Once saved, always saved

By Ross Callaghan
http://rosscallaghan.yolasite.com

Once saved, always saved is one of the most controversial of all Christian doctrines.
Many Christians fervently believe that once someone has received Christ as Saviour they are
saved and can never lose their salvation. This is sometimes called having eternal security or
the perseverance of the saints. Those who think this way believe that the work of Jesus on
the Cross to win our salvation is a finished work. To lose our salvation is unthinkable because
it would mean Jesus death and resurrection was not a perfect work.
Other Christians fervently believe that once someone has received Christ as Saviour they are
saved, but if they continue to sin wilfully they can lose their salvation and be lost. The work of
Christ on the Cross has brought their salvation, but ongoing salvation is dependent on
walking in a close relationship with the Lord. Rejecting Him after having been saved will have
eternal consequences.

There are scriptures throughout the Bible that appear to support both of these positions. Christians
who believe one way tend to emphasize the scriptures that support their position and ignore ones that
dont. Human thinking would say that that the two views contradict each other so one must be right
and the other wrong. But perhaps this just shows the limitations of our thinking!
God has an immense understanding of life and of the human condition, and a much better view of
what constitutes truth than we do. (After all He is the truth! John 14:6). Maybe both of these views
are part of the whole truth regarding our salvation? Just like a river flows with two different edges
perhaps both of these doctrines can help us get a better understanding of salvation one that better
reflects Gods approach as expressed in so many places in the Bible?
Once saved, always saved will give us a strong assurance of our salvation and a certainty
that the work of Christ on the Cross has been effective in our lives.
Once saved, we can fall away and lose our salvation will stop us being complacent about
our relationship with God, and will give us a strong motivation to reject sin and walk in Gods
ways. It encourages us to work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is
at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12,13.
It is always good to remember what God said about the limitations of our human thinking:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering
the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I
desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11.

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 In this study we will look at the main scriptures on both sides of this controversial doctrine. Remember
that all of them are in the Bible, and that all of them will help give you a better understanding of
Gods thoughts on the important doctrine of Once saved, always saved.

Scriptures that teach Once saved, always saved

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I Gods church is built on the Rock, the Lord Jesus
will build my church, and the gates of Hades will Christ. Nothing can prevail against this church.
not overcome it. Matthew 16:18.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; Once we are safely under Jesus care no-one can
no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, snatch us from that care. (Those with the alternative
who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no view of once saved, always saved will say that while
one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. this is true, we can take ourselves out of Jesus care).
John 10:28,29.
However, to the one who does not work but trusts Righteousness in Christ is credited to us on the basis
God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited of our faith in Christ, not on the basis of anything that
as righteousness. David says the same thing when we do or dont do. If it was on the basis of our works
he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom no-one could be saved for all are sinners. Romans
God credits righteousness apart from works: 3:23,24. Once we are righteous in Christ nothing we
Romans 4:5,6. do can change that state, because Jesus work on the
Cross was a finished work. John 19:30. Romans 5:12-
21.
Therefore he is able to save completely those who Jesus saves completely (or to the uttermost) all those
come to God through him, because he always lives who come to God through Him, and then continually
to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25. prays for them.
Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit These verses show that God has cleansed us from
the kingdom of God? ..And that is what some of our sin, so that, being cleansed, sanctified and
you were. But you were washed, you were justified in Christ, we need have no fear of not
sanctified, you were justified in the name of the inheriting the kingdom of God.
Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little Genuine faith perseveres to the end, regardless of the
while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds trials and temptations it experiences. The end result of
of trials. These have come so that the proven our faith is the salvation of our soul.
genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than
gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him,
you love him; and even though you do not see him
now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving
the end result of your faith, the salvation of your
souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to Our salvation is Gods work, and He will complete this
completion until the day of Christ Jesus. good work right through to the end.
Philippians 1:6.

In the book of Romans Paul gives the most systematic description of how we can be saved. The
overwhelming message of this book is that we are saved by the grace of God, through faith in the
complete and finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. We were chosen by God to be in Christ
before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and when we believe in Christ we are justified
and able to have a relationship with God in Christ. Nothing we do can add to this wonderful work, and
nothing can take anything away from it. Our salvation is totally dependent on Christ and it is a perfect
work. Hallelujah!

The book of Romans also addresses the issue of Christians sinning after they have been saved.
"What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! We
died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1,2. Paul does not say that we will lose our
salvation if we sin, but his focus is on encouraging us to live in a righteous way.
This does, however, open up the other side of the once saved always saved debate!

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 Scriptures that teach that we can lose our eternal salvation:

