What Does The Bible Say?
Question- Is this doctrine of “once saved, always saved” (which is taught by many churches), taught in the bible? It does not seem logical to me.
Answer- No, this doctrine is not taught in the bible. It was first taught by John Calvin (1509-1564), but for the first 1500 years of church history the belief was not taught. The doctrine is one that is taught because it offers a good idea that does not demand diligent obedience to the laws and precepts of God. It may be comforting and popular and draw a crowd, but it is simply not true and foreign to what the bible teaches. Most of the New Testament is written to Christians instructing them how to live so they do not fall away from the Lord and lose their souls.
In Hebrews 3:12 Christians are warned about the sin of unbelief. A believer can become an unbeliever according to this passage. Paul believed and taught to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 9:27 that he himself could become a “castaway.” The term castaway refers to one who does not stand the test and is rejected. In Galatians 1:6 Paul teaches from the Holy Spirit, that he “marveled that they were so soon removed from he who called you unto another gospel, which is not another but there are some who would trouble you and pervert the gospel.” In Revelation 2: 10 we are admonished to “be faithful unto death and we will receive the crown of life… Continued obedience to God’s will and repentance and prayer for the Christian is essential for eternal life. It is not a “once and done” idea. There are those who believe this doctrine that have taught that there is no sin one can commit, including murder and child-molesting, that can separate one who once saved from their salvation. The bible does not teach this but people want it to be true so they teach it. When they do they give false hope and risk the wrath of God. Finally, in 2 Peter 2:20-22-we read. “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than in the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after having known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, the dog has returned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed has returned to wallowing in the mire.” ------- Stan Adams---
Send all questions and comments to What the Bible Says c/o Maple St. Church of Christ PO Box 3086 Liberty, TX 77575.