“Once Saved Always Saved” Is Not Biblical – Here’s Why

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Once saved always saved is a hotly debated topic in the church today and one that requires careful consideration to truly uncover the biblical truths that lie beyond our basic assumptions. As with all major disagreements involving biblical doctrine, we must take the time to explore what scripture says in context so we can rightly divide the word of Truth.

In this exploration, we will discuss the biblical evidence advocating against Once Saved Always Saved as a doctrine. We will dive deep into the fundamental problems with the argument supporting this idea, biblical examples of individuals who fell away, and how we as believers must persevere in our faith in order to stay connected to Christ as the vine.

Please join me as we explore this fascinating topic, I invite you to consider this perspective with an open mind if you’re currently convinced in once saved always saved is biblical. And as always, take things back to scripture and prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

If you would like to read some background on the dispositions of both sides of this argument, please click here.

Two Major Errors About Salvation in the Church

There are two MAJOR ERRORS about the concept of salvation in the church that we need to guard against.

Salvation by presumption: This is presuming that God is so merciful and gracious we take Him for granted; and think we are saved by His grace.

Salvation by works: This means living in constant fear of one’s salvation, not enjoying the beautiful life God has given, having no peace or confidence, and working one’s way to help one feel satisfied that one is saved because of how far has come or how much one has done.

These are the two extreme errors that most believers make and that lead many astray. The question then remains: What is the biblical balance between these two? How do I claim God’s grace without taking Him for granted by expressing it through my works as evidence of His dwelling in me?

What Does it Mean to be Sealed by the Holy Spirit?

Those who believe in the once-saved, always-saved doctrine frequently reference, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ”

Ephesians 1:13 talks about the Holy Spirit marking or sealing believers and strongly relates to another great Bible verse, Matthew 12:32. “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come.”

Judas Iscariot is a great example of someone who grieved the Holy Spirit by his actions, particularly through his betrayal of Jesus. He rejected and resisted God’s Spirit. Judas’ betrayal and ultimate rejection of Christ were forms of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. His actions demonstrated persistent rebellion, rejecting the Spirit’s conviction and choosing destruction.

However, if Judas had genuinely repented and sought God’s mercy, he could have been forgiven—just as Peter, who denied Jesus, was restored (John 21:15-19).

The difference is that Peter turned back to Christ, while Judas turned away.

God’s grace was upon the disciples, but it was always up to them to continually surrender to Him. Are you telling me Judas’ relationship with Jesus was not of true faith? Jesus had entrusted Judas with all the finances of the ministry, yet he fell short to the temptations of the devil. He showed remorse but not repentance because he had grieved away the Holy Spirit, who has the power to help us repent. Although the Spirit of God seals us, we still live in a sinful world. We are subject to deception, and we still have free will to fall short, which is why we are asked to continuously put on the full armor of God.

Matthew 24:13 (KJV) says:
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Endurance has been the mark of true faith throughout Scripture. This verse emphasizes the necessity of perseverance in the Christian walk, especially in times of trials and tribulations. It talks about enduring to the end, which means it never stops.

In Matthew 24, Jesus is warning about great deception, persecution, and lawlessness that will cause many to fall away (Matthew 24:10-12). The phrase “endure unto the end” implies that salvation is not merely about making a one-time profession of faith but about remaining steadfast in Christ until the very end—whether that be the end of one’s life or the return of Christ.

This aligns with other biblical teachings James 1:12 (KJV): “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Hebrews 3:14 (KJV): “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”

The Role of God’s Work

As Paul writes in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

No one is arguing or denouncing the work of God. In fact, we know from Scripture that God’s work in a believer’s life is both transformative and sustaining. His grace is not only the foundation of our salvation but also the power that enables us to endure in faith.

Jesus Himself affirms in John 6:39-40 that He will lose none of those the Father has given Him, and in Romans 8:38-39, Paul assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. These promises highlight God’s sovereignty in salvation, yet they do not negate the call for believers to CONTINUOUSLY remain steadfast in faith.

Scripture consistently teaches both God’s faithfulness and human responsibility. While Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works, Hebrews 3:14 emphasizes, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”

Be sure to see the IF. It means it is conditional.

This balance is further reflected in 2 Peter 1:10, where Peter urges believers to “make your calling and election sure,” not as a means of earning salvation but as evidence of a faith that endures.
Thus, we rejoice in the assurance of God’s work in us while also heeding the many biblical warnings to remain in Him (John 15:4-6).

Addressing the Argument “They Were Never Being Saved to Begin With”

When examining the question of “is once saved always saved biblical” one may argue that the “loss” of salvation might indicate it was never genuinely present. James 2:14-26 reminds us that genuine faith produces visible fruit.”

That is not true! I’ll give you 3 examples out of the many.

