Well he was right in one thing...salvation is a free gift from God, but he was very incorrect in saying that he did nothing to obtain it. If he really did nothing, I would say that he is not saved. You see the gospel does not say anywhere that we do nothing to obtain it, for if that was the case, then everyone in the world would be saved and we know that is not true.
To become and be a Christian,
First, we by our own will must accept Christ into our heart, something we must do on our own.
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him. (John 3:36 [NET])
This as you can see "the one who believes and the one who rejects" indicates something we have to do.
Second, is we must repent.
Jesus said, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well! (Luke 13:3 [NET])
Third, we have to take up our cross daily and follow Christ
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt 16:24 [NET])
Forth, we must keep His keep His commandment.
Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt 19:17 [NET])
Fifth, we must forgive
But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. (Matt 6:15 [NET])
Sixth, you must not love the world or the things of the world
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15 [KJV])
Seventh, you MUST love God with all your heart mind and soul and Love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.(Matt 22:37-40 [KJV])
As you can see, I did not make up any of these, they came directly for the Bible.
To say that all you do is accept Christ and you are a Christian without any commitment or obligation on our part, is a complete misrepresentation of the Gospel.
To say that we can say some prayer of acceptance of Christ into our lives, and we forever more are sealed and secure in our salvation and nothing we can do will allow us to loose it, is just not true. Many people will end up in hell believing this partial truth.
Why would there be so many warnings in the Bible warning us not to sin, such as when Jesus warned that it would be better to pluck out your eye or remove any part of your body that continued to cause you to sin.
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Matt 5:29 [KJV])
Unrepentant SIN does and always will, keep you out of the Kingdom of God, I do not care how saved you claim to be. If you confess your sins, He is faithful to forgive us of all of our sins and to wash us from all our iniquity. If you do not confess and forsake them He will not forgive you your sins. You must turn away and forsake them
Many have a incorrect understanding of Grace. Grace is the ability that God has given to be able to repent and be totally forgive. Grace is not the ability or licenses to continue in unrepentant sin.
Once Saved Always Saved is a false doctrine that I believe is a tool of satin, and will cause many people to live in sin, thinking that as long as I can make it to heaven I will enjoy myself now.
Many well meaning Christians, like the preacher today I believe, have not thought this out correctly and need to take a look at the Words of Jesus.
The Bible does say that if you are truly walking a righteous life not living in sin, abiding in Christ you are secure in your salvation and no man can pluck you out of the hands of God.
