I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      “Once saved, always saved” is a beloved old belief held by many as a source of comfort and security.

B.      While it may be comforting to those who believe that they can never be lost, is this doctrine true according to the Bible?  A study of the Scriptures shows that this belief is false.  Let us consider it together.

II.      CALVINISM AND “ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED”

A.      “Calvinism” is the name given to the system of theology developed by John Calvin.

                                                             1.      John Calvin was a prominent French theologian during the Protestant Reformation of the fourteenth century.

                                                             2.      The tenets of Calvinism are summarized in the acronym TULIP.

a.       T – Total depravity (man is born completely corrupted)

b.       U – Unconditional election (God predestined individuals to salvation without conditions)

c.        L – Limited atonement (Christ’s sacrifice atoned only for the elect)

d.       I – Irresistible grace (the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the elect)

e.        P – Perseverance of the saints (the impossibility of apostasy for the elect)

                                                             3.      Consider the presence of Calvinism within many Protestant denominations.

a.       The Presbyterian church holds to the purest form of Calvinism.  It is essentially the church that was founded by John Calvin.

b.       Some points of Calvinism are found in most of the divisions of the Baptist church, although their teachings differ among the various conventions (Southern, American, etc.) and branches (Free Will, independent, Missionary, etc.).

c.        Typically, denominations using the term “Reformed” in their names are Calvinists.

d.       Calvinism’s influence can be seen in most “evangelical” churches in the United States.

B.      The most widely held belief from Calvinism is likely the belief that once a person is saved from his sins he can never be lost again.  This is the creed of “once saved, always saved.”

                                                             1.      This creed is the “P” in the “TULIP,” i.e., “perseverance of the saints,” which is also known as the “security of the believer” or “eternal security.”

                                                             2.      Let us understand exactly what is meant by “once saved, always saved.”

a.       This teaches that the salvation of a Christian’s soul cannot be forfeited for any reason.  It means that sins, disobedience, unfaithfulness, etc., that occur after salvation is obtained have no adverse effects upon a Christian’s eternal condition.

b.       Such a belief appears to present freedom to a believer to sin with impunity.  In theory, Calvinists usually do not deny this, but they believe that godly behavior is evidence of salvation, and so they intend to practice godly behavior rather than sin.

                                                             3.      Many people believe in the “once saved, always saved” doctrine without having any formal knowledge of John Calvin or Calvinism.

a.       The reason for this is because Calvin’s doctrine has been grafted into many denominations’ teachings and is presented as if it has originated from the Bible.

b.       Many are eager to believe this doctrine not because it is true, but because it gives them a sense of comfort and security even if they do not believe in other parts of Calvinism.

III.   THE BIBLE AND “ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED”

A.      “Once saved, always saved” is not a Bible doctrine.  The purpose of this section is to present the truth on this matter according to the Bible.

B.      First, consider some Bible passages that plainly refute the notion of “once saved, always saved.”

                                                             1.      These passages give abundant evidence that a person can forfeit his salvation.

a.       Luke 8:13 – This verse from the parable of the sower describes persons who receive and believe the word of God for a time and then fall away in a time of temptation.

b.       Acts 8:9-24 – This passage tells the story of Simon the sorcerer, who earnestly believed and obeyed the gospel but then placed himself in spiritual peril because of his sin.

c.        Galatians 5:4 – Paul rebuked the Christians of Galatia for forcing Christians to practice circumcision as a condition of salvation.  Paul said, “You have been severed from Christ, you who seek to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

d.       Hebrews 3:12 – This message speaks for itself: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.”

e.        Hebrews 6:4-6 – This plainly describes persons who were once saved but later lost.

“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the 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.”

f.        2Peter 2:20-22 – This is another clear description of fallen Christians.

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.  For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.  It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.’”

g.        Others to consider: 1Corinthians 8:11; 9:27; James 5:12, 19-20; 2Peter 3:17.

                                                             2.      Not only are these verses proof against the idea of “once saved, always saved,” but also most of the epistles are written to encourage Christians to remain faithful throughout life.  What would be the danger of becoming unfaithful if Christians could not lose their salvation?

a.       Notice the conditions of Colossians 1:23 – “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel…”

b.       Such conditions are typical and understood throughout the New Testament.  It is clearly implied that if these conditions are not met, then salvation is lost.

C.      Next, consider some Scriptures that are misapplied to promote the notion of “once saved, always saved.”

                                                             1.      Some will cite John 10:29 and Romans 8:35-39 as proof that Christians cannot fall away.

a.       A full consideration of John 10:25-30 shows that no one can snatch from God’s hand those who believe (hear and follow) Christ.  However, one may choose to stop believing and following Christ so that he voluntarily leaves God’s protection.  He is then lost.

b.       Similarly, Romans 8:35-39 describes how that Christians cannot be separated from God’s love by any outside forces.  However, it does not indicate that they cannot choose to separate themselves from Him by their unfaithfulness, sinfulness, etc. (Isa. 59:2).

                                                             2.      Some will cite 1John 3:9 as proof that Christians cannot sin.

a.       In the original Greek, this verse literally means that a Christian must not continue to practice sin in a habitual manner.  It does not imply the inability of a Christian to commit one isolated sin.

b.       If 1John 3:9 is interpreted to mean that Christians cannot sin, then it is in contradiction with 1John 1:8-10.  Therefore, this is a bad interpretation.

                                                             3.      Some will say that Christians possess eternal life already according to John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24.

a.       The context of the New Testament teaches that a Christian’s reward will be granted at the end of life at the judgment (Heb. 3:6, 14; 1Pet. 1:5, 7, 9; Rev. 2:10; etc.).  These verses in John’s gospel have the same context.

b.       In John 3:36, notice the phrases “has eternal life” and “the wrath of God abides on him.”  If this verse is interpreted to mean that eternal life cannot be revoked, then the wrath of God cannot be revoked either.  If there is “once saved, always saved,” then there is also “once lost, always lost.”  Of course, neither is true.

                                                             4.      Some will use 1John 2:19 to say that a Christian who falls away was never saved in the first place.

a.       The context of this passage is about false teachers who denied that Jesus was Christ in the flesh (see 1John 2:18-27; 4:1-3; 2John 2:7).  John was saying that those who taught a false form of Christianity had left because they did not believe in the truth about Jesus.

b.       This verse does not have a broad application for every Christian who falls away from the truth.  As demonstrated above, it is possible to believe the truth and then turn away.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      The study could be taken to an even greater extent, but this is sufficient to demonstrate that “once saved, always saved” is not a Bible teaching, and it therefore must be rejected.

B.      Those who espouse this false teaching would do well to listen to the message of 1Corinthians 10:12 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”