Once Saved, Always Saved ... Is This True?!!
- 4NRz Chief Scribe @ S.T.E.M.
- Mar 15
- 6 min read
Have you ever heard this before?
Once saved, always saved! I have ... but ... Hmmmmm!!
Is this true?
Is this what we are to understand from Ephesians 1 vs 4 - 5 or is there more to it than meets the eye. Is there more that could be beyond the mere surface, of this belief, that may make the phrase inaccurate?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ... Ephesians 1 vs 3 - 6
Does being predestined here, in these verses, mean that salvation is a done deal for both the devout and the most vile that say they believe in MASHIACH?
Let's find out together what the scriptures say.
The debate is about Salvation: Can Salvation be lost by a Christian?
There are 2 positions or views ...
Salvation cannot be lost
Salvation can be lost
... but yet there is possibly a 3rd.
The issue that plagues this question of salvation security, or the debate associated with this question, beyond just understanding the scriptures, is that in order to take a stance, on either side, one must take some scriptures and discard others to make their point and to hold strong to their belief.
This method or mindset is quite unfortunate.
Now! On this topic, I must truly confess, I have only come across very, very, very few ... a tiny group (a minority) ... who have obtained wisdom on this subject. The reason?! It is because, for the majority, none seem to consider the complete context. None address the entire layout or landscape of associated bible verses wholly and in totality before making a decision on the matter.
That's right! None are patient enough to exegete the truth from scripture. They just don't let scripture interpret scripture and they don't wait to let RUACH Ha'QODESH illuminate their minds to understand the scriptures that they read.
Let's get into the matter and address all the views and the verses used to support them ...
Associated Scriptures
John 10 vs 27 - 30
Romans 8 vs 38
Ephesians 1 vs 13
2 Peter 3 vs 17
Hebrews 6 vs 4
1 Timothy 4 vs 1
John 15 vs 4
1 Peter 1 vs 3 - 5
... there are more passages below but these are the 'go to' verses
Points for the 1st view ... Salvation cannot be lost
The are 3 Pillars that support this 1st view
Pillar #1) ABBA will never lose us (ABBA's Promise & Predestination)
John 10 vs 28*
Romans 8 vs 38 - 39
1 Corinthians 1 vs 8 - 9
John 6 vs 37
John 6 vs 39
... Other passages highlighting predestination are
Romans 8 vs 29
Ephesians 1 vs 11
Pillar #2) Presence of RUACH Ha'QODESH (Guarantee of RUACH Ha'QODESH)
Ephesians 1 vs 13
2 Corinthians 1 vs 21 - 22
Ephesians 4 vs 30
2 Corinthians 5 vs 5
Pillar #3) ABBA Protects our Inheritance (ABBA's Protection)
1 Peter 1 vs 3 - 5
Jude 1 vs 24 - 25
Psalm 37 vs 23 - 24
Because ABBA does not change then salvation for those who are predestined cannot be lost ... or can it?!
Points for the 2nd view ... Salvation can be lost
#1) Be vigilant and on your guard lest you fall
2 Peter 2 vs 20 - 22*
2 Peter 3 vs 17
John 15 vs 4 - 6
Matthew 24 vs 9 - 13
Romans 11 vs 20 - 23
Hebrews 6 vs 4 - 6
1 Timothy 4 vs 1
... Paul's use of 'if' in terms of our salvation (Colossians 1 vs 23) implies our participation or application of free will is needed or required
Colossians 1 vs 21 - 23
#2) Be diligent to remain faithful as the promise is conditional
Colossians 1 vs 21 - 23
Matthew 24 vs 13
Matthew 10 vs 13
Hebrews 4 vs 11
#3) Salvation is an immediate yet gradual refining process not once for all
Acts 2 vs 47
1 Corinthians 1 vs 18
2 Corinthians 2 vs 15
Romans 5 vs 9 - 10
We have free will so we can choose to live a disobedient life and pretend to believe but talking the talk and fake walking the walk just for show ... but then were we ever saved?
So the question now, between position #1 and position #2, is do we have free will or are things already predetermined?!
Which one supersedes the other ... predestination or choice?!
Can both be true?!
Do the above scriptures contradict each other or do the scriptures actually lay out both points in order to address a 3rd position? What if this position is not a 3rd one but is actually the truth that the verses from the other positions have been just plainly pointing to all along?
Points for a 3rd view/perhaps the main view ... Salvation cannot be lost but it can be forfeited or rejected
#1) Choice
Hebrews 3 vs 12
2 Timothy 2 vs 12
Matthew 10 vs 33
#2) Choice & Repentance
Luke 15 vs 11 - 32*
*Story of the prodigal son (understand that a son means one of the elect just like the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 were also about the elect).
Before we were saved, ABBA loved & loves us. MASHIACH, in His expression of love for us, died as an atonement sacrifice for our sins. MASHIACH paid the judgement payment of death on our behalf. RUACH Ha'QODESH, in love, in-dwells us to strengthen, protect and preserve us until the end when we transition into glory.
We in our fallen state are covered in sin and our sin nature is all we know. In accepting MASHIACH's sacrifice, we become new but the old nature still lingers and we need to be weened, continually sanctified and washed/cleansed by the Word which gradually extracts, from us, our old nature by the help of RUACH Ha'QODESH. The strong influence from our flesh and the enticement of our old ways make us prodigal and many do yield and fall, unfortunately, like dogs returning to their vomit
Proverbs 26 vs 11 - 12
2 Peter 2 vs 22
Because ABBA YAHAWAH loves us, He is patient and waits for His prodigal children to return. We do so in repentance when RUACH Ha'QODESH convicts our hearts for going astray and returning to our old ways. The true believer harkens ...
Then the repentant prodigal returns.
Unfortunately not all do.
Being that we are human, we have a history of breaking covenants ... especially with ABBA YAHAWAH ELOHAYNU and so asking can salvation be lost puts the burden on ABBA who changeth not and cannot lie.
He will honor His Word and His Great Name.
Malachi 3 vs 6
Hebrews 13 vs 8
Numbers 23 vs 19
Titus 1 vs 2
Hebrews 6 vs 18
1 Samuel 12 vs 22
So ... In light these scriptures above, asking if one can lost their salvation seeks to find a way or reason to lay blame with ABBA.
That is wrong!!!
Salvation cannot be lost! Short and simple!! Salvation is kept secure by ABBA Almighty just as the scriptures tell us!! But ... As a personal choice, salvation can be forfeited due to a man's free will, hence we are reminded to constantly test ourselves to be sure that we are still in the faith according Paul in 2 Corinthians 13
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? ... 2 Corinthians 13 vs 5
So the question about can salvation be lost, all along, has actually been the wrong question to ask, especially in light of the scriptures shown above. Hence because of this evident fact, the true question, really, is not can salvation be lost but can salvation be forfeited?
Keep the Faith!!!
Shalom!
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