OSAS2

Once Saved Always Saved?

        The question often is asked, "Is it possible for a Christian to backslide and lose his salvation?" Because the "once saved, always saved" doctrine of unconditional eternal security is so prevalent in the Church today, a person should know for certain what the Bible has to say on this important subject.
        In Scripture salvation actually appears in three tenses - past, present, and future. We were saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5) when we first believed. We are being saved from the guilt and dominion of sin (Romans 6:14; 8:24; I Corinthians 1:18) as we daily walk with God. Ultimately we shall be saved from the penalty, power, and consequances of sin (Romans 5:9, 10; I Peter 1:5). The Apostle Paul had the entire process of salvation is view he wrote:

"Now is our salvation nearer that WHEN WE [FIRST] BELIEVED" (Romans 13:11).

        We are not able to save ourselves by our own good works, as is so clearly taught in the Scriptures. Salvation is purely the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8, 9). However, the Bible also declares that the evidence of a true salvation experience is a life of "righteousness and true holiness" (Romans 6:19-22, II Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:24' I Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7). A life of holiness is entirely possible by the power of the indwelling Christ (Romans 8:15-16), for we become partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).
        The Word of God solemnly warns that those persons who preseume upon the grace of God in continued sin and unrighteousness will forfeit their security in Christ:

"Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame BE TURNED OUT OF THE WAY; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace will all men, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD: Looking diligently LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD" (Hebrews 12:13-15).

        It should be noted that Christian who backslides does so by willfully rejecting the grace of God, "that is able to keep [him] from falling" (Galatians 5:4; I Peter 1:5; Jude 24). This is the result of continued sin adn rebellion, and the refusal to go before Jesus Christ, our "advocate with the Father," to repent of his sin and gain forgievness (I John 1:9; 2:1, 2).
        Therefore, it is stated explicitly in Scripture that it is possible for a Christian to . . .

" . . . receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which FOR A WHILE believe, and IN TIME OF TEMPATATION FALL AWAY" (Luke 8:13).

The Apostle Paul recognized the necessity of reckoning daily the grace of God in his own life, for he wrote:

"I keep under my body and BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by ANY MEANS, when I have preached to others, I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY"
(I Corinthians 9:27).

The writer of Hebrews warned his hearers:

      �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�HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION?� (Hebrews 2:1-3)

         The apostle James explained how to restore a believer who has fallen into sin, and why the process of restoration is so important:

�BRETHREN, if any of YOU do err from the truth, and one CONVERT him; Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way SHALL SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH, AND SHALL HIDE A MULTITUDE OF SINS" (James 5:19,20).

        The Apostle Peter gave the admonition that a believer can be secure in Christ and never fall:

�Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, THEY MAKE YOU THAT YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. But he that LACHETH these things IS BLIND, and cannot see afar off, and HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE: FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL: For an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ� (II Peter 1:5-11).

        The eternal security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-5). When a believer chooses no longer to abide in Christ, he is cast away (John 15:6; I Corinthians 9:27). A person maintains his free moral agency both before and after his conversion experience. If he makes the choice to go back into a life of sin, he does so to neglect of his soul's salvation (Hebrews 2:3), for the Bible makes it clear that it is possible for a man to have his name BLOTTED OUT of the Lamb's book of life (Exodus 32:33; Revelation 3:5; 22:19).
        It is not the will of God that any of His sheep be lost, for Jesus promised that those sheep who hear His voice and follow him will be given . . . �

�. . . eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father�s hand� (John 10:27-29).

        However, when a believer ceases to follow Christ and hearken unto His voice, he cannot claim this wonderful promise. The Apostle Peter made it clear that a person is �saved� only as he continues to walk with God:

�For it AFTER they have ESCAPED the pollutions of the world THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME, THE LATTER END IS WORSE WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING. For it had been BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAN, AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN IT, TO TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT DELIVERED UNTO THEM. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog us turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire� (II Peter 2:20-22).

        Therefore, the Bible teaches against the belief that it is impossible for a person who is saved to be lost. But a person who is living in right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ should have no fear of losing his salvation:

�This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal LIFE, and this life is IN HIS SON� (I John 5:11).

excerpt from: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries - 1986 - "God's Plan for the Ages" - pg. 207-210