Once Saved, Always Saved?
Once saved, always saved is a doctrine that many churches differ on, some
answer yes, while others say no. Everyone has to answer that questions on
their own. It is a choice we all have and it is conditional on our response to the
word of God. Just like the Israelites were warned in the wilderness
(Deuteronomy 30:19) “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore
choose life, that both you and your seed may live”.
The church has to make a choice too (Revelation 3:1-6) “and the angel of the
church in Sardis write: these things says He that has the seven spirits of God,
and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and
are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready
to die; for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember
therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not
know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for
they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name
before My Father and before His angels. He that has an ear; let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
Jesus warns the believer (Matthews 7:21-24) “not every one that says to Me,
Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out devils? And in
Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never
knew you; depart from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears
these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to be a wise man, which
built his house upon a rock”.
Many people believe that because they are born into a Christian family, or live
in a Christian nation, that they are protected eternally, even if they don’t have a
relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people are Christian in name only. But
you must have a true conversion (Acts 3:19) “repent you therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord”.
The Bible tells us in (John 10:27-29) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know
them, and they follow Me. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which
gave them to Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My
Fathers hand”. Jesus also says “all that he Father gives Me shall come to Me,
and him that comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). God says
many times “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua
1:5 as well as Hebrews 13:5); but people walk away from God all the time.
Usually because something happens in their lives, that they blame God for
causing it or letting it happen. This is so sad, because the devil tricks people to
think that God causes people to be sick and or die, its hard for people to trust
and love a God that they think brings harm against them, but the scripture says
“ the thief comes not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Let’s not fall into the devil’s trap, by not knowing the character of God, the Bible
tells us that “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man. But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust
has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth
death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:13-17).
In Galatians 6:7-9 says “be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a
man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit, reap life
everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not”. Remember Jesus said “the word is seed”, so what ever
people are saying is growing in their lives. The Bible tells us that “God, who
makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they
were”. Jesus warns us “for by your words you shall be justified, and by your
words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).
In Ephesians we are told to be followers of God as dear children, “but
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks. For this you know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man
deceive you with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience. Be not you therefore partakers with
them” (Ephesians 5:1-7). In Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us “follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less an root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”.
What I take from this lesson is that you can be once saved, always saved, the
choice is your, the condition is that you abide in Him and let His words abide in
you, and walk in the Spirit of God. However, people can walk away from God,
and have their names blotted out of the book of life; as I read to you in
Revelation chapter 3.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 10, 2008
Once saved, always saved is a doctrine that many churches differ on, some
answer yes, while others say no. Everyone has to answer that questions on
their own. It is a choice we all have and it is conditional on our response to the
word of God. Just like the Israelites were warned in the wilderness
(Deuteronomy 30:19) “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore
choose life, that both you and your seed may live”.
The church has to make a choice too (Revelation 3:1-6) “and the angel of the
church in Sardis write: these things says He that has the seven spirits of God,
and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and
are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready
to die; for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember
therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not
know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for
they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name
before My Father and before His angels. He that has an ear; let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
Jesus warns the believer (Matthews 7:21-24) “not every one that says to Me,
Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out devils? And in
Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never
knew you; depart from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears
these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to be a wise man, which
built his house upon a rock”.
Many people believe that because they are born into a Christian family, or live
in a Christian nation, that they are protected eternally, even if they don’t have a
relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people are Christian in name only. But
you must have a true conversion (Acts 3:19) “repent you therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord”.
The Bible tells us in (John 10:27-29) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know
them, and they follow Me. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which
gave them to Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My
Fathers hand”. Jesus also says “all that he Father gives Me shall come to Me,
and him that comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). God says
many times “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua
1:5 as well as Hebrews 13:5); but people walk away from God all the time.
Usually because something happens in their lives, that they blame God for
causing it or letting it happen. This is so sad, because the devil tricks people to
think that God causes people to be sick and or die, its hard for people to trust
and love a God that they think brings harm against them, but the scripture says
“ the thief comes not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Let’s not fall into the devil’s trap, by not knowing the character of God, the Bible
tells us that “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man. But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust
has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth
death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:13-17).
In Galatians 6:7-9 says “be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a
man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit, reap life
everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not”. Remember Jesus said “the word is seed”, so what ever
people are saying is growing in their lives. The Bible tells us that “God, who
makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they
were”. Jesus warns us “for by your words you shall be justified, and by your
words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).
In Ephesians we are told to be followers of God as dear children, “but
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becomes saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks. For this you know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man
deceive you with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience. Be not you therefore partakers with
them” (Ephesians 5:1-7). In Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us “follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less an root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”.
What I take from this lesson is that you can be once saved, always saved, the
choice is your, the condition is that you abide in Him and let His words abide in
you, and walk in the Spirit of God. However, people can walk away from God,
and have their names blotted out of the book of life; as I read to you in
Revelation chapter 3.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 10, 2008
