Once Saved – Always Saved?

James ♦ February 26, 2011 ♦ Leave Your Comment

Once Saved, Always Saved?

OSAS: Bible passages on the (im)permanence of salvation

The Bible contains passages that appear to say clearly and unambiguously that once a person gains salvation, they can never lose it. On the other hand, there are other passages that appear to say clearly and unambiguously that once a person gains salvation, they can lose it. How do Christians deal with this seeming contradiction?

Introduction

The OSAS question is a controversy that splits churches, and determines doctrine. Charles Stanley, author of a book on OSAS, director of In-Touch Ministries, and pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia states that “The very gospel comes under attack when the eternal security of the believer is questioned.” In other words, he says that anyone who questions OSAS is a heretic, guilty of blasphemy. Others state that “If you do not believe that once a person is saved he is always saved, then you have NEVER really trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are lost in your sins, and you are heading straight to Hell.”

While studying this issue, one of the biggest problems I have noticed is that there is often a complete lack of objectivity in discussions or lessons related to OSAS. By this I mean that the person discussing the topic will be completely one-sided, and will not mention verses that do NOT agree with their position. Thus, someone who does not believe that salvation is permanent will describe in great detail all the verses that support this argument, but ignore all the verses that refute or do not support this argument. Occasionally, you may see someone mention a few verses which present the opposite viewpoint, and briefly refute them.

This is very dangerous. One can find a Bible verse that supports just about any argument you wish to make, especially if you ignore the context. When one does this, it simple becomes propaganda: half-truths.

prop·a·gan·da n.

1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

In the field of science, this type of behavior is unacceptable and without value. The same should be true for the study of the Bible. If you want to understand what the Bible says about a topic, then you need to look at all the verses that impact that topic, not just the ones that say what you desire to know! Finding “the answer” may prove difficult. You may not find what you are looking for, in other words, the Bible may not prove the point that you want to make, especially if you have been taught all your life that a certain doctrine is without question. You may not understand clearly what you find, because all of the verses that you find may seem contradictory. It may take a while longer than you expected, because there are likely many more verses than you think that address your question. But at least, the answer or answers that you have are objective. The results of your study reflect what the Bible says, not what you want it to say.

This collection of verses is not comprehensive. There are other verses which echo the teachings in the verses presented here, and there are verses which are related to the topic, but not as directly as these verses are. However, I think that this collection appropriately represents what the NT has to say about OSAS. I have tried to categorize the verses as to how strongly they represent a specific position, whether strong, moderate, or weak, for or against. All verses that are most pertinent are listed first, then others follow.

While it may seem antithetical to apply scientific methodology to Biblical study, the scientific method has many features that make it good to use for such purposes. One typically starts with a hypothesis, and then (optimally) tries to prove it wrong. The concept of “proving it false” is the mainstay of science. If it doesn’t have the potential to be proven false, then it is worthless. A classic example of the latter is “If I wear a bowtie, it will repel elephants”. One then walks around town with a bowtie on, and indeed, no elephants bother you whatsoever. To make this falsifiable, one must walk into a room full of elephants.

The problem with applying this to Biblical study is that of interpretation…one verse may mean two things to two different people. But at least it’s better than propaganda. My hypothesis is this: “OSAS is true; eternal salvation is supported by the Bible”. Now, one looks at the evidence critically, and tries to prove that false. One can just as easily have the opposite hypothesis, and do the converse. You SHOULD arrive at the same answer.

Point: FOR OSAS

John 6:37-40

Whatever the Father gives to me will come to me; and I will not send away anyone who comes to me. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my pleasure, but the pleasure of him who sent me. And this is the pleasure of him who sent me, that I am not to let out of my hands anything that he has given me, but I am to give it new life on the last day. This, I say, is my Father’s pleasure, that everyone who sees the Son and has faith in him may have eternal life: and I will take him up on the last day.

John 10:27-29

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

 

Counterpoint: AGAINST OSAS

John 15:5-6

I am the vine, you are the branches: he who is in me at all times as I am in him, gives much fruit, because without me you are able to do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

 

Point: FOR OSAS

Romans 8:38-39

“…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Counterpoint: AGAINST OSAS

Romans 11:19-23

Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.”

 

Point: FOR OSAS

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 -“…God anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

 

Ephesians 1:13 – “You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession, to his praise and glory.”

