There is one amongst us that does a blasphemous thing and she must be exposed. She is guilty of watering down juice (somewhat tolerable) and sweat tea (an unjustifiable crime). I hereby publicly rebuke thee Michelle.
How much can you water down sweet tea so that it is no longer sweat tea? What about Kool-Aid? Kool-Aid is a vile substance when properly made, but water down, it is the Satan of beverages. One might be technical and say that is no longer kool-aid when the additional water molecules outnumber the proper Kool-Aid/sugar/water mixture; I don’t think any such technical definition will pass upon a taste test.
I think there has been a watering down of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. This can be seen in the terminology prominently used to designate the doctrine. We degenerated from talking about the final perseverance of the saints, to preservation of the saints to security of the believer to the cliché “once saved always saved”. It’s not that there is untruth in the latter terminology, just less truth. It is perfectly fine to talk about the security of the believer, but if this is all that is strictly discussed, the truth has been greatly watered-down, and like Kool-Aid, it should cause the true Christian to retch.
What is the difference? When “once saved always saved”, absent the idea of perseverance is applauded one may come to Christ only for fire insurance. “I did what was required and no more,” if not a blatant declaration is the functional proclamation of many lives that recite this cliché. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints has as its corollary that the saints are the ones that persevere. True saints indicate that they are saints, and they take no comfort in having done certain actions such as saying a specific prayer. Rather they find their comfort in fruit that can only be a result of God’s saving and sanctifying grace. One does not work to finally achieve salvation, rather true salvation is a salvation that works, a salvation that bears fruit.
The question is not one of the retention of salvation based upon the persistence of faith, but possession of salvation as evidenced by a continuation of faith. – Alistair Begg
No Other Boast 
Michelle ought to try watering down DP then maybe it wouldn’t be so tempting…
As for your (Josh’s) sweet tea it needs watering down…4 cups of sugar is too much for one gallon!!
I agree we have watered down our need to persevere…Christ isn’t just our way out of hell…He is our daily peace, joy, security, comfort, satisfaction, teacher…and on and on…do we ever see Christ’s disciples becoming a disciple and then sitting down and enjoying the rest of their lives relaxing and doing whatever they please…nope…they were consumed with Christ and daily had to persevere to keep the faith.
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It’s only two cups of sugar, just right.
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Can’t drink watered down DP…even ice dilutes this intoxicating elixer! tastes flat! No Fizz/ No Burn:) However, Corn-syrup (ie juice) at a 1:5 ratio to water is chemically balanced… inorganically speaking…I think…well, I think.. i don’t know exactly does ice water down water? is that possible? well, i thinks so … does that help?..
Seriously, I have a burning desire to persevere when I read that God was committed to redeem me when I, the guilty party, didn’t even care to be reconciled. (Living the Cross Centered Life: CJ Mahaney.)pg. 65. How awesome is He to do that! I should read this every day. He loves me even when I’m indifferent. (I loathe indifference)
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