Once Saved Always Saved?
The following is a discourse I
started on WhatsApp in early 2025, in the published version the names of the
respondents will not be displayed. None of the respondents gave proof
Scriptures, so I inserted the ones I believe they would have used in ().
To all my Christian friends:
Since I became a Christian in
December 1974 I have heard people saying, “Once saved always saved.” I believed
it for a couple of decades but for a long time I have not believed in this
doctrine.
I have written about this a couple
of times; Sept. 2024 was the last time I wrote a paper on this subject.
I am challenging my friends who
believe that “Once saved always saved.” is a legitimate doctrine to prove it
scripturally. I have never heard or seen an actual scriptural teaching on this
doctrine.
I love you all for the input you
have had on my life. GOD Bless.
Bob
From G. R.:
Once saved always saved if we
truly believe in God and that he gave his only begotten son and Jesus died and
arose on the 3rd day for all of those who are chosen. But (ex. Pastor B. once
was asked, “What if a person commits suicide?” “Well then that person was never
saved, because we are not to kill ourselves it’s until God decides to takes us
but if we commit sin after knowing that it’s bad then we will lose rewards in
heaven and of course get disciplined by God.”
From L. H.:
Once we are born again, we cannot be unborn. It's like when we have
children, they are always our children.
No matter how far away they move from home, they are still our children.
My reply: Paul, Peter, John and
Jude all reference Christian leaders who have left the Faith and gone their own
way. Are they still saved, were they ever saved?
What about when JESUS said to the
Church at Sardis, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and
I will not blot his name from the Book of Life." (Revelation 3:5) If it
was not possible to lose one's Salvation why would JESUS make that Promise?
Pastor J:
Bob…love you too, and your love
for the Word. If by “once saved always saved” you mean if some kid answers an
altar call at camp at age 10 because his friends are going forward, never bears
any Christian fruit, and dies at 40, and his family says, “Once saved always
saved,” I agree with you. I am very worried for that person, and it is very
likely they were never converted.
But I believe there is much
Scriptural evidence that those who are truly born again cannot lose their
salvation. If Jesus truly saves someone, they cannot be unsaved. Jesus promises
in John 6(:36-40) that whoever comes to Him, He will never cast out…He will
raise them up on the last day. Similarly, in John 10 (:22-30) He promises that
no one can snatch us out of His hand or the Father’s hand. (Romans 8:37-39)***
There are other verses—I’m sure
you know them and have an answer. But I have confidence and rest in the
finished work of Christ for my salvation. As one person said, “If I didn’t save
myself…I cannot un-save myself.”**
Certainly I CAN prove over time that I never was truly converted.
Again, I know you’ve studied this
and have answers for this, so not trying to convince you, but just give you a
small portion of the Scriptural evidence you asked for. Peace!
My reply:
Thank you Pastor J., I love your
heart in your response.
I agree that no one can take
anyone else's salvation or cause a person to lose their salvation.
I agree that the problem is in
having large meetings (this could be as little as 100) and have a mass prayer
of salvation, give everyone a booklet and tell them to find a Bible teaching
Church. But they do not follow up with each person that prays and makes a
confession, therefore some of them can believe they are saved and even try to
live a good life. They are probably not saved.*
That is one thing I fear is
happening in the Church.
Paul, Peter, John and Jude all
mentioned people who have left the faith, but they still claim to be Christians
and to teach their false doctrine.
This is a problem in the modern
Church where people are taught that they are a Christian but their Church
supports obvious sin and immorality. They believe they will go to Heaven
someday no matter how they live compared to what The Bible teaches.
GOD Bless Pastor.
Pastor J’s reply:
I am in COMPLETE agreement with
you that many in our churches, who claim the name of Christian, are in fact not
born again and not truly saved.
My Reply:
This has been weighing on me for a
while now and I feel the Church has to step up its work with discipling these
seeds that are along the path and in the weeds.
Some scriptures I believe answer
the first understanding most people have of my question, “Once saved always
saved?” or “Can you lose your Salvation?”
Exodus 32:30-35 Moses and the Book
of Life! “Then Moses returned to JEHOVAH and said, ‘Oh, these people have
committed a great sin and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if
You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of your Book which
You have written.’ And JEHOVAH said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I
will blot him out of My Book. Now therefore go, lead the people to the place of
which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless,
in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for
their sin.’ So JEHOVAH plagued the people for what they did with the calf which
Aaron made.”
Revelation 3: 5 “He who overcomes
shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot his name from The book
of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
(Mark 8:34-38 “…For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of him The Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes
in The Glory of His Father with the Holy
angels.” This passage is the qualifier for JESUS’ statement, “…he who over comes…”)
Yes, JEHOVAH GOD has said He will
blot out the names of those who sin against Him (What about David who said,
“Against You only have I sinned!” Yet GOD called David, “A man after His Own
heart.”
JESUS said He would not blot out
the name of those who overcome, something He had described in Mark 8:34-38. What
about those in Matthew 7:21-23 who are doing the works of The Kingdom and JESUS
says, “I never knew you.” and cast them out as lawless.
This is why JESUS, in the Sermon
on the Mount told us to Love everybody, Judge nobody and to recognize the fruit
of people’s life over what they say!
John 8:31-32 “Then JESUS said to
those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you abide in My Word you are My disciples
indeed and you will know the Truth and The Truth will set you Free!”
John 13:34-35 “A new Commandment I
give to you, that you Love one another; as I have Loved you, that you also Love
one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have Love
for one another.” (This is lacking in the Church today)
John 14:15 “If you Love Me, keep
My Commandments!”
