Is “once saved, always saved” true? The answer is no, for the following reasons:
- “If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us” (2 Tim 2:12).
- We are saved if we keep in memory what Paul preached (1 Cor 15:2).
- Unbelief may cause us to be cut off from God (Rom 11:18-21).
- If we don’t continue in God’s goodness we will be cut off from God (Rom 11:22).
- If we sin willfully there remains no more sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:26-29).
- In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and un-blamable and un-reprovable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith… (Col 1:22-23).
- Heb 6:4-12 goes into detail about standing firm and not falling away and what happens to those who fall away.
These are things we need to do to keep ourselves from sin and still be saved. It is not difficult though, as Jesus lives in us and He preserves us if we continue in the faith: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, 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” (John 10:27-29). “…The Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30).
Jonathan, your analysis is a PARADOX.
Salvation is a GIFT not a CONTRACT!!!
You’re a bright young man go look up all the verses that define salvation as a gift. The Old Testament was a CONTRACT; the New Testament is a GIFT! (Gal 3:23-24)
A GIFT, by definition (look it up), means there are no strings attached, period. Your post seems to imply that the Bible contradicts itself.
CASE CLOSED: Once Saved, Always Saved!
I was born again August 16, 1981 @ 9:30AM.
At that instant, I was forever changed; irrevocable, can’t be undone (GIFTS of God are irrevocable Rom 11:29). The Holy Spirit baptized me into the body of Christ, 1 Cor 12:13. And Christ baptized me in the Holy Spirit, who now tabernacles in me, 1 Cor 3:16).
If you’re worried about born again Christians still sinning, don’t! We Reborn still have a sin nature, Rom Chapter 7 and we still sin, See 1 John Chapter 1. If you’re worried about Reborns sinning recklessly; perhaps this will comfort you. Check out Heb 12:6-8. If you think you can do a better job of chastening or scourging, either yourself or others, than the Holy Spirit….. Well … :-/
Jesus did it all!
Just be sure you are Born Again, Rom 8:16-17
God bless! :)
Some good points here, but you ignore the fact that some people believe in Jesus and are genuinely born again, but then later turn their back completely on Jesus and no longer believe in Him. The Bible is very clear that those who reject Jesus do not have eternal life. I have seen this happen a number of times and it cannot be denied. So we are left with several options in this case:
1. The person was never born again to start with – I reject that view as the person has believed in Jesus and therefore is saved.
2. The person continues to be saved even though they reject Jesus – I reject that view as the person no longer believe in Jesus and therefore according to numerous scriptures is not saved.
3. The person was born again and saved, then turned their back on Jesus and rejected Him and so is no longer saved.
4. We could say that we are only fully saved when we leave the earth and go to be with Jesus, thus “once saved” is a misnomer and they are only ever saved at the end.
Which option do you believe?