 

Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

 

Hebrews 10:12-14 – But when Jesus had made one offering for sins forever, he took his place at the right hand of God, and has been waiting there from that time, till all who are against him are made a footrest for his feet. Because by one offering he has made complete forever those who are made holy.

 

Counterpoint: AGAINST OSAS

Hebrews 6:4-6 – As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit, with knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time, and then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.

 

Hebrews 10:26-29 – For if we do evil on purpose after we have had the knowledge of what is true, there is no more offering for sins, but only a great fear of being judged, and of the fire of wrath which will be the destruction of the haters of God. A man who has gone against the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the word of two or three witnesses: But will not the man by whom the Son of God has been crushed under foot, and the blood of the agreement with which he was washed clean has been taken as an unholy thing, and who has had no respect for the Spirit of grace, be judged bad enough for a very much worse punishment?

For reference:

       Matthew 12:31-32

So I say to you, every sin and every evil word against God will have forgiveness; but for evil words against the Spirit there will be no forgiveness. And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will have forgiveness; but whoever says a word against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come

       Mark 3:28-29

The sons of men will have forgiveness for all their sins and for all the evil words they say. But whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but the evil he has done will be with him forever.

       Luke 12:10

And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. 

 

1 John 5:16

If a man sees his brother doing a sin which is not bad enough for death, let him make a prayer to God, and God will give life to him whose sin was not bad enough for death. There is a sin whose punishment is death: I do not say that he may make such a request then.

FOR OSAS even after major sin.

 

Matthew 18:23-35

For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who went over his accounts with his servants. And at the start, one came to him who was in his debt for ten thousand talents. And because he was not able to make payment, his lord gave orders for him, and his wife, and his sons and daughters, and all he had, to be given for money, and payment to be made. So the servant went down on his face and gave him worship, saying, Lord, give me time to make payment and I will give you all. And the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, let him go, and made him free of the debt. But that servant went out, and meeting one of the other servants, who was in debt to him for one hundred pence, he took him by the throat, saying, Make payment of your debt. So that servant went down on his face, requesting him and saying, Give me time and I will make payment to you. And he would not: but went and put him into prison till he had made payment of the debt. So when the other servants saw what was done they were very sad, and came and gave word to their lord of what had been done. Then his lord sent for him and said, You evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me, was it not right for you to have mercy on the other servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was very angry, and put him in the hands of those who would give him punishment till he made payment of all the debt. So will my Father in heaven do to you, if you do not everyone, from your hearts, give forgiveness to his brother.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

It is said, in fact, that there is among you a sin of the flesh, such as is not seen even among the Gentiles, that one of you has his father’s wife…that this man is to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may have forgiveness in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

ALL Verses

MODERATE AGAINST

 Matthew 10:22 

“…he that endures to the end shall be saved.”

The implication is that someone who does not stand firm to the end will not be saved. Some theologians dismiss this interpretation; they believe that a person who does not stand firm never was saved in the first place; thus all that are truly saved will continue in that state. This argument is impossible to refute, impossible to prove false, as it depends completely on subjective interpretation of Biblical verse. Let’s say that someone who is saved at 18 years of age, who lives a long life as a Christian, then stops being a Christian at the age of 65, stops going to church, becomes an alcoholic, bitter, angry, depressed, irritable, and states openly “there is no God”. For those 46 years, what were they? Now, what if that person had died when s/he was 50 in a car accident, a happy, healthy Christian, on the way home from Bible study?

WEAK AGAINST

Matthew 12:31-32

Therefore I say unto you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.

Mark 3:28-29

Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.

Luke 12:10

And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.

The King James Version translates the last phrase as “in danger of eternal damnation.” A series of passages discusses a certain class of sin that God will not forgive. Committing this sin would presumably prevent a person from being saved, or would cancel the salvation of a believer. This is curious…why is the Holy Spirit elevated above Jesus? Committing this sin would presumably prevent a person from being saved, or would cancel the salvation of a believer. Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is considered the one sin that God will not forgive. It would appear to negate a person’s salvation. “But what precisely is “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit?” Theologians have been debating this question for centuries. Some pastors feel that the verse in Matthew refers back to Matthew 22 where Jesus was casting demons out of possessed people. They believe that this type of blaspheming is done when a person states that the Holy Spirit is incapable of performing exorcisms, even after they have observed it happening before their eyes. Other sources believe that this form of blasphemy arises when one attributes to Satan deeds that are actually done by the Holy Spirit.”

