“ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED” – CAN A BELIEVER WHO CONTINUALLY, WILLFULLY, AND KNOWINGLY PRACTISES OR LIVES A SINFUL LIFESTYLE FORFEIT HIS SALVATION? – (Part 3)

Those who subscribe to the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” admit that regardless of the sinful lifestyle a believer lives or the sins he commits even without repentance, he or she will remain saved.

Occasionally, we all make  mistakes or commit sins – Jam. 3:2; 1 Jn. 1:8. The good news is that whenever we miss it, we can repent and ask God for forgiveness. The Father is just and faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness or defilement.

However, there are Christians who continually, willfully, and knowingly practice sins or live in sin. Such believers through the deceitfulness of sin can forfeit their salvation. The passage of scripture below proves that a sinful lifestyle can cause one to forfeit his salvation:

Revelation 3:3-5
3Remember, therefore, how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you do not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Notice that believers WHO OVERCOME SIN WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, and they WILL WALK (fellowship, be one, and agree) with the Lord in white (purity and holiness). The question we all need to ask is: What will be the fate of those who willfully and knowingly defile their garments, practice sin, and refuse to overcome it? Definitely, their names will be blotted out of the Book of Life, according to Jesus, the head of the Church.

Again, the passage of scripture below reveals to us about the false teachers who, though, were saved and entangled themselves in the corruption of the world.

2 Peter 2:20-22
20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 FOR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Understand that the false teachers escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they got entangled in them, and their latter condition was worse than their beginning, that is, before they knew Christ. Clearly, they forfeited their salvation through the deception of sin.

Now, let me leave you with this passage of scripture:
Hebrews 3:12-13 (NLT)
12Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be DECEIVED BY SIN AND HARDENED AGAINST GOD.

GOD’S servant: Peter Collins Obeng
Grace Covenant Glory