“ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED” – AM I STILL SAVED IF I COMMIT THE SIN OF REJECTING CHRIST? – (Part1)

THE DOCTRINE of “once saved, always saved” teaches that salvation can never be lost once a believer is regenerated, sealed with the Spirit, kept by the power of God, and despite the lifestyle one leads or the actions one takes even if it means denying or rejecting Jesus Christ. Ministers who subscribe to this concept base their teaching on some of these passages of Scripture:

1) John 6:39-40
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and l will raise him up at the last day.

2) John 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

3)Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4)Ephesians 1:12-14
12 That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

5)1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The believer is kept, protected, and shielded by the power of GOD THROUGH HIS FAITH IN CHRIST for a salvation ready to be revealed for us – 1 Peter 1:5. As long as the believer maintains his faith in Christ, no external force can snatch him from God and separate him from the unconditional love of God, which is in Christ.

The Bible teaches that the BELIEVER NEEDS TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH to be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach – Col. 1:21-23. The  believer’s faith in Christ is like a ship that transports him from one point in his walk with God to another. The Christian thus makes a shipwreck concerning his faith if he turns away from the truth or abandons his faith in Christ – 1Tim. 1:19. The Saviour denies us if we deny Him – 2Tim.2:12; Mt. 10:33.

Again, the believer commits the sin that leads to eternal separation from God when he denies or rejects Christ. Life or salvation is found only in Christ – 1 John 5:12, 16; Acts. 4:12.

We must always keep biblical balance and never emphasize one biblical truth at the expense of other biblical truths.

In our next teaching session, we will prove from the Word how genuine believers can willfully, deliberately, and consciously forfeit their salvation or commit the sin that leads to eternal separation from God.

GOD’S servant: Peter Collins Obeng
Grace Covenant Glory