Once Saved Always Saved?

By Dan Bailey

Recently, one of the members of our local congregation was discussing the Bible with another individual. The person maintained that once you were saved that you could not then be lost or fall away from the grace of God. The doctrine is usually expressed as, "once saved, always saved." It seems rather amazing that anyone claiming to be a Christian, could take such a position. It seems obvious that many simply do not study the Bible carefully. Consider what the scripture says about this very important subject.

1) It is possible to "fail of the grace of God." Hebrews 12:15 -- "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

2) It is possible to harden one's heart in sin. Hebrews 3:8 -- "Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." Hebrews 3:13 -- "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:15 -- "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

3) It is possible to depart from the living God. Hebrews 3:12 -- "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

4) It is possible to let the things that we have heard "slip." Hebrews 2:1 -- "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

5) It is possible to neglect our salvation. Hebrews 2:3 -- "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him."

6) It is possible to come short of God's promise. Hebrews 4:1 -- "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."

7) It is possible to fall because of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11 -- "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." 1 Corinthians 10:12 - "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

8) It is possible to fall away and not be able to be renewed again unto repentance. Hebrews 6:4-6 -- "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

9) It is possible to be sanctified and then despise the blood of the covenant. Hebrews 10:28-29 -- "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

10) It is possible to sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, and to find oneself without a sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:26 -- "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."

11) It is possible to cast away one's confidence in Christ and in His word. Hebrews 10:35 -- "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

12) It is possible to be made free from sin, and then go back to the law of Moses and fall from grace. Galatians 5:1-4 -- "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

My dear friend if you can read these scriptures and still maintain that "once saved, always saved" is a true doctrine, there must be a problem with either not knowing the scriptures or with denying the scriptures, because the Bible is very clear on this subject!