Once Saved, Always Saved: An Overview and Bible Verses
After reading, feel free to participate in the poll below.
The doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” (OSAS) asserts that once a person is truly saved, they can never lose their salvation, no matter what they do afterward. This belief is prevalent in many Protestant denominations and churches, especially within Evangelical circles, and is rooted in the idea of eternal security. Advocates of this doctrine point to various Bible verses to support the belief that salvation, once granted, is permanent.
God did not give us temporal life, but eternal life. In John 3:16, Jesus promises, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Eternal life, by definition, cannot be temporary. It is a gift that, once received, lasts forever. If salvation could be lost, it would contradict the very nature of eternal life. Salvation is not dependent on our ability to maintain it, but on God’s grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ. As stated in John 10:28-29, Jesus assures believers: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” This promise of eternal security underscores the belief that once a person is truly saved, their salvation is secure for all eternity.
Support for “Once Saved, Always Saved”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These verses reinforce the belief that there is no external force that can sever the bond between believers and God. Nothing in all of creation can separate a believer from God’s love in Christ, providing assurance of eternal security.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) – “And you also were included in Christ when 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 is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Supporters of OSAS argue that the Holy Spirit seals believers, guaranteeing their salvation until the end. This divine sealing marks the believer as God’s possession and assures them of their eternal inheritance.
2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) – “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
This verse expresses confidence that God is able to preserve the believer’s salvation. The believer can trust God to guard their salvation and keep them secure in His hands.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”
This verse explains that God will never leave or forsake His people, providing a foundation for the belief that once saved, always saved. God’s unwavering commitment to His people assures them of His eternal presence and protection.
1 Peter 1:4-5 (NIV) – “And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This passage emphasizes that the inheritance believers receive—eternal life—cannot fade or perish. It is kept secure in heaven and protected by God’s power, further supporting the doctrine of eternal security.
Romans 11:29 (NIV) – “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
This verse teaches that once God grants salvation, it is irrevocable. His call and the gifts He gives to believers, including eternal life, are unchangeable and cannot be taken back.
Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) – “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
This verse affirms that Jesus is able to save believers completely and eternally. His ongoing intercession for believers guarantees that their salvation is secure forever.
Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”
However, some pastors use verses from the book of Hebrews to suggest that salvation can be lost, challenging the idea of eternal security. Proponents of eternal security argue that these verses have been taken out of context, especially when considering the intended audience and the broader theological context.
The key point to understand is that “enlightening” doesn’t mean “accepting,” and “tasting” doesn’t mean “swallowing.” The passage describes people who have been exposed to the gospel—who have been “enlightened” and “tasted the heavenly gift”—but have not fully accepted or committed to it. These individuals have acknowledged the truth and experienced some of its benefits, but they haven’t fully internalized or received the gospel message and the sacrifice of Jesus for sin. This distinction is important because it shows that merely being exposed to something meaningful doesn’t mean you’ve fully embraced or accepted it.
Context matters here: pastors who use this passage to claim that someone who is saved can lose their salvation often miss the context.
The Hebrews were being urged not to return to their old ways—specifically the sacrificial system of animals, which could never provide permanent forgiveness. To “fall away” means deliberately abandoning Christ and turning back to these outdated practices, essentially rejecting His finished work. The warning isn’t about occasional doubt or sin; it’s about willfully rejecting Christ’s sacrifice in favor of something that can’t offer true forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:26-27 (NIV) says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” This passage is often cited in debates about whether a person can lose their salvation (the OSAS argument—Once Saved, Always Saved). However, it’s important to understand this verse in the same context as Hebrews 6:4-6.
The author of Hebrews is warning against deliberately rejecting the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice after having been exposed to it, but not fully embracing or understanding it. This “deliberate sinning” is not about occasional struggles or mistakes; it refers to a consistent, intentional refusal to accept the gospel. It’s similar to the disobedience seen in the Israelites, who were unable to enter the promised land because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). The writer emphasizes that it’s not about occasional sin or doubt, but about turning away from Christ entirely, which is what apostasy is: rejecting Jesus and His perfect sacrifice.
The message is clear: if someone intentionally rejects Christ’s final sacrifice, there is no other way to be forgiven. The passage serves as a warning against returning to the old system of sacrifices, which are now irrelevant because of Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice. The author emphasizes that Christ’s death is final and sufficient for forgiveness.
The Misunderstanding of the Finality of the Cross
Another important reason many people believe they can lose their salvation is because they do not fully understand the finality of the cross. When believers do not grasp the completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice, they may feel that after every sin, they need to confess it again to be forgiven. This 1 John 1:9 mentality, which encourages believers to continually confess individual sins to receive forgiveness, often leads to a misunderstanding of the nature of salvation and eternal security. This practice has sometimes been referred to as the “Christian bar of soap,” symbolizing the idea that confession is necessary to “cleanse” oneself after every sin. However, this view overlooks the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice was “once and for all” (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 9:26 and 10:10).
1 John 1:9 (NIV) says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” While this is an important verse about the necessity of confession and repentance, it is often misapplied in the context of salvation. The verse is actually addressing Gnostics, who denied the reality of sin, claiming that they had no sin or had not sinned (1 John 1:8, 1:10). The apostle John refutes this by saying that such people are deceiving themselves, and the truth is not in them. John calls them liars, emphasizing that denying sin separates them from the truth of Jesus Christ.
For those who believe that salvation can be lost, there is often a tendency to think they must constantly confess every sin to “keep” their salvation. However, this view overlooks the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was once and for all. Hebrews 10:10 teaches that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” As believers, we are forgiven in Christ, and there is no need for repeated confessions to maintain salvation. Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient, and He has already secured our forgiveness for all time. 1 John 1:9 serves as an invitation for those who are still lost in their sin to confess and receive forgiveness, not for believers to continually seek forgiveness for sins that have already been forgiven.
The cross is not just a means of forgiving sins on a case-by-case basis, but a final sacrifice that cleanses believers from all sin, past, present, and future (Hebrews 10:10-14). When people fail to understand the finality of the cross, they may live in fear of losing their salvation each time they sin, leading them to question their eternal security.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 says “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.“
Once you fully grasp that you are completely forgiven, the concept of Once Saved, Always Saved becomes entirely clear.
Conclusion
The debate over “Once Saved, Always Saved” is deeply rooted in theological differences. While verses like John 10:28-29 and Romans 8:38-39 emphasize the security of the believer, some think that passages like Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-27 warn that salvation is not guaranteed without continued faith and obedience. However, it is important to note that these verses, when viewed in context, are directed at those who, after hearing of Christ’s final sacrifice for sins, deliberately reject it and return to a works-based system, particularly the Old Covenant practices of Judaism.
Additionally, the misunderstanding of the finality of the cross contributes to the belief that salvation can be lost. Understanding that Jesus’ death on the cross was a complete, final, and sufficient sacrifice is key to embracing the doctrine of eternal security.
The Word of God encourages Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, continuously growing in their relationship with God, and trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. Believe it and be happy!
GraceCoach.org:
Is Once Saved Always Saved Supported in the Bible?
