Once Saved- Always Saved? Part 2

Today we are concluding our discussion on the concept of once saved- always saved. Let’s jump right into the Scriptures.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5 (KJV)

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Revelation 3:1 (KJV)

Just as we saw in Revelation 2, Jesus is talking to the churches in this third chapter as well. He tells us that those who overcome will inherit eternal life. To overcome, we must remain in Christ. It takes a conscious effort to remain, to overcome until the end. It shows us that salvation isn’t some one-time thing; it is ongoing. It is something we must center our lives on and continue to do until Jesus returns for the church. To fail to continue to put effort into our relationship with God puts us in danger of falling away from Christ.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 (KJV)

Jesus said to be His disciples, or His followers, we must continue in His Word. If we must continue in His Word to be His disciples, it means that the opposite could happen if we don’t continue in His Word. Yesterday we read that no man can pluck us out of the Father’s hand, but we can walk out. God’s grace, His power working on our behalf, helps us to continue and remain in Christ. But it is by our choice that we remain in Him and tap into that grace. In other Words, being saved is an ongoing decision, not a one-time event.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:21-23 (KJV)

We see that we were reconciled to God and we are kept holy, unblameable and unreproveable- IF and WHEN we continue in the faith- grounded, settled and not moved away. This means there is the real possibility we could be moved away from the faith; we could lose out, or Paul would have never mentioned it. We must take heed to what is being said here so that we don’t miss out.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:36-39 (KJV)

Notice the phrase, draw back into perdition. That speaks of someone who is saved and turns back to the kingdom of darkness. Let me be clear- we need not fear our salvation being stolen from us. However, we must be on our guard that we are not drawn, enticed and lured away. If we are actively pursuing God, we will not turn away from Him.

For if 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 is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. II Peter 2:20-22 (KJV) emphasis mine

This and many other scriptures that show that once we are saved, we are not automatically always saved. We must choose to remain in Christ. It is the conscious act of our wills to continue to follow Jesus and continue in His Word. Here are additional scriptures that support this.

• Hebrews 3:12-19

• James 5:19-20

• Ezekiel 3:20

• Ezekiel 18:24

• Ezekiel 33:12-13

Here is one more example given by Jesus of someone who once served God turning away from righteousness and thus being judged as an unbeliever.

“But what if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master delays his coming, and who knows when he will return?’ Because of the delay, the servant elevates himself and mistreats those in his master’s household. Instead of caring for the ones he was appointed to serve, he abuses the other servants, both men and women. He throws drunken parties for his friends and gives himself over to every pleasure. Let me tell you what will happen to him. His master will suddenly return at a time that shocks him, and he will remove the abusive, selfish servant from his position of trust. He will be severely punished and assigned a portion with the unbelievers. Luke 12:45-46 (The Passion Translation, TPT)

Based on the scriptures we have read yesterday and today, the Bible bears out that we must continue to live for God (with His help and by our choice) to be saved until the end. We do not have to work for our salvation- Jesus already paid the price. So, yes, we are eternally secure in Christ- but only as we choose to live for Him on an ongoing basis. That is the balance of the matter.