin" doctrine is not even true or real, nevertheless, they will STILL try to use it against you. They don't care if you really don't believe in it. They don't care if it is not real. They'll STILL use the doctrine as a launch pad or springboard to initiate an attack against you, because it is a very powerful weapon in their armory which can have a profound effect on you, or on others around you. If they can use it to mark you so that other Christians will avoid you, then they have accomplished their goal, all based on a lie. Do you understand what I am saying here?

I believe that another reason why such legalists promote the aforementioned lie, is because they want to intimidate you, so that they can then try to force their own beliefs on you. In other words, their belief that Once Saved, Always Saved is not a true Christian doctrine. They'll accuse you falsely by saying that you embrace the "License to Sin" doctrine, and then they will turn around and try to poke holes in OSAS, as they endeavor to convince you that OSAS is not true. In my view, that seems to the modus operandi of some of them.

So those are my personal thoughts regarding this matter. As I said earlier, you can agree or disagree as you feel led. But whatever the case may be, I do hope that I have given you a few things to think about.

With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you've found it informative and enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

A Discussion Regarding Philippians 2:12
Age of Accountability and Parental and Divine Discipline
Are Personal Tragedies Due to Sin?
Are You Saved and Sealed and Healed and Filled?
Backsliding, Divine Chastisement and the Divine Agreement
Beholding the Evil and the Good
Do You Want Love and Light, or Rod and Wrath?
Does God Cause Natural Disasters?
Hurricane Katrina and Other Natural Disasters
Love, Mercy, Forgiveness and Chastisement
Message to the World
OSAS: Are We Once Saved, Always Saved?
OSAS: The Hebrews 10:26-27 Controversy
Should Christians Engage in Doctrinal Debates?
Striving for Perfection: Are You a Sinless Saint?
The Fruits of Disobedience

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