Have you ever heard the expression, “Once saved always saved”? I’m sure if you did you also heard a vigorous discussion of the pros and cons of that position. The cons being, “You can lose your salvation if you sin deliberately. So, be on your toes so you don’t slip”. Both sides of the argument are quick to give their favorite scripture or what they thought was scripture to support their beliefs. You may not be sure what to think.

The answer to the above dilemma lies not in what you think but in what the word of God says. Knowing the truth about the subject is not found by using your intellect but by relying on wisdom and revelation. We will need to ask God to reveal the truth to us from the Bible as we read it.

The book of James tells us how to get the wisdom we need. Jas. 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not (without criticism); and it shall be given him”.

Then, in Ephesians 1:17, it says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”.

So, with these empowering words from God let us go to the scripture that many use to tell us that we can lose our salvation. It is found in the book of Hebrews, chapter 6, verses 4 through 6. Vs. 4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, vs. 5)And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, vs.6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The above passage does not teach that one can lose his salvation through disbelief or apostasy (renunciation). Here, the author, the Apostle Paul, is not saying that one can lose his salvation nor that his readers had, but uses a hypothetical situation to stress what would happen to a saved person if he could fall away. He is trying to demonstrate the folly that some had in thinking they could turn back to Judaism without suffering loss. “If you shall fall away” is better translated to “If you could fall away”. The conclusion then is that it would be impossible to restore you again to repentance. This should provide some relief to those who are in bondage to a legalistic approach to salvation.

There are many other supporting scriptures for eternal salvation. One of the most prominent is a quote from Jesus, personally, and found in John 10. Jesus is talking to the unbelieving Jews about his sheep whom he said “know my voice”. John 10:28-30. Vs. 28 - “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand“. Vs. 29 - “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”. Vs.30 - “I and my Father are one”.

One final scripture is found in Philippians 1:6 - “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. Your eternal security is guaranteed by the person and work of God. You only need to receive it by faith.

Let not your heart be troubled. . . ,

Glory to God,

Hal Mitchell

Halmitch@cox.net