Contendah, my Friend,
You tell me, "Those scriptures you cite are some of the ones you use in attempted defense of your OSAS belief, but do not have anything to do with how a lost person gets into Christ to begin with--which was the subject of this discussion."
My Friend, let's take a look at those Scripture verses which YOU say have NOTHING to do with salvation:
Ephesians 1:13, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."
That verse tells me that the person who hears the Gospel, and through hearing that Gospel -- believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ -- is saved, indwelled, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Sound like salvation to me.
Ephesians 4:30, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
This verse tells us that when that person who heard the Gospel and believed was saved -- that person was indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption -- the day that believer dies in this mortal body or is raptured from this mortal body.
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 as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This Scripture passage tells us that, by the grace of God this believer has been saved through faith in Jesus Christ -- plus NOTHING else, for it is a gift from God and not a result of any work that believer could do or may have done.
John 6:47, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life."
Then, Jesus affirms those Ephesians passages when He tells us that the person who has believed in Him HAS eternal life.
John 10:28-29, "And I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will 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 the Father's hand."
Then, Jesus puts a cork in the bottle when He tells us that NO ONE, not even the believer himself/herself -- can snatch that believer out of God's hands. That, my Friend, is most certainly salvation. And, that is most certainly eternally secure salvation.
So, yes, these Scripture passages do complement and complete those you suggested in bringing the message of salvation to the lost of the world.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
