This statement is a false, unqualified generalization. It is never explicitly stated in the Scriptures, and has historical roots dating back to John Calvin in the 1500s and earlier. It gathered much momentum from Calvinistic theology and its proponents like Charles Spurgeon, and is closely related to, and builds upon the foundation of the other falsehood described in this paper, God’s Love is Unconditional. Once Saved, Always Saved is related to the study of Soteriology, the study of religious doctrines of salvation. If they would only modify their saying to something like this: Once saved, always saved for those who continue in the faith, then I could go along with this saying since it emphasizes the required faith of the believer to rest upon God’s eternal security.

The main point that the proponents of this falsehood fail to consider is the importance of the present time in the life of the believer. They only consider the past (when the believer was saved) and future (the glorious, future resurrection) of the believer when reading the scriptures that speak of eternal security. Furthermore, to defend their position, they assert that those who fall away were never truly believers to begin with, only mere professors. Ironically, this second point actually detracts from the eternal security of the believer because it means that they can never really be sure they are true believers, not mere professors, until their life of faith on the earth is over and they have the self-realization that they have not wickedly departed from the faith! Furthermore, this falsehood asserts that rebellion, rejecting the faith, and unrepentant sin in the life of a true believer will result in physical sickness or death, but will not change his/her final destination in heaven. But at the same time they also reserve the right to say if a person sins to some extreme degree that they were never saved to begin with. This type of thinking can have a terrible effect on the present life of the believer since it lessens the fear of God in the believer, encouraging him to stay in his sin.

Another scripture that is sometimes used out of context to bolster this myth is:

Romans 11:29 KJV For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance NIV for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Romans chapters 9-11 are considered a set of parenthetical chapters focusing on the Jews and Gentiles in the plan of God. Once saved, always saved proponents say this is proof that once you are called and saved, it cannot be undone since God’s calling is irrevocable. But that is a wrong understanding of this section and this chapter in particular. Earlier in chapter 11 it points out how that Elijah complained to God about the entire nation of Israel was against him. God pointed out that 7,000 were still faithful to him and so there is a remnant out of Israel that is saved and fulfilling God’s plan and calling. So the point is here as well: God is faithful in his calling and will continue to save a remnant in each generation of man that is faithful to Him and finally save the faithful remnant in Israel in the last days. God intends to fulfill His purposes in His Calling to his faithful remnant consisting of both Jew and Gentile and that cannot be undone. God’s calling is truly irrevocable if we remain faithful to that calling.

Yet another scripture that is used by UL proponents is:

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note what is missing from the list of things that cannot separate us from God:

  • unbelief
  • rebellion
  • sin

Anything detracting from our walk of faith in righteousness and holy living is not on the list.

Related to this is the “Lordship Salvation Controversy“. John MacArthur, who can be considered a Lordship Salvation proponent, argued against “Free Grace” theology. He states, “You must receive Jesus Christ for who He is, both Lord and Savior, to be truly saved (II Peter 2:20).” Regarding eternal security, he states, “It should never be presented merely as a matter of being once saved, always saved—with no regard for what you believe or do. The writer of Hebrews 12:14 states frankly that only those who continue living holy lives will enter the Lord’s presence.”

The doctrine of Eternal Security is a real, valid Christian doctrine, and God wants the believer to have comfort in the knowledge of being eternally secure in Christ. The Doctrine of Eternal Security only applies to the believer that is obedient to the faith, not to those who are disobedient. God never gives encouragement to those who do not obey the Gospel. Encouragement is only for those who are continuing in the faith, a very present faith life of the believer!

The believer’s life is a life of action: Continue, Abide, Fight, Grow, Obey, Stay, Stand, Speak, Walk, Wait, Grow, Love, Work, Keep, Exemplify, Hold, Resist, Be, Give, Pray

Examine the following list for the expected present actions of the believer.

Continue in the faith:

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

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17-18 (KJV)

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 (KJV)

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Phil 1:27 (KJV)

“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;“ Col 1:23 (KJV)

“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” 1 Thess 3:5 (KJV)

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,…” 1 Tim 4:1 (KJV)

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Heb 10:37-38 (KJV)

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” 2 Tim 3:14 (KJV)

Abide in Christ:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” John 15:4 (KJV)

“9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:9-10 (KJV)

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 2:24 (KJV)

Fight the good fight of faith:

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;…” 1 Thess 5:8 (KJV)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:12 (KJV)

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Tim 4:7 (KJV)

“8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (KJV)

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”Jude 1:3 (KJV)

Grow your faith:

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;” 2 Thess 1:3 (KJV)

“20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)

 

Obey the faith:

“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” Romans 1:5 (KJV)

“But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” Romans 16:26 (KJV)

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev 14:12 (KJV)

Stay in Christ’s Grace:

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2 (KJV)

Stand in God’s Power:

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Cor 2:5 (KJV)

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor 16:13 (KJV)

Speak and continue in the Word of God:

“the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” 2 Cor 4:13 (KJV)

Walk in the Light:

“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 Cor 13:5 (KJV)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (KJV)

“6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Col 2:6-7 (KJV)

Wait on God:

“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Gal 5:5 (KJV)

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12 (KJV)

Grow in Christ:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Eph 4:13 (KJV)

Love fellow believers:

“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,” Col 1:4-5 (KJV)

“Let brotherly love continue.” Heb 13:1 (KJV)

Work your faith:

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1 Thess 1:3 (KJV)

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:” 2 Thess 1:11 (KJV)

Keep your faith sincere:

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Tim 1:5 (KJV)

“Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” 1 Tim 3:9 (KJV)

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee…” 2 Tim 1:5 (KJV)

Exemplify the faith:

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 (KJV)

Hold fast to the faith:

“Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” 1 Tim 6:21 (KJV)

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 1:13 (KJV)

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Heb 10:23 (KJV)

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Tim 4:16 (KJV)

Resist temptation:

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:22 (KJV)

Be sound in the faith:

“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” Titus 1:13

“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” Titus 2:2 (KJV)

Give for the faith:

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philem 1:6 (KJV)

Pray:

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” Col 4:2 (KJV)