Going to get a hairscut. Have you ever noticed words or phrases we use that we know what they mean, but they really don't "say" it correctly. For instance, let's examine haircut. I do realize that the grouping of hairs on the top of our head is referred to as our hair and therefore haircut is the term we use when we go to the barber (OK, I go to a barber if you wish you can call yours a stylist), but in all reality we have hairs cut and depending on the particular area of the head they are cut at differing lengths.To me "hairscut" is a much better term for describing what you get when you go to the barber or stylist.

Do you take care of your teeth on a daily basis? Brushing is essential to keeping Mr. Tooth decay away and as my dentist used to day - "Floss only the teeth you want to keep." Did you use a toothbrush today? Which tooth did you use it on? No, wait a minute, you can't use a toothbrush on anything more than one tooth. It is called a toothbrush. Can you imagine the crying and gnashing of teeth this question of which tooth to brush would cause across the nation? Kids would not get to school on time. Dad's would miss their commuter train. Mom's would be late to their aerobic class. All because of trying to make a rational choice on which tooth to brush today. I however have a very simple solution. Let me introduce to you the teethbrush. Problem solved.

"Once saved always saved" is a statement used as a simplification of the doctrine known as the "security of the the believer." I believe wholeheartedly in that doctrine which is based, in part, on two main scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"; and John 10: 28-29 - "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." The bottom line is: if we have been saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit through God's grace, which was manifested in the blood of Jesus shed for all sinners, then we will be saved forever. Since we didn't do anything to earn it, we can't do anything to lose it. True believers are secure in their salvation past, present, and future.

Just like the terms "haircut" and "toothbrush" expounded on earlier, I think "once saved always saved" has, for many, given us the wrong picture of the impact and influence The Gospel (The Good News of Jesus) should have on our daily lives. Hang on...I'm getting there. Where "haircut" doesn't take into account all of the hairs and "toothbrush" doesn't take into account all of the teeth, "once saved...." doesn't take into account the impact God's marvelous act of grace should have on each of us every moment of every day. Because of that short phraseology many who have had a true salvation experience in the past have "left" that life-changing encounter with God and closed the chapter on their salvation. "Been there done that." "Fire insurance policy signed sealed and delivered." That by no means is what God intended with this free gift. It was instead given for building a growing, maturing relationship with the one and only Holy God. It was to draw us to Him on a daily basis. It was intended that we might adore Him, exalt HIm, and cherish Him.

So, what do we do? Milton Vincent says we should "preach The Gospel to ourselves daily. We need to remind ourselves, relive that day, expand our grasp fo the truth, meditate on the riches of the Gospel every day. In doing that, we grow to love God with all our heart, mind, sould and strength. We begin to treasure Jesus more than anything else in this life. We live in a constant state of thankfulness and gratetude for what God has done for us. "Once saved always saved" becomes not a one time event but an all-the-time awareness.

Richard