Once saved always saved?

Once saved always saved? In evangelical circles there is the idea that once you are saved,
you are always saved but is this true or biblical? Heres the scripture they use to justify
this opinion.

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Fathers hand.

When studying the bible one should always apply the who what why when & where
principle.
1.Who speaking and to who is it speaking to.
2.What is it pertaining to.
3. Why is this being said.
4. When does it apply or when did it take place.
5. Where did it happen or where does it apply.
6. How does it apply or how can it happen or be.

In John 10:28 its Jesus speaking to the Jews. Lets read the full setting.

John 10:24-33 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost
thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my
Fathers name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Fathers hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for
which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for
blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

So is this scripture talking about once saved always saved? I think it quite a stretch to
deduct that out of that scripture. Jesus says my sheep will not be plucked out his hand
because they hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. My teacher used to say
the only person who can pluck you out of the hand of God is you.
Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Be not
deceived; saying once saved, always saved is deceiving ones self. The scripture goes on
to say if we not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
When we come to the LORD then go about being deceptive in anything in our lives
chances are we are not saved. If we love and serve money chances are we are not saved.

Hebrews 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul.

The apostle Paul says if we draw back away from God we fall into perdition. The
dictionary defines perdition as; (in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and
damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.

Mark 8: 34-37 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he
said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my
sake and the gospels, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

A person can lose their soul. There are laws and rules to obey when we come to God.
There is a growth period to a persons spiritual walk. When we come to the LORD we are
as babes, as we begin to apply Gods laws and precepts to our lives we grow.
To say once saved always saved cheapens what Jesus Christ did and said. If we believed
that once we repent and ask the LORD to come into our heart and that is all there is to
salvation we are mistaken and robbing ourselves. To say once saved always saved, it
gives license to fall and justify ones self.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Are we going to fall? Yes! But it is our duty to get back up and try again.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my (apostle
Pauls) presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.

We are to work out our salvation. When we come to the LORD and get baptized we are
making a covenant or contract with God. We bring our self under biblical judgment, as I
mention in my book - Jesus Christ The Mystical YHWH in the study on The Resurrection
of The Dead (available on Scribd).

Just as Jacob wrestled with the angel of the LORD so do we have to wrestle with our
carnal nature.

Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalms 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Hebrews 6:4-6 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,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
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.

We can fall away from the LORD.

Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, LORD, are there few that be saved? And he said
unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able.

Are there few that be saved? Yes!

1Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear?

The righteous are scarcely saved. Once saved always saved is just feel good religion.

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and
honour and immortality, eternal life:

There is a patient continuance in well doing in obtaining eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by
our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes, that they may also
obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Salvation is something obtained.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The apostle Paul knew he himself could be a castaway.

In the bible the word tree is used as an allegory of a person.

Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree
(person) which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

James 2: 14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it
profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Faith without works is dead.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.

A person can fall short of obtaining the promise of eternal life.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the
same example of unbelief.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless
ye have believed in vain.

1 Timothy 2:4 (God) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.

Love for the truth is a good indicator that one is saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God.

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Matthew 10: 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning the LORDs body.

1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup.

2 Corinthians 13:5 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?

Ezekiel 18:24 & 26-28 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and
committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man
doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned:
in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he
die.
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity,
and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath
committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath
committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Copyright 2010 J. W. Wilder & The Wilder Family Trust dated 2/13/04

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