The doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” (OSAS) is one of the most debated topics in Christian theology. It asserts that once a person has genuinely accepted Christ as their Savior, their salvation is eternally secure—nothing can separate them from God’s grace. But is this belief biblically sound? Let’s explore the arguments for and against OSAS and what Scripture says about the assurance of salvation.

The Case for Eternal Security

Many Christians believe that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be lost. This view is supported by several key Bible verses:

• John 10:28-29 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will 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.”
• Romans 8:38-39 – “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.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
• Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
• Jude 1:24 – “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.”

These passages emphasize that salvation is God’s work, not ours. If salvation is based on grace rather than human effort, then it cannot be undone by human failure.

The Case Against OSAS

On the other hand, some argue that salvation requires continued faithfulness and that a believer can fall away. Consider these verses:

• Hebrews 6:4-6 – “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.”
• Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
• 2 Peter 2:20-21 – “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:27 – “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
• Revelation 3:5 – “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”

These verses suggest that falling away from faith is possible. Some interpret them as warnings against false conversions, while others see them as evidence that salvation can be forfeited.

Finding Balance

So, where does the truth lie? The Bible teaches both God’s sovereignty in salvation and human responsibility in faithfulness. While salvation is secure in Christ, believers are called to persevere in faith (Hebrews 10:23). True salvation produces fruit—a transformed life that reflects Christ (James 2:17).

Rather than seeing OSAS as a license to live carelessly, Christians should view salvation as a relationship with God—one that requires trust, obedience, and continual growth.

Final Thoughts

The question of “Once Saved, Always Saved” is complex, but one thing is clear: God’s grace is abundant, and His love is unwavering. Whether you believe in eternal security or conditional salvation, the key is to remain close to Christ, trusting in His promises and living a life that honors Him.

For myself I am a believer in OSAS but that you must daily strive to be more Christ-like. I am also a firm believer in James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

This verse emphasizes that faith must be accompanied by actions. Just as a body without a spirit is lifeless, faith that does not produce good works is ineffective and meaningless. It reinforces the idea that genuine faith manifests in righteous living and obedience to God.

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