Once Saved, Always Saved

If I were to make a list of doctrines that divide the body of Christ; Once Saved, Always Saved would probably be in the top 10. Whenever I see different views about what scripture reveals to us, it always stirs me to meditate on how to reconcile the truth of God’s Word because I believe that God never contradicts Himself.

The debate on this topic always ends up appearing to me as an argument that an apple is not an orange and misses the possibility that both the apple and the orange can both be a part of God’s fruit basket. There are many scriptures that are used to both to support and to refute this doctrine. This has persuaded me to answer the following questions for myself.

Can I lose my salvation?

I believe the answer is no, but not for the same reason as the those that believe in the doctrine of "Once Saved Always Saved. This has been of the hardest truth to convince myself of for reasons that are more experiential than scriptural. First off I had to get past the concept that feeling saved is evidence of being saved. Then I had to find a way to reconcile scripture on both sides of the question. The following is how I believe God helped me do this.

I cannot lose my salvation because of sin, but sin can harden my heart to reject or neglect God’s gift of salvation. It is strange that the simplicity of this statement allowed both points of view to make sense to me. Salvation is not of works, but that doesn’t mean it is not a choice. Salvation leads to desire the things of God, it doesn’t force us. Sinning cannot negate God’s salvation in Christ, but it can lead us to desire it less and less. I love how this simple truth reconciles scripture for both sides.

Consider it like this. Remember when the Israelites were in Egypt and the angel of death was killing all of the first born. The only thing that saved the Israelite’s first born was the lamb’s blood on the post of their house. As long as the first born remained in the house he was safe, but if the first born chose to leave the house because he didn’t believe the blood was all that could save him then the angel of death would of killed him too. He would have died outside of Salvation's reach. Salvation cannot be lost, but it can be neglected or rejected.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)

Beware of remaining in a sin even though God continues to press your heart to repent, because that can end up being a choice in and of itself. I believe only God can determine when we cross the line of choice because he weighs our hearts, but if God starts to disciplines us as children, we should not take it lightly. God's salvation doesn't negate God's Holiness. On the contrary, it persuades us enter in.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
(Mark 11:26)

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 10:33)

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5)

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

Did the prodigal son lose his salvation? Luke 15:11-32

No, I believe his salvation was kept by the Father who was waiting for him, if he chose to return. Before sin could slay him and forever separate him from the Father, the prodigal son came to his senses and returned back to the Father. It was the choice of the prodigal son to separate himself from the Father. It wasn't the son's sin that kept him from his Father, but it was sin that persuaded him to choose the path that separated him.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
(Luke 15:32)

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
(Jonah 2:9)

There also seems to be sins that will harden your heart and lead you to death quicker than others, though I wouldn’t recommend any sin, because God judges the heart. Ananias and Sapphira died just for lying to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:1-10) You might consider it a bit harsh, but I don't believe that they died just because they lied as much as they died because they hardened their heart against the Holy Spirit and then came into His Holy presence haughtily clinging to sin. The wages of sin is death. If you want to receive those wages quickly, try entering the Presence of a Holy God without the blood of Christ as a covering for your sin.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(1 John 5:16)

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(1 Peter 4:17)

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:15)

Another tension question is: Was Judas ever saved?

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:4-6)

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
(Luke 22:3)

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
(Romans 6:16)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(John 1:12)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
(John 8:44)

I would like to approach this with the full understanding that only God truly knows what was in Judas’s heart at all times, but let’s consider an answer that fits into both sides of the salvation debate. If Judas believed in Jesus at the beginning then he embraced salvation for a while, but sin began hardening his heart and thereby ended up becoming the son of perdition.

You see, sin leads you to lies, while obedience to God will lead you to the Truth. If believing God gives us the power to become children of God then it is seems that if we believe the lies of the devil you will be given the opportunity to have the Devil as your Father.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
(Philippians 2:12-15)

Sin in and of itself may not be able to cause me to lose my salvation, but it can have a deadly affect on my heart.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:10)

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.