ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)

ON THIS SUBJECT, the religious community is divided. However, God has spoken too clearly on this matter for such divisions to be justified. First, no one who IS believing is in jeopardy of being lost. Consistently, the Word of God affirms salvation for those who ARE believing. A believer is someone who IS believing – not someone who HAS believed. Someone in a state of unbelief cannot claim the promises of God, for they can be realized only by faith.

THE WORD OF GOD does not take faith for granted. It challenges believers to "earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3), "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12), and "continue in the faith" (Acts 14:22). We are also admonished to "examine" ourselves to see if we ARE "in the faith" (2 Cor 13:5). The Spirit tells us of people who have "departed from the faith" (1 Tim 4:1), made "shipwreck of the faith" (1 Tim 1:19), and believed "for a while" (Luke 8:13). On the subject of falling away, or being lost after once saved, it is not in order to cite promises that are made to those who ARE believing! What has God said on falling away? What is declared by the Spirit on THAT subject?

GOD HAS SPOKEN on the subject of falling away, and His words are quite clear. Believers do not live in a moral vacuum. They are in a cursed world, hounded by a fierce adversary, and living in a frail house of clay. They are not in heaven yet, and to get there will require effort on their part. It is inconceivable that God Himself, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and even the holy angels could involve themselves in our salvation, without us being involved ourselves. Such a thought is an absurdity unworthy of consideration. God speaks of a fallen state that is worse than never having known the Lord at all (2 Peter 2:20-21). The Spirit also speaks of those who have had extensive involvement with heavenly things, yet through unbelief, have fallen into a condition from which they cannot be recovered (Hebrews 6:4-6).

IF A PERSON DOUBTS this can happen, a sober reflection on several accounts of Scripture should serve to awaken them from their self-induced stupor. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden by God Himself. They had no sin, and were in some form of fellowship with the Lord. Yet, they were expelled from the very Garden in which God placed them. Who is the person willing to affirm they were really never in the Garden at all? Also, Israel was given the land of Canaan. They entered the land, possessing it for a while. Yet, they were also expelled from it because of their unbelief. Would anyone be foolhardy enough to affirm Israel never really occupied Canaan? And what about Judas, chosen by Jesus Himself to be an Apostle. We are told he "fell by transgression," and was thus excluded from the Apostolic office. His place, according to prophecy, was taken by another. Will any one dare to affirm Judas was really never an Apostle.

YET, SOME WOULD HAVE US believe those who fall away were never really saved. To those daring to take such a view, the Holy Spirit says, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (2 Peter 3:17, NKJV). And again, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Can a person be lost once he is saved? As long as they are in the realm of hostility – "this present evil world" – they can again be ensnared by the devil. Ultimate safety will be experienced only when we are removed from this world. Until then, our only safety is found in our faith, which is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4-5). Now, that is our sole means of connection with the eternal. If, in this world, you could not fall from the heavenly places, there would be no need for an Intercessor (Heb 7:25). The angels would not be required to minister to the saved (Heb 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit would not be required to indwell the believer (Rom 15:13). If one imagines that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the angels engage in their indispensable ministries apart from the willing involvement of the individual, Satan has surely deceived them. No such thought is ever expressed in Scripture! The reasoning is flawed that assumes heaven is involved in our salvation, but we are not. It is OUR involvement that is the weak point, so to speak. At the point we "draw back," God ceases to be pleased with us (Heb 10:38-39). It is then that we move outside of the circumference of Divine grace and protection.

WHILE THERE IS A DANGER of being lost once we are saved, it is certainly not necessary. God is "able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before His throne with exceeding joy" (Jude 24-25). As you place your faith in Him, walking in the Spirit and living by faith, you WILL be kept safe. But do not assume that process is automatic. It does require all of your effort. It is YOU that must "fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim 6:12). Rather than waste time speculating about the possibility of falling away, engage all of your powers to ensure you do not!

– Given O. Blakely