King Saul (1 Samuel 9-31)

•    Started well: God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was initially humble and obedient to God’s command (1 Samuel 9:21).
•    Lost favor: Over time, Saul disobeyed God’s commands, especially when he failed to destroy all of the Amalekites and their possessions as God had instructed (1 Samuel 15:10-23). Saul’s pride, jealousy of David, and rejection of God’s commands led to his downfall. God withdrew His Spirit from Saul, and he was ultimately rejected as king (1 Samuel 15:26-28).
•    End: Saul’s life ended tragically when he committed suicide in battle (1 Samuel 31:4-6).

Demus (2 Timothy 4:10)

•    Started well: Demas was a fellow worker and companion of Paul, mentioned as a co-laborer in the ministry (Philemon 1:24, Colossians 4:14).
•    Turned away: However, later in Paul’s ministry, Demas “forsook” Paul, “having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
•    End: The Bible doesn’t provide further details on his ultimate fate, but his abandonment of Paul and the faith suggests a turning away from the faith.

King Solomon (1 Kings 3-11)

•    Started well: Solomon, the son of David, started his reign with wisdom granted directly by God and a heart to honor God (1 Kings 3:5-14). He built the temple for God and led Israel in peace and prosperity.
•    Turned away: However, as he grew older, Solomon’s heart was led astray by his many foreign wives who introduced idolatry and false gods into his life (1 Kings 11:1-13).
•    End: God became angry with Solomon and told him that the kingdom would be torn from his son (1 Kings 11:9-13), signaling a downfall from the position of favor he had initially enjoyed.

Is it fair to assume that their faith wasn’t genuine?

Now a powerful verse we need to consider is found in Rev 3:5.

Revelation 3:5 (KJV) says:
“He that overcometh, 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.”

This shows a huge emphasis on the possibility of names being blotted out from the Book of Life!

Meaning it is INDEED POSSIBLE to lose our salvation.

In Exodus 32:32-34, Moses pleaded to God to blot his name out of His Book of Life. He offered his own life and relationship with God as a way of potentially atoning for the sins of the people, saying, “If you won’t forgive them, then take my name out of the Book of Life instead.”

2 Peter 2:20 says:
“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

This verse, found within the context of a warning about false teachers and living a life of sin, explains the danger of returning to a sinful life after having experienced the freedom and knowledge of Christ.

Have you heard of the unclean spirit Jesus spoke about in Matthew 12:43-45 that leaves a person and goes to bring 7 more?

When a person is saved, and they don’t seek spiritual fulfillment and constantly remain in God, they leave room for the devil to fill them up with legion of his demons. Every living soul or person has either the spirit or God or spirit of the devil within them at every given time or moment which is why we are told we are either for God or against Him.

In Hebrews 3:12, it says
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”,

Here, the author of Hebrews is warning fellow believers (referred to as “brethren”) to be careful and pay attention. This is a serious exhortation for them to consider their spiritual state. The warning here is about the potential for unbelief to take root in the hearts of believers. Unbelief is described as “evil,” indicating that it’s not just a lack of faith, but something that can lead to spiritual harm and separation from God. This departure refers to moving away from the truth of the gospel, turning away from God, and no longer living in a relationship with Him. Salvation involves perseverance. It’s not just about the initial faith but also the continual guarding of one’s heart against the forces that lead to unbelief and spiritual decline.

In John 15:2, “Every branch in me that beareth, not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and branches to illustrate the relationship between Himself and His followers. It shows a relationship with His followers, so yes, that stands to say it is genuine if Jesus himself calls it a relationship. The “branches” represent believers, and the “fruit” symbolizes the spiritual results of their faith—good works, righteousness, and obedience. If a branch does not bear fruit, it is removed, signifying that a person who does not live in obedience to Christ and produces spiritual fruit may face discipline or separation from Christ.

For the branches that do bear fruit, Jesus says that God (the Father, the gardener) “purges” or “prunes” them. This purging is not a punishment but a process of refining and improving. God allows trials, growth, and discipline in a believer’s life to remove the things that hinder spiritual growth so that the believer can bear even more fruit.

Ground-Breaking Verses

Ezekiel 18:21:
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

This verse emphasizes God’s willingness to forgive and grant life to anyone who turns away from their wickedness and chooses to follow His ways. Repentance and a commitment to living according to God’s statutes result in forgiveness and life. This shows God’s grace toward the sinner, provided they genuinely repent.

Ezekiel 18:24:
“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.”

Here, the opposite scenario is given. If a righteous person, who has lived according to God’s commands, turns away from righteousness and engages in sin, then their past righteousness will not be remembered. Their sin becomes the focus, and they will face the consequences of their iniquity. This passage warns against presuming that one’s past good deeds can secure them if they abandon righteousness.

John 6:37-39 lets us know he never cast us out as long as we come to Him, which explains how He says we can feel secure in Him as long as we surrender to Him. But as a God of love and free will, He will not force us to stay, which is why we always pray thy will be done, not our will, bc our will is sinful and will separate us from Him.