Matthew 5:17-20: The Law is
fulfilled so that we are not judged by The Law. JESUS fulfilled The Law and He
is our Judge. (2 Corinthians 5:9-11) He has commanded us to keep The Law and
all The Commandments that He added, but none of the manmade religious
regulations. (Matthew 23:1-12)
1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:12-20 ; 2
Corinthians 6:11-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 2-3 all tell us we better
pay attention to how we live our life as a born again Christian!
Hebrews 6:4-8 “For it is
impossible for those who were once
enlightened… If they fall away (or have fallen away) to renew them to
repentance.” (3 John :9-12)
Revelation 2:4-5 loss of their
Lampstand! Lampstand = The Church! Is this the loss of salvation, I do not
think so, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, it is the loss of rewards. (Revelation 2:23)
Revelation 3:4-6 (Luke 12:8-10)
Revelation 20:11-15, 21:22-27,
22:18-19
GOD will blot out of The Book of
Life: Exodus 32:30-35; Deuteronomy 29:14-29
Fallen away: 1 Timothy 5:14-15;
Lost Faith: 1 Timothy 6:10, 20-21
Started from the Faith: 2 Timothy
1:15, 2:17-18
Many Christians call themselves “A
sinner saved by Grace!”, that is only true if you are not born again (John 3:1-21).
If you are born again then you “are a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians
2:19-21). Prayer is the Law asking for GOD’s Grace; Repentance is the receiving
of GOD’s Grace (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Being Born Again is always
followed by signs (evidence) of Salvation: Mark 16:16-18; Peter’s first sermon,
Acts 2:36-39.
This is already long and there is
so much more to say on the subject. What about the unforgivable sin (Mark 3:28-30);
can a believer commit the unpardonable sin? Yes, many who claim to be Bible
believing Christians do not believe the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is active in the
Church today.
* “They are probably not saved.”
What I mean is that at many if not most of these evangelistic meetings the
emphasis is on “repenting”, but repenting is not repeating a prayer. Saying a
prayer that includes asking for forgiveness for being a sinner and asking JESUS
to come into your life as LORD (which is not normally explained) is only the
first step in repenting (which means to change – do the opposite). It is
everything that comes after that prayer and happens for the rest of your life
that makes you a “born again, SPIRIT filled Christian (Luke 3:1-3, 10-16).”
** All of the Scriptures are true,
no one and nothing can take us from GOD’s Salvation in CHRIST JESUS. But the
one person’s statement, “If I didn’t save myself…I cannot un-save myself.” Is false,
we are the only one who can give up or lose our Salvation! It is by our own
decisions and choices that we seek and serve GOD or ourself! (Revelation 22:18-19)
*** 5 points of Calvinism.
1. Total Depravity (humanity's
inability to save itself): True, we cannot save ourself, therefore GOD planned
our Salvation before He created anything in our existence, 1 Peter 1:13-21 and
invited everyone to Believe John 3:16-17.
2. Unconditional Election (God
chooses who to save based on His Will, not merit): False, (except for the merit
part, Ephesians 2:1-10); John 3:16-17; Matthew 22:14 (1-14); Ezekiel 33:11; 2
Peter 3:8-9. It is clear that we are not saved against our will or desire but
by our choice to receive The Gift of Salvation that only GOD offers and only
through JESUS CHRIST (John 14:6).
3. Limited Atonement (Christ's
death saves the elect): False, JESUS Atonement saves all who Believe, John 1:12,
3:16-17; Romans 10; Ephesians 2:1-10.
4. Irresistible Grace (God's
saving call can't be refused by the elect): False, Matthew 23; Acts 2:37-41;
Acts 4; Acts 5:1-11. Matthew 20:16 “Many are called but few are chosen.” refutes
that statement!
5. Perseverance of the Saints (the
saved will remain saved): True and False, all Believers are called to persevere,
to overcome. Saul of Tarsus, the greatest apostle and most prolific writer of
The Second Covenant books says he struggled daily to obey and serve so that he
could achieve the Resurrection (Philippians 3:1-11) he never lived like his Salvation
was guaranteed. JESUS told us in The Gospels and The Revelation to “go and stop
sinning”, “he who has ears to hear let him hear (“what The SPIRIT says” in
Revelations) and that “to him who overcomes I will…”. Nothing in GOD’s Kingdom
is given just because and everything in GOD’s Kingdom is subject to the
receiver; every promise in The Bible has a requirement and every command has a
promise! GOD gives freely but we have to choose to receive it and fulfill its
requirement; that is the context of every covenant (contract or agreement)
Some examples of those who chose
to reject GOD:
Lucifer; he was created and choose
to rebel (Isaiah 1:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-15; Luke 10:17-20; Revelation 20:10),
the Heavenly Host are the only ones who were created for GOD’s Purpose and the
only choice they had was to obey or rebel; they had no offer of Salvation.
Humanity was created in GOD’s image and likeness and was given a choice to
serve or rebel, but GOD had a plan of Salvation for us (1 Peter 1:13-25;
Ephesians 1:3-14).
Adam and Eve; Genesis 3:1-7, Eve
was deceived but Adam sinned, (1 Timothy 2:13-15)
Cain; (Genesis 4:1-15).
Samson; he did not marry within
his people as commanded by GOD; he was not married to Delilah and he told her
the secret of his strength. (Judges 13-16).
King Saul; he disobeyed GOD’s
commands and made excuses, (1 Samuel 13-15)
Judas Iscariot, he was discipled
by JESUS for a year and yet he betrayed JESUS, (Matthew 27:47-48).
