Once Saved Always Saved

Q: I would like to have some insight on the subject once in grace
always in grace. Me and some of my buddies have been discussing it
and I am not sure I understand it.

A: You speak of once in grace; always in grace. I have also heard it called
once saved; always saved. This is called the doctrine of eternal
security. It means that once a person is truly saved, they can never be
lost after that. The opposite of the doctrine of eternal security is the
belief that a person can by wilful acts of sin (different people have
different ideas concerning what point this happens) lose their salvation.

I believe in eternal security (or once in grace; always in grace) for a
large number of reasons. However, I also admit that there are a number of
doctrinal and practical problems that have to be dealt with. But that is
true no matter which way this is taught. But do not think that I take
this doctrine lightly. It matters, and it matters very much. If we can
lose our salvation, then we must have some part in earning our salvation.
If we earn our salvation, then it is not by grace (which means God does
for us what we cannot do for ourselves).

Salvation is entirely a gift of God. True, we accept it, but we do not
earn it. When we accept it, God births us into His family and we become a
child of God (John 1:12). My children were born to me. And, though they
have not always been in good graces with me, they have never ceased to be
my children. And, though human parents might cruelly cast a child out of
their home, the Bible promises us that we can never be separated from the
love of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35-38).

Can I stop being God's child if I want to? Let me ask you: Can you stop
being your earthly father's child even if you want to? Of course not--to
both questions. Besides, why would anyone want to cease being the child
of God? Why would anyone want to go to hell instead of heaven. They would
have to had lost their mind to want to stop being saved. I would not cast
my children out because they lost their mind; neither would God cast His
children out.

Often people will point out to me people they know that "got saved" and
later left the Lord and went back to sin. There are two possibilities.
One is that they were never saved in the first place. 1John 2:19 speaks
of a group of so-called believers who left the saints so that it might be
known that they were never really one of the saints. Many people go
through an experience or "get religion" for a time, but they are not
saved. Eventually, their lack of true spiritual life bears fruit and they
leave the God they never really knew.

The second possibility is that God is still dealing with them, though we
may not see it for a time. The Bible teaches that those who are true sons
of God will be chastened (whipped) when they stray from Him (Hebrews
12:5-7). In fact, he says that those who do not receive chastisement are
not His sons (Hebrews 12:8) but are illegitimate (the Bible uses a
stronger word here). Sometimes, the ways of the Lord work slowly over a
long period of time, but He is always working to bring His true children
back to Him.

But, when we are saved and truly born again, we will forever be one of
God's children. We may stray and we may suffer for our disobedience, but
we will never cease to be His child. This shows us the greatness of the
salvation God has given us. Thanks be to His name.

I hope this helps. For further information, I suggest an in-depth article
I have written that is on our site at the following address:

www.learnthebible.org/Lose%20Your%20Salvation%201.htm

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

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