In reference to the present work, this is a weak argument for losing one’s salvation, once had. It doesn’t state whether one can lose salvation, just that one cannot have it if blasphemy against the Holy Spirit happens.

Matthew 18:23-35

For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who went over his accounts with his servants. And at the start, one came to him who was in his debt for ten thousand talents. And because he was not able to make payment, his lord gave orders for him, and his wife, and his sons and daughters, and all he had, to be given for money, and payment to be made. So the servant went down on his face and gave him worship, saying, Lord, give me time to make payment and I will give you all. And the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, let him go, and made him free of the debt. But that servant went out, and meeting one of the other servants, who was in debt to him for one hundred pence, he took him by the throat, saying, Make payment of your debt. So that servant went down on his face, requesting him and saying, Give me time and I will make payment to you. And he would not: but went and put him into prison till he had made payment of the debt. So when the other servants saw what was done they were very sad, and came and gave word to their lord of what had been done. Then his lord sent for him and said, You evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me, was it not right for you to have mercy on the other servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was very angry, and put him in the hands of those who would give him punishment till he made payment of all the debt. So will my Father in heaven do to you, if you do not everyone, from your hearts, give forgiveness to his brother.

This parable seems pretty clear. While the message is “forgive”, the interpretation of what happens if you don’t forgive seems straightforward. The king is Jesus. I, representing the human race, am the servant. I cannot repay Jesus. He forgives me (I am saved). I then run across an associate of mine, who had wronged me greatly, did me wrong, owes me lots of money. I threaten him, he begs for mercy, promises to repay, I do not forgive him, I show no mercy, and have him arrested and jailed for his crimes. Jesus knows of course. He turns me over for punishment. If you are saved, and then (greatly?) sin, God turns you over to Satan, until your debt is paid. Some interpret this as permanently, but that is not what it says. How long/how much does it take to repay your debt? This agrees with the passage from 1 Corinthians below, where the sinner is turned over to Satan (thrown out of the Church), but his spirit is saved at the second coming. This is an interesting concept that I have never seen explored. Thus, if one interprets this verse as being permanent (one can’t repay the debt, ever), then one can lose salvation. However, if one can repay the debt, then one doesn’t lose salvation, and gets saved at the second coming. The argument for the latter seems to be stronger, since Jesus said “punishment TILL he made payment of all the debt”. Other verses below support this.

MODERATE AGAINST

Matthew 24:9-13

“Then they will be cruel to you, and will put you to death: and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. And numbers of people will be turned from the right way, and will give one another up and have hate for one another. And a number of false prophets will come, causing error. And because wrongdoing will be increased, the love of most people will become cold. But he who goes through to the end will get salvation.”

The implication is that someone who does not stand firm to the end will not be saved. Again, some theologians dismiss this interpretation; they believe that a person who does not stand firm never was saved in the first place; thus all that are truly saved will continue in that state. I think this verse fairly clearly states that, once saved, if one does not endure, one may not be saved, thus salvation can be lost (turned from the right way). To argue that such a person was never saved does not seem logical. This same warning not to turn away from the faith is a constant theme in the NT.

WEAK AGAINST

Matthew 24:24-25

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.”

A clear warning that it is possible to be deceived, in other words, turned from the truth, perhaps to lose salvation.

WEAK AGAINST

Mark 4:16 (Luke 8:13)  

And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; (they believe for a while) and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

They believe for a while. Is that enough to get into Heaven? I don’t think this is a strong argument…did they really believe, or just say they believe? It seems to say that they believed, but it was temporary. If so, this argues against OSAS.

WEAK FOR OR AGAINST

John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but may have eternal life.”

John 3:36

“He who has faith in the Son has eternal life; but he who has not faith in the Son will not see life; God’s wrath is resting on him.”

John 5:24

“Truly I say to you, the man whose ears are open to my word and who has faith in him who sent me has eternal life; he will not be judged, but has come from death into life.”

These verses leaves much unsaid. If you stop believing, do you still have eternal life? It is not clear. Both sides can argue that this verse means what they want it to mean. Salvation is definite and permanent…as long as you believe in him. What happens if you quit believing, turn away from that belief? While these verses are comforting and beautiful, the conditions placed on those to get salvation are not clear in terms of time. They leave unsaid what happens to those who, at some later point in time, lose faith, whose ears close, who fall from grace.

