Once Saved Always Saved

What Does The Bible Say About Once Saved Always Saved?
Can a child of God fall from grace? There are so many questions that are discussed
and debated in the religious world—some of them are immaterial, others are of the
gravest importance, and still others just seem to get the participants hot under the collar.

Many people want to avoid such questions at all cost because they gender strife and
disagreement.  One such question is whether or not a child of God can fall from grace.

Can A Child Of God Fall From Grace?
It is essential to know the correct answer because there is potential danger for every
child of God if we can! Some people have a misguided confidence which could be
dangerous and threaten the very well-being of their soul!!

There is also the danger of actually encouraging sin and lawlessness because of such
a view of sin—“turning the grace of God into licentiousness” (Jude 4). Whether we want
them to draw such conclusions or nor, people can see the implications of an irresistible
grace, which actually becomes a license for them to sin.

God Warned Against Falling
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Whether he thinks that he stands justified before God through arrogance, or merely
through confidence, God warns the Christian to consider himself and his life, lest he fall
away from his standing before God.

That was the lesson the Corinthians were supposed to learn from all the examples of
God’s people that were recorded in the previous verses (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), to
remind them of the possibility of their fall.

If A Christian Can Sin He Can Be Lost
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21). Paul wrote
these warnings to Christians.

He warns that a Christian who engages in sin will reap the consequences of his sinful
actions. Anything else would mock God and His demand for justice and righteousness,
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the
Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).

God said that such actions will bar us from heaven. Why would He write such warnings
to Christians if it is impossible for us to fall from His grace? God warns His children that
if they choose to live after the flesh, they will die, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—
not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will
die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:
12-13).

Thus, the choice to be saved or lost becomes ours—and God honors that choice!

It Is Possible To Fall From Grace
“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you
have fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4). It is possible to fall from God’s grace, even
though there are religious groups which preach exactly the opposite doctrine—the
impossibility of apostasy, we “cannot fall from grace.”

That verse should answer the question “Can a child of God fall from grace?” for all time.

But it doesn’t! Why not? I honestly wish I knew.

Even the weak brother who sins, will perish in that sin (1 Corinthians 8:11). There is no
justification for sin. We must repent and turn away from it (Acts 8:22; James 5:19).

God Has Made Salvation Conditional
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if
you do these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10). This is not some
requirement of man’s devising, but consists of restrictions that God has placed on His
grace and man’s salvation. Those conditions don’t make it any less “the gift of God”
(Romans 6:23).

Notice how many times the Bible tells us that we can obtain or maintain salvation “if” we
obey God’s words (1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Peter 1:10; 2:20-21).  
      
There is always the very real danger of falling away from our position of salvation in
Christ, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached
to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Still, some people refuse to believe that those who have once been saved can ever be
lost—they claim that if such a person returns to the world he was never saved in the first
place. That is simply not true, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and
have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to
renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God,
and put Him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The Final Judgment Separates The Faithful From The Unfaithful
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered
some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and
gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the
age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them
into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50).

Specifically, this parable was about judgment within the kingdom of God, “Again, the
kingdom of heaven is like…” One doesn’t get into the kingdom unless he is a child of
God (John 3:3-5).

One of the most scathing chapters in the entire Bible, which denounces sin and
assures men of God’s judgment is 2 Peter chapter 2. Read it. God singles out the
righteous for deliverance and doesn’t spare the wicked. And the most scathing         
rebuke against ungodliness is toward those who “have escaped the world... and are
again entangled in them and overcome” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Those are Christians!

Conclusion
It would be nice to believe that a child of God cannot fall from grace—that once we are
saved we are always saved. Personally, I would like to believe that once I have found the
Lord I couldn’t ever leave Him.

I would love to have confidence like that—but honestly that would not be much
motivation for me to do what is right.

Let’s accept what God has said about the matter, “You have become estranged from
Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:
4). Then let’s get about the business of living faithfully before Him.

--Rob Harbison