Three Elements of Salvation

Lastly, I want to bring up the 3 elements of salvation: Justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Justification – free from the penalty of sin ( just as if we never sinned)

Sanctification – free from the power of sin (and I equate this to the parable of the 10 virgins)

Glorification – Being made fully made like Christ

Summary of the Parable of the Virgins:

    •    Jesus describes ten virgins (bridesmaids) who take their lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom (symbolizing Christ).
    •    Five are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while five are foolish and bring no extra oil.
    •    The bridegroom is delayed, and all the virgins fall asleep.
    •    At midnight, a cry announces the bridegroom’s arrival. The virgins wake up to light their lamps, but the foolish ones realize they don’t have enough oil.
    •    They ask the wise virgins for oil, but they refuse, telling them to go buy more.
    •    While the foolish virgins are gone, the bridegroom arrives, and the wise virgins enter the wedding feast with him.
    •    The door is shut, and when the foolish virgins return, they beg to enter, but the bridegroom responds, “I do not know you.”
    •    Jesus concludes with the warning: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Meaning and Lessons:

    1.    The Bridegroom Represents Christ – Jesus is referring to His second coming.
    2.    The Virgins Represent Believers – They all anticipate His return, but not all are truly prepared.
    3.    The Oil Represents Readiness (Faith, the Holy Spirit, or Good Works) – The wise virgins maintain their relationship with God, while the foolish ones neglect it.
    4.    The Delay Symbolizes the Wait for Christ’s Return – Jesus warns that His return may seem delayed, but we must remain vigilant.
    5.    The Closed Door Symbolizes Final Judgment – Once Christ returns, it will be too late to prepare.
    6.    The Key Message: Always Be Spiritually Prepared – We must stay faithful, watchful, and ready for Jesus’ return at any moment.

When we settle for the concept of being once saved and always saved, we sow the seeds of salvation by presumption and also by works. How?

Salvation by Presumption:

The foolish virgins in the parable represent those who presume their salvation is secure simply because they were once chosen to go to the wedding or because they were initially invited. They believe that they don’t need to do anything to maintain their readiness for the bridegroom’s return. In this case, salvation by presumption would be like thinking, “I made a commitment to Christ at one point, so I’m fine,” without actively living in accordance with His will or maintaining a relationship with Him.

They assumed that because they were virgins (representing believers), they were automatically prepared, even though they neglected the necessary preparation (oil). Similarly, people who believe “once saved, always saved” and take no further steps to nourish their faith may fall into the same trap, presuming they are secure without living out their salvation

Salvation by Works:

In this case, salvation by works can be seen in the foolish virgins’ lack of preparedness despite their initial invitation. Because they relied heavily on their works, they could not discern the Spirit’s voice about the need for constant oil till the Bridegroom came. Instead, they presumed that having the lamp (a symbol of being in the group of believers) was enough, and their past deeds were enough, just as some people assume that their church attendance, good deeds, or outward moral behavior will be enough to save them.

They neglected the most important part—maintaining a relationship with the bridegroom (Christ), and that is done by abiding in him and enabling the Spirit to help us discern what we must do, which can’t be done through just external actions or relying on past deeds.

When we go through that justification process, we get a clean slate, and that is when we begin the sanctification process, which lasts for the entirety of our mortal lives.

Glorification is only attained when Jesus comes again. We attain salvation then. This is one of the core reasons why I don’t believe in “once saved, always saved,” which is a falsehood approach that prevents Christians from truly devoting their lives to God.

Conclusion

Have you heard the saying, “ I don’t obey God because I want to be saved, but rather, I obey because I am saved”?
This indirectly sums up the initial balance I spoke about that believers need to see. For salvation to be fulfilled and achieved at glorification, we need to have the right balance of “salvation by presumption” and “salvation by works,” which, in other words, means grace by faith (presume) and faith being alive through (works).

When we submit to the doctrine of once saved, always saved, we take away the gift of free will.

I’ll end with my favorite verses from my favorite writer in the Bible: Paul.

He said in 2 Timothy 4:7,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (NIV)

This was part of Paul’s final words to Timothy. In 2 Timothy, he was nearing the end of his life. In the letter, he acknowledged that his time was drawing near and spoke with a sense of finality.

In the direct verse above, he said,
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.” (NIV)

Paul was aware of his impending death. He was in prison in Rome. This letter was written around AD 67-68, during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome. This period is significant because it is believed to be shortly before his martyrdom. Historical sources, such as church tradition and writings from early church fathers like Eusebius, suggest that Paul was executed by beheading under the Roman emperor Nero around AD 67-68. His reference to having “fought the good fight” and “finished the race” in 2 Timothy 4:7 reflects his sense of completion in his mission, having faithfully served God despite many hardships.

Philippians 2:12, where Paul says:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (NIV)

In this verse, Paul emphasizes the ongoing process of growing in faith and living according to God’s will. It suggests that salvation is not just a one-time event but involves continual effort and dedication, underscoring the importance of free will and personal responsibility in the walk of faith.

This reflects the balance of salvation being secure in Christ while still requiring active participation in faith and perseverance.