VERY STRONG FOR

John 6:37-40

Whatever the Father gives to me will come to me; and I will not send away anyone who comes to me. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my pleasure, but the pleasure of him who sent me. And this is the pleasure of him who sent me, that I am not to let out of my hands anything that he has given me, but I am to give it new life on the last day. This, I say, is my Father’s pleasure, that everyone who sees the Son and has faith in him may have eternal life: and I will take him up on the last day.

This is a powerful verse. He will not let anything out of his hands that has been given him. This is more important than other verses. This verse implies that once you are saved, you cannot choose to leave. Jesus apparently says that he will never reject a saved individual. This passage appears to imply that every person who is saved will be raised from the dead; none of those who had been saved will be lost.

VERY STRONG FOR

John 10:27-29

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

This is a very strong statement on the permanence of salvation. Jesus states that after he gives an individual eternal life, they shall never perish but continue to have eternal life, even though others might try to interfere. However, see 1 John 3:7, which warns to let “no man” take you out of the true way. Why warn of something if it isn’t possible? My contention is that as long as you choose God, you can’t be taken from the true way. But if you give ear, listen to evil, CHOOSE to turn away, then there are problems.

STRONG AGAINST

John 15:5-6

“I am the vine, you are the branches: he who is in me at all times as I am in him, gives much fruit, because without me you are able to do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

A person who “does not remain” in Jesus is apparently a saved person who turns away from him. Throwing the formerly saved person into the fire and burning them is an obvious reference to Hell and/or Satan. Or, is this a reference to being tested by fire? However, if it is Hell/Satan, is that a permanent punishment? See the passage in 1 Corinthians about the man sleeping with his father’s wife. Other  verses refer to trees that bear fruit vs tress that don’t which get burned…the latter seem to refer to the unsaved, rather than the fallen.

STRONG AGAINST

Acts 20:28-30

I am conscious that after I am gone, evil wolves will come in among you, doing damage to the flock, and from among yourselves will come men who will give wrong teaching, turning away the disciples after them.

Paul is talking to the rulers of the church of Ephesus. He tells them that some “from among yourselves” implying that these are saved individuals. These saved individuals then begin to teach wrongly, turning away others from the true path. Are they still saved? Do they stay that way, or do they fall from grace?

VERY STRONG FOR

Romans 8:38-39

“…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It doesn’t get much stronger than that. There is nothing that can separate you from God’s love. But does this override free will? It doesn’t say that you can’t choose to turn away. It says a lot of things can’t get between you and God, but what if you choose, of your own free will, to turn away?

STRONG AGAINST

Romans 11:19-23

Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.”

This is a strong statement against OSAS. You can lose salvation, and you can regain it. This last statement re grafting back in is in apparent direct contradiction to others (Hebrews 6:4-6) in the bible which state that those who do fall away cannot come back. Perhaps it is a matter of extent and duration? Paul was speaking to both Jews and gentiles, but this last statement appears to be directed at Jews, indicating they can be saved as well…but perhaps not saved again. No matter, the former statement refers clearly to having, and then losing, salvation.

MODERATE FOR

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

For there is no other base for the building but that which has been put down, which is Jesus Christ. But on the base a man may put gold, silver, stones of great price, wood, dry grass, cut stems; Every man’s work will be made clear in that day, because it will be tested by fire; and the fire itself will make clear the quality of every man’s work. If any man’s work comes through the test, he will have a reward. If the fire puts an end to any man’s work, it will be his loss: but he will get salvation himself, though as by fire.

If Jesus Christ is your foundation, then you are saved. One doesn’t have to have any works to be saved, but these go for reward. This verse indicates that whatever you do (e.g., sin, fall from grace, etc) you will still be saved, however, those who are good Christians will be rewarded.

