Whether we’re “once saved, all the time saved” can spark intense debates inside Christian circles. Those in favor and people opposed draw on biblical passages to support their stances.
At its core, the doctrine addresses the difficulty of everlasting security. According to proponents of once saved, all the time saved, once someone truly accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they’re saved. Once they’re saved, their salvation is eternally secure and can’t be lost. Their subsequent actions or behaviors don’t disqualify them from their secure position.
This idea of everlasting security shouldn’t be without challenge. However, as you take a look at this doctrine, it forces us to contemplate vital questions on salvation and the reassurance of religion. Among them is, are you able to ensure that your salvation is secure in Christ?
While some will argue that “once saved, all the time saved” is a comforting assurance of God’s grace at work in your life, others will argue it gives people a free pass to live how they need and think they’ll still go to heaven. As we explore this topic, we’ll dive into a few of the Biblical foundations for this teaching while considering practical implications for you as you grow in your walk with Jesus.
Is “Once Saved Always Saved” in a Bible Verse?
If you might be in search of the term once saved, all the time saved within the Bible, good luck because you will not find it.
There isn’t any specific Bible verse that uses those exact words in that order.
However, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be true because there are scriptures that time to this truth, which I’ll share with you in only a moment.
Do We Know Who Coined the Phrase “Once Saved Always Saved”?
It’s difficult to trace the precise origin of the phrase to at least one person, as quite a few theologians and preachers throughout Christian history have adopted it. It likely developed naturally as a part of the broader discussion on salvation and the understanding of religion.
This discussion shouldn’t be recent and has been ongoing for hundreds of years within the church. Some even date this discussion to writings way back to the second century.
What Bible Verses Seem to Say Once Saved, We Are Always Saved?
Let’s address the query a lot of you will have. Does the Bible support the “once saved, all the time saved” position? I feel it does, and listed here are a couple of scriptures that align with this doctrine.
“And you furthermore mght were included in Christ whenever you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who’s a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those that are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
“Now it’s God who makes each us and also you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what’s to return.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
“Being confident of this, that he who began work in you’ll carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
“My sheep hearken to my voice; I do know them, they usually follow me. I give them everlasting life, and they’ll never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he’s more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)
“Therefore, since we’re surrounded by such an excellent cloud of witnesses, allow us to throw off every little thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And allow us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of religion. For the enjoyment set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the fitting hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
What do these verses tell us about salvation, and the way does this align with once saved, all the time saved? Here are three things these scriptures tell us.
- God is the writer of your salvation.
- God is the sustainer of your salvation.
- God is the perfecter and completer of your salvation.
The idea of everlasting security or anything everlasting must begin with the one who’s everlasting. Our salvation, which is everlasting, was not given to us due to anything we’ve done. In the identical way, securing our salvation shouldn’t be by anything we will do by ourselves. Salvation begins with God, as he’s the writer of our salvation.
When God saved you, he marked you with a seal, who’s the Holy Spirit. A seal represents ownership, which implies you belong to God. Seals aren’t meant to be temporary but everlasting and so is your salvation. If you notice, we aren’t sealed just for a moment, the Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption.
In addition, the Holy Spirit is a deposit that guarantees our inheritance. When someone makes a deposit, which means they intend to return and buy the item they’ve placed that deposit on. The deposit God has made in us is for our everlasting redemption, and he’ll return and make good on his deposit.
That could be enough there, but we also see that the one who preserves our salvation is Christ. Because we’re in him, then nobody will ever snatch us out of his hand, and he’ll complete the work he has began in you.
Let’s consider “once saved all the time saved” from one other perspective. The technique of salvation is referred to as being born again. If we’re born again in Christ, then can we develop into unborn again outside of Christ? The answer to that query isn’t any.
How Can We Ask about Being Once Saved, Always Being Saved?
Because there are various opinions on this topic, the very first thing you should do is search the scriptures for yourself. Don’t take anyone else’s opinion on this. Do the labor and examine the scriptures to see what conclusion you come to.
While it’s okay to speak together with your pastor or other Bible teachers, remember they’ll most certainly steer you based on their position on this topic.
I all the time encourage people to achieve out to me in the event that they have questions on these and other Biblical topics. However, I should say up front that my position is obvious: as I even have studied this topical, I even have fully come to imagine that when saved, I’m all the time saved. Not due to my ability to maintain myself but due to God’s ability to maintain me.
What Do We Need to Remember about “Once Saved Always Saved”?
One argument against “once saved, all the time saved” is that it can encourage people to live in sin. After all, if my everlasting salvation is guaranteed no matter my actions, I can freely decide to live in sin and still be assured of going to heaven once I die. Let me show you why this concept is mistaken, and anyone who thinks they’ll live this fashion shouldn’t be saved in any respect.
“Everyone who sins breaks the law; the truth is, sin is lawlessness. But you understand that he appeared in order that he might take away our sins. And in him isn’t any sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3:4-6)
Salvation is about transformation. Anyone who has been saved has been made recent in Christ. This recent nature, which the Holy Spirit empowers, changes your attitude towards sin. This is what it means to be born again. If there is no such thing as a change of attitude towards sin, then you should query whether that person has been saved in the primary place.
I feel the guts of this query lies with whom you might be trusting on your salvation. If, after salvation, I’m the one who must keep myself, then I do not see any hope of everlasting security because my salvation would solely depend upon me. However, scripture teaches that God saves us, gives us his Holy Spirit, and Jesus holds us within the palm of his hand. That is the hope I put my trust in and why I feel that when saved, all the time saved, is an accurate understanding of our salvation. Christ is the one who purchased our salvation, and he’s the one who will sustain you from now and throughout all eternity.
“To him who’s capable of keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the one God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:23-24)
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