But now, please forgive their sin - but if not, then These verses show that God has a book in which the
blot me out of the book you have written." Exodus names of those who are to be saved are recorded.
32:32. Revelation 17:8, 20:11-15. It is possible to have
May they be blotted out of the book of life and not someones name blotted out of this book.
be listed with the righteous. Psalm 69:28.
The one who is victorious will, like them, be
dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of
that person from the book of life, but will
acknowledge that name before my Father and his
angels. Revelation 3:5.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the These verses show it is possible for someone to lose
prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God their ability to draw from the tree of life, and thus their
will add to him the plagues which are written in this place in heaven.
book; and if anyone takes away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God will take away his
part from the tree of life and from the holy city,
which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18,19.
"But if a righteous person turns from their This section of Ezekiel deals with situations where
righteousness and commits sin and does the same righteous and evil people sin and what happens if
detestable things the wicked person does, will they they do or do not repent. It shows righteous people
live? None of the righteous things that person has will suffer eternal consequences if they sin, and evil
done will be remembered. Because of the people can be saved if they repent.
unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the
sins they have committed, they will die.
Ezekiel 18:24.
For in the case of those who have once been This shows that someone who has repented of their
enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift sins, been enlightened and partaken of the Holy Spirit
and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, can fall away and be cursed if they wilfully disobey the
and have tasted the good word of God and the Lord.
powers of the age to come, and then have fallen
away, it is impossible to renew them again to
repentance, since they again crucify to themselves
the Son of God and put Him to open
shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often
falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to
those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a
blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and
thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed,
and it ends up being burned. Hebrews 6:4-8.
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave Paul is stating that he believes he could miss out on
so that after I have preached to others, I myself will the prize of eternal life, even though he had been
not be disqualified for the prize. widely used by God to bring blessing to others.
1 Corinthians 9:27.
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If If we deny (or reject) the Lord He will deny (or reject)
we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny us.
Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He
remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-14.
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical In this verse the proviso for maintaining our salvation
body through death to present you holy in his sight, is that we continue firm in our faith.
without blemish and free from accusation-- if you
continue in your faith, established and firm, and do
not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This
is the gospel that you heard and that has been
proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of
which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Colossians 1:23.

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I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Those who are part of Christ can be cut off from Him if
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, they dont bear fruit and His servants can end up in
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes hell if they dont use their talents.
so that it will be even more fruitful. I am the vine;
you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in This is reinforced by Jesus parable of the sheep and
you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you goats in Matthew 25:31-46. The sheep are blessed
can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are with eternal life because of what they did for others in
like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such need; while the goats go to eternal punishment
branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and because they didnt serve those in need.
burned. John 15:1-6.
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who
called his servants and entrusted his wealth to
them. To one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, each according to his ability..
For whoever has will be given more, and they will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even
what they have will be taken from them. And throw
that worthless servant outside, into the darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:14-29.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of The proviso for not being cut off from the Lord is that
God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to we continue in His kindness.
you, provided that you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise, you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22.
For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I Paul considered that the Thessalonians could be
sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in tempted away from the Lord and that this would mean
some way the tempter had tempted you and that his labours would be in vain.
our labours might have been in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:5.
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have This is one of the most powerful sections regarding
received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for the need for us to persevere if we are to be saved. It
sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of shows that if we keep on sinning we can fall away and
judgment and of raging fire that will consume the experience the judgment of God. The writer says that
enemies of God. You need to persevere so that we do not belong to those who shrink back and are
when you have done the will of God, you will destroyed. In context this applies to the writer and his
receive what he has promised. For, In just a little associates, not to all Christians.
while, he who is coming will come and will not
delay. And, But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks
back. But we do not belong to those who shrink
back and are destroyed, but to those who have
faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:26,27,36-39.
The acts of the flesh are obvious .. I warn you, These verses show we will lose our inheritance in the
as I did before, that those who live like this will not kingdom of God if we are controlled by our flesh,
inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:12,13. rather than by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an
obligation - but it is not to the flesh, to live
according to it. For if you live according to the flesh,
you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the
misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:8-12,13.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its We are the salt of the earth, but it is possible for us to
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no lose this quality and be thrown out. After all, faith
longer good for anything, except to be thrown out without works is dead. James 2:26.
and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every The implication in this verse is that we can stumble
effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you and lose the salvation that God called and elected us
do these things, you will never stumble, to. (Peter would have been very aware that Judas
2 Peter 1:10. Iscariot, one of his fellow disciples, did just that).

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So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful These verses are both a reminder that we can believe
that you dont fall! No temptation has overtaken you in vain, and an encouragement to hold firm so that it
except what is common to mankind. And God is does not happen.
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what
you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will
also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of
the gospel I preached to you, which you received
and on which you have taken your stand. By this
gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word
I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in
vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1,2.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has These verses show we must hold our original
a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the conviction firmly to the end if we are to fully share in
living God. But encourage one another daily, as Christ.
long as it is called Today, so that none of you
may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. We have
come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our
original conviction firmly to the very end.
Hebrews 3:12-14.

These scriptures shown that once we are saved we can sin and fall away so that we lose our
salvation. The case from these scriptures is just as convincing as the case from the earlier scriptures
that once we are saved we are always saved! Some have tried to reconcile the two sets of scriptures
by saying that when people fall away they were never saved in the first place. Others try to reconcile
them by saying that no-one can take us out of the Lords hand (John 10:28,29) but we can choose to
take ourselves out. Every Christian must make up their own mind on what they believe about this, and
on how they will react to it.

The main things to gain from this study are:

a strong assurance that we have been saved through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the
Cross. If we have accepted Jesus as Saviour and repented of our sin, we are completely and
fully saved. We are children of God, part of Gods kingdom, have eternal life, and can look
forward to spending eternity with God in heaven. We have eternal security.
a strong motivation to turn away from sin and to live for Jesus every day of our earthly lives.
If we know that our continued sin can have eternal consequences we will always be motivated
to choose Gods way (which, after all, is always the best way!).

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ
Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Discussion questions
Google once saved, always saved and look under Images to see how people view this
controversial doctrine. Why is once saved, always saved such a controversial Christian doctrine?

Why does the Bible teach that once saved you are always saved, and once saved you can fall
away? How do you reconcile these two positions?

How will believing either side of the debate on once saved always saved affect the way that
Christians live.

How do peoples differing reactions to the doctrine of once saved, always saved show the limitations
of human thinking? How is Isaiah 55:8-11 relevant in this situation?

What have you learned from your study of once saved, always saved? How will this affect your
Christian life in the future?