Spring Warrior Church of Christ

7432 S. Red Padgett Road

Perry, FL 32348
584-5176

Prove All Things Vol. 1 No. 30

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Are Those Who Are Once Saved, Always Saved?

By Scott Mixon, rsmixon@perry.gulfnet.com [8/29/01]

Many sincere religious people believe that once a person has been
redeemed by Christ, it is impossible to sin, fall from God’s grace and be lost.
However, the Bible does not teach that a believer has total security. The Bible
prophesied some would sin and fall away in 1 Timothy 4:1. In fact, there are
numerous Bible passages that refute the theory of “once saved, always saved.”

God is consistent and emphatic about His expectations and the

consequences of not remaining faithful. In Ezekiel 18:24 we read, “But when a
righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does
according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his
righteous deeds, which he has done, will not be remembered for his treachery,
which he has committed, and his sin, which he has committed; for them he will
die.”

In Hebrews 3:12-14, brethren are exhorted to guard against departing the

living God with a heart of unbelief. In verses 15-19, the Hebrew writer continues
to emphasize the seriousness of the warning by using the Israelites, who perished
in the wilderness because of their unbelief, as an example. As stated in Hebrews
4:1 and 11, we too can have the promise and then fall short of it. Satan is looking
to devour the Christian who has become over confident, I Peter 5:8. II John 1: 8-
9 tells us, “watch yourselves that you might not lose what we have
accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”

The Bible provides many examples of Christians who fell from grace. In
Act 8:5-24, we read of Simon who practiced sorcery in Samaria. In verse 13,
Simon believed and was baptized.

Simon wanted to purchase the gift of imparting Holy Spirit in verses 18-
20. Paul rebuked Simon for his sin and described him, in verse 23, as being in
the “gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.” We can conclude from verse 23 that
he was then in a lost condition.

Bibleweb.com, Copyright © 2001 Scott Mixon All Rights Reserved

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 Another example is that of Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 4:32, we read,
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.”
Ananias and Sapphira were members of the congregation. Acts 5:1-11 describes
how Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about the sale of their property and God
struck both of them dead for their sin.

Other examples of Christians who fell from Grace include Hymenaeous

and Alexander. Paul describes Hymenaeous and Alexander, in I Timothy 1:19-
20, as shipwrecked in their faith and he delivered them to Satan for their
blasphemy.

Supporters of “once saved always saved” have responded to examples like

that of Simon the sorcerer and others with the position that, if they fall away, they
weren't saved in the first place. However, Jesus illustrated that it is possible for
one to believe temporarily in the parable of the sewer, Luke 8:11-15. Hebrews 6:4
and II Peter 2:20-22 also confirm that Christians, by there own choice, can fall
back into a sinful life style and be lost. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one, having
put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

God loves us very much. In Romans 8:35-39, we read that nothing can
separate us from that love. However, Romans 8:35-39 does not teach that we can
never be separated from salvation in Christ by our own actions. Not providing for
your family in I Timothy 5:8, the love of money in I Timothy 6:10 and false
teaching in II Peter 2:1; 3:17 are all examples of how our actions can separate us
from Christ.

In Romans 7: 14-25, Paul wrote of the struggle between good and evil
within himself. “I find then the principle of evil is present within me, the one
who wishes to do good.” For this reason, Paul wrote, in I Corinthians 9:27, that
he “buffeted his body lest he become disqualified.” He wrote in I Corinthians
10:12 to “take head lest ye fall”. In Galatians 5:4, Paul told brethren “You have
been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have
fallen from grace.” If “once saved always saved” were true, there would have
been no need for Paul to write two thirds of the New Testament warning
Christians about the consequences of sin.

Our Salvation in Christ is not based on one action but the consistent
attitudes and actions of our new life. Saving faith is one faith that follows God’s
word and brings forth fruit, Luke 8:15. “If we sin willfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries,” Hebrews 10:26-27.

Bibleweb.com, Copyright © 2001 Scott Mixon All Rights Reserved

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