The doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved’ has been a source of both comfort and controversy in Christian circles. While it contains beautiful truths about God’s faithfulness, we need to understand it in light of Jesus’ own words about salvation security. Let’s explore what Scripture actually teaches about eternal security, looking at both the assurances and the warnings Jesus gave us.

Biblical Insight

The doctrine of eternal security is built on powerful promises in Scripture. John 10:28-29 declares, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” This emphasizes God’s power to keep believers secure.

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Similarly, Romans 8:38-39 affirms that no external force can separate us from God’s love in the Messiah: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come… shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

However, Jesus Himself gave four specific warnings about ways believers can forfeit their salvation through their own choices. These warnings don’t contradict eternal security; rather, they define its boundaries. Let’s examine each one:

Denying Him

First, Jesus warned about denying Him: Matthew 10:32-33 states, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Peter’s story illustrates both the seriousness of this warning and the possibility of restoration through repentance (John 21:15-17).

Blasphemy against His Holy Spirit

Second, Jesus warned about blaspheming the Holy Spirit in Mark 3:28-29: “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.” This involves persistently rejecting the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus, effectively cutting oneself off from the means of salvation.

Lukewarm Faith

Third, Jesus warned about lukewarm faith in Revelation 3:15-16: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot… So then, because you are lukewarm… I will vomit you out of My mouth.” This includes being ashamed of Jesus and His words (Luke 9:26), showing that half-hearted commitment can jeopardize our salvation.

Unforgiveness

Fourth, and this is a big one, robbing people daily of the zoe-life that Jesus paid in full for. See Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14-15: “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35) shows that refusing to forgive others can nullify our own forgiveness from God.

Practical Wisdom

These warnings reveal that while no outside force can take away our salvation, we can forfeit it through specific choices that Jesus identified. This isn’t about losing salvation through regular struggles or failures, but through fundamental decisions that reject the very nature of our relationship with God.

The good news is that in most cases, genuine repentance can restore our relationship with God. Peter’s restoration after his denial demonstrates God’s readiness to forgive and restore those who genuinely return to Him. Only the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is explicitly stated as unforgivable.

Clearing up Misunderstandings

The phrase ‘once saved, always saved’ can be misleading if it’s taken to mean that any profession of faith guarantees eternal security regardless of subsequent choices. Jesus’ warnings show that genuine salvation involves an ongoing relationship that can be severed by specific choices on our part.

However, this doesn’t mean we need to live in constant fear of losing salvation. These warnings are about fundamental rejections of our relationship with God, not about the daily struggles of the Christian life. God’s grace is sufficient for our weaknesses and failures as we maintain our basic commitment to Him.

And always run back to Him in repentance and thankfulness for His blood that wipes the slate clean of all our sins in the Heavenly court. This is a praise God moment!

Conclusion

The biblical truth of salvation lies between two extremes. While God powerfully preserves His people and no external force can snatch us from His hand, Jesus clearly warned that we can choose to forfeit our salvation in specific ways.

The key is maintaining a genuine, active faith relationship with Jesus, staying sensitive to His Spirit, and walking in forgiveness toward others.

Did You Know?

The Greek word “tēreō” used in many passages about God keeping or preserving believers (like Jude 1) was also used in ancient times for a military garrison protecting a city. This gives us a powerful image of God’s active, protective role in our salvation while still acknowledging that, like a city under protection, we must choose to remain under that protection rather than deliberately walking away.