Once Saved Always Saved?

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (Hebrews 3:12 NKJV)

Once-saved-always-saved is a hard doctrine for me to accept in the face of so much contrary scripture. Just a simple reading of the Bible produces many verses that seem contrary to such a notion, with Hebrews 3:12-14 as a prime example.

Beware, brethren (Christians), lest there be in any of you (again, Christians) an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we (Christians) have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end… – Hebrews 3:12-14

This passage alone should give great pause to those who believe in eternal security. It is so plainly stated and so obviously speaking to Christians that it is very difficult to be explained away by once-saved-always-saved theology.

Yet this passage is not alone. If it were, perhaps it could be explained away. But there are a host of other passages just like it. For example:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith…(1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV)

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. (2 Peter 2:20, 21 NKJV)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV)

That’s four passages (including the title passage) from at least two different authors.

Furthermore, we have the Old Testament example of the people of Israel who were saved out of Egypt (a type of salvation), passed through the Red Sea (a type of baptism), and were headed to the promised land (a type of the kingdom of God). However, they perished when they turned their hearts from the Lord in the wilderness. Paul draws this direct parallel in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, relating it to us:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:1-12 NKJV)

Why do people believe in Once-Saved-Always-Saved?

I suspect that the main reason many people believe in once-saved-always-saved is that it is the logical conclusion of theology that isn’t quite right. But we shouldn’t mold scripture to fit our theology. Instead, we should mold our theology from the scripture. When we come upon passages in the Bible that do not support our theology, then we need to adjust our theology – not try to explain away. When I come to a verse that disagrees with a theological view that I hold, I ask myself a few questions:

1. Is this verse an isolated verse, or are there others that say the same thing?
2. Is there a possibility that this verse is translated incorrectly?
3. Is it possible that the meaning of the verse is different than what I read at face value?
4. Do I need to change what I believe based on the light of this scripture?

The Bible says that every word must be established by two or three witnesses (Matthew 18:15, John 8:17, 2 Corinthians 13:1). This means that we should form our doctrine upon clear, multiple passages of scripture. An isolated passage can be misunderstood. But multiple passages that agree cannot be ignored.

That said, it is very difficult to explain away all the verses I have presented. And I have yet to find one verse that emphatically states that once you are saved, you are always saved. But don’t take my word for it. Take all of the scriptures together. View all of them together and ask the Holy Spirit how they fit together, for they surely do.

Conclusion

I honestly can’t find once-saved-always-saved in the Bible. I would have no problem believing once-saved-always-saved. I have no prejudice against the idea. If it were true, I would have no trouble accepting it. But I can’t seem to find it in scripture.

The unfortunate truth is that a person can be gloriously saved and later cast away if they do not continue in the goodness of God:

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 NKJV)

This doesn’t mean that we risk our salvation every time we sin. Our salvation is not a transactional contract; it is a covenantal relationship, like a marriage. When a man sins against his wife, it doesn’t automatically mean he is divorced. However, if he is not careful, it can lead to a divorce. In the same way, if we allow our hearts to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, we are setting ourselves up to ‘depart from the living God.’ While it is true that no one can snatch you from His hand, it is also true that he doesn’t prevent those who willingly walk away.

So be watchful, be sober. Your adversary walks about as a lion, seeking whom he made devour. Stand fast in the faith and remember the words of our Lord Jesus: “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13 NKJV)

——— more scriptures related to the subject——–

“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

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life fro those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. – 1 John 5:16-17

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Gal 5:4

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19-20

“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Acts 20:31 (why did Paul warn the church with tears to watch if they had risk of being led away?)

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” – Mark 13:13 (notice that it does not say, ‘He who is saved will endure to the end’)

“But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” – Jude 5

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” -Hebrews 6:4-6

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? – Hebrews 10:26-29

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”- 2 Peter 2:20-21

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

“But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” – 1 Timothy 5:15

“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing so have departed from the faith.” – 1 Timothy 6:20-21

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. – 1 John 5:16-17

“Moreover, brethern, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” – Galatians 5:4

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” – James 5:19-20

Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. – Romans 8:12-13

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” – Colossians 1:21-23

“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” – 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.” – Ezekiel 18:26

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire–‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’” – Mark 9:42-48 (What’s the point of these verses if apostasy is impossible?)

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. – 1 Cor 9:2

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. – 1 Tim 4:16

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? – 1 Cor 8:11

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. – 1 Tim 3:6-7

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain…for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord- 1 Thessalonians 3:5,8

…if by any means, I may attained to the resurrection from the dead – Philippians 3:11

“I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned. – Jn 15:5-6

and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. -Revelation 22:19