Introduction
In defense of Once saved always saved means that a believer is eternally secured the moment he trusted Jesus Christ. And he can not lose his salvation no matter what happens. Therefore in defense of once saved always saved, we will look at what the Bible teaches.
Can a child of God so apostatize as to be finally lost? The Word of God, and it alone, can authoritatively, satisfactorily, and finally answer this question.
Experience cannot answer it, for experiences vary among different individuals, and even in the same individual, and therefore cannot speak with authority, for it has a varied voice.
Observations cannot answer this question because those observations cannot have complete and perfect information.
First, one can never know by what he sees and hears of another whether that other is a saved person or not. And second, if he knew that much, he could never know whether or not that one was finally lost.
And to prove the certainty of final apostasy one must show beyond all doubt one of two things:
(1) That the one lost had been a saved person;
(2) that the one saved was lost.
None can answer but the divinely inspired, unalterable, and eternal Word. The Bible must be our final court of appeal in all matters of faith and practice.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine … for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), “to the law and to the testimony” (Isa. 8:20).
“Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures” (Matt. 22:29).
Let us therefore “[reason] … out of the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2) and “search the Scriptures” (Jn. 5:39), and in so doing be “more noble” (Acts 17:11) than others and also shall through comfort of the Scriptures have hope (Rom. 15:4) and light (Psa. 119:130) and wisdom (Psa. 19:7) and faith (Jn. 20:31) and joy (Psa. 19:8).
What, then, do the Scriptures teach regarding the safety of a saved soul?
1ST DEFENSE FOR ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED
Because self-righteousness did not save us in the first place, it is not a basis upon which salvation can be continued or lost. Salvation is not earned by works, kept by works, or lost by works.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
2 Timothy1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2ND DEFENSE FOR ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED
If God bestows initial salvation without effort, but then requires us to perform to maintain salvation, then salvation is no longer a gift. Salvation is not given or maintained by works.
I’m certainly not minimizing living a life for God, but I’m saying that those maintaining a holy life is not a basis upon which you can boost your salvation, if it was, then it’s a doctrine of works. As most of you know, the Bible clearly teaches we’re not saved by works.
Eternal Security: Once Saved Always Saved
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
See (Eph 2:8-9, Phil 3:9, Gal 2:16, 2:21 Rom 1:16, 3:20, 4:5, 5:1,11:6, Acts 13:39 etc)
3RD DEFENSE FOR ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED
If a believer or if a Christian can lose his or her salvation, then eternal life is no longer eternal.
Many passages teach that once you receive the free gift of God it is, in fact, eternal life (John 3:15-16, John 5:24, John 17:3, 1 John 5:13).
The same Greek word in these verses is translated as “eternal” (aionios) and is used for God’s nature (an example is in Romans 16:26). Since God is eternal/forever, then the life in God that He gives you, by definition, has to last forever and it’s impossible to lose something that’s eternal.
There cannot be a termination point if someone has really received eternal life any more than there can be a termination point in God Himself.
Eternal Life is a Present Possession for Believers
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
We have eternal life when we respond to whatsoever will’s call.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
4TH DEFENSE FOR ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED
If a believer can lose salvation, then it makes the Bible’s promises untrue. There are some things God can’t do; He can’t do things that contradict His nature and He can’t lie and misrepresent. See (Num 23:19; Rom 3:4; 2 Cor 1:20; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18; 10:23)
5th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY:
The Spirit’s seal cannot be broken (see Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22), so if a Christian could lose his salvation, then the Holy Spirit has failed in His sealing ministry. When the Spirit of God placed the seal on us, signifying that we belong to God & we are His property.
6th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
If eternal security is not a reality, then the assurance of salvation is impossible. Many churches do teach eternal security, but they’ll say you can’t really know if you have salvation or not and they claim if you’re really saved, you have eternal security, but you really don’t know if you’re really saved, because the proof of being one being saved is persevering to the end of your life.
So, they’re teaching eternal security, but at the same time, they’re denying what we would call the assurance of salvation, which is the idea that Christians can know that they have eternal security.
We teach the idea that once saved always saved. And beyond that, we teach the idea that you can actually know that you have this salvation; it’s not a guessing game.
7th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY
If a Christian can lose his salvation, then God has failed in His intention to keep or protect us (see 1 Peter 1:3-5)
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
8th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
If Christians can lose their salvation, then Jesus can fail in His ministries as our intercessor and advocate (John 17:11-12; Rom 8:34 36; Heb 7:24-25; 1 Jn 2:1).
9th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
Christ’s death perfectly dealt with all sins. If a Christian can lose his salvation and go to hell because of some sin, then Jesus Christ’s atonement must not have perfectly dealt with all sins, which is of course untrue.
Some people mistakenly look at/focus on personal sin in their lives instead of looking at the Son, Jesus Christ (see Titus 2:14; Ps 103:12, Colossians 2:13 etc).
10th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
If a believer can lose their salvation, then they can become removed from Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:13).
11th ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
The Bible never specifies which sin or sins remove salvation. If salvation could be lost by something we do or some sin we commit, wouldn’t the Bible say we should stay away from that particular sin?
The reason the Bible never says to stay away from that one is that there is no sin you can commit that can undo your salvation.
Final ARGUMENT FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.
Believers with unfruitful lives still have salvation. “What about a person who’s a believer in the Gospel and they don’t have any real fruit?” (they have an unfruitful life).
Two options: either the person has never trusted in Christ, like Judas (Mark 14:18), or the person is a believer in an extreme state of carnality where there is a lack of fruit because of their carnality.
Conclusion
We encourage people (in this second category), through the motivation of God’s love to grow in their faith under God’s resources. Of course, we have no way of knowing for sure which category somebody is in, but we just need to be faithful to what God has called us to do rather than be worried about everybody else.
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