STRONG FOR

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

It is said, in fact, that there is among you a sin of the flesh, such as is not seen even among the Gentiles, that one of you has his father’s wife. And in place of feeling sorrow, you are pleased with yourselves, so that he who has done this thing has not been sent away from among you. For I myself, being present in spirit though not in body, have come to a decision about him who has done this thing; In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you have come together with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, That this man is to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may have forgiveness in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Now this is a most interesting verse. This verse seems to state that the man in question (one of you, thus of the church, thus presumably saved) has sinned horribly. However, even though he will be handed over to Satan, who will carry out the “destruction of the flesh”, his spirit will be forgiven, apparently at the second coming. Is this a special case, or what happens for all who have fallen from grace? This verse is thought to refer to expulsion from the Church, a sanctuary from Satan. Could it be that those who fall from grace get extreme punishment (perhaps hell on earth, e.g., Job), and then get taken out/up at the resurrection?

WEAK AGAINST

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”(ASV)

St. Paul appears to state that some members of the church at Corinth were once following some of the behaviors listed and would thus not inherit the kingdom of God. But after they were saved, they changed their behavior. However, many of the Corinthian church members seem to be of the mind that since they are saved, they can do anything they want…the passage does seem to imply that all individuals who commit or perhaps consistently/continuously commit one of the forbidden sins (after having been saved) will go to hell. Is “inheriting the Kingdom of God” the same as salvation?

MODERATE AGAINST

1 Corinthians 15:2

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

Paul apparently believes that a person is only saved if they continue to believe in the gospel. If they lose faith in the gospel, presumably they lose their salvation. Some conservative theologians believe that this verse also refers to those who were not really initially saved.  This is similar to the verses from Matthew regarding enduring to the end.

VERY STRONG FOR

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

“…God anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

This passage states that, once we are saved, God guarantees our salvation; we are secure. However, it doesn’t state and thus leaves open to question the potential for free will. What will happen if we choose to break that seal?

STRONG AGAINST

Galatians 5:4

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

Well, this verse just doesn’t leave much doubt…they had grace, and then they fell. There does not appear to be any other way to interpret “severed from Christ”. It makes no statement about regaining salvation however, and the book of Galatians is directed toward this purpose, to save those who were perverting the Christian faith with Jewish laws.

WEAK AGAINST

Galatians 5:19-20

Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses, worship of images, use of strange powers, hates, fighting, desire for what another has, angry feelings, attempts to get the better of others, divisions, false teachings, envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God.

Does falling once count? Twice? Or is it a sustained pattern consistent with turning away? This is from Galatians, directed at Jewish converts, presumably saved Christians. A clear statement that those who are doing these things are not acting in the Spirit, and will not take part in the Kingdom of God. However, it isn’t clear whether the focus is towards those who may have never been saved…this is possible.

MODERATE AGAINST

Galatians 6:8-9

“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in going good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

This passage appears to make salvation dependent on an individual continually working towards their goal of attaining eternal life. If a person gives up prematurely, then they would lose their “harvest”. This is consistent with this verse from 1 Corinthians, and these verses from Matthew.

VERY STRONG FOR

Ephesians 1:13

“You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession, to his praise and glory.”

This verse strongly implies that salvation is permanent, that we are sealed, and that the Holy Spirit is our guarantee. However, it doesn’t state and thus leaves open to question the potential for free will. What will happen if we choose to break that seal?

WEAK FOR OR AGAINST

Ephesians 4:30

And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation.

This implies that one is sealed but could lose the seal. See also other verses about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

STRONG AGAINST

Ephesians 5:5-7

“Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God. Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him. Have no part with such men.”

Paul was writing to the Christians at Ephesus. He warns them not to turn (leave) from the right way (being saved). It seems to be a pretty clear warning that one can lose salvation

MODERATE AGAINST

Colossians 1:21-23

And you, who in the past were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, he has now made one in the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him: If you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

You are saved IF you keep yourself safely based in the faith.

WEAK AGAINST

1 Thessalonians 5:19

“Do not put out the light of the Spirit…”

Why would Paul warn against this, if it wasn’t possible? This is included in a long list of do’s and don’ts about how to live your life and be a good Christian. Given other dire warnings about blaspheming the Holy Spirit, it seems pretty clear that, if one has the “light of the Spirit” one is saved, and if one puts it out, then one loses salvation. However this is not stated outright.

STRONG AGAINST

1 Timothy 1:18-21

 ”fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are HYMENAEUS and Alexander”

They had it and lost it. This verse doesn’t infer that as strongly as 2 Timothy 2:16-18…see below.

STRONG AGAINST

1 Timothy 4:1-3

But the Spirit says clearly that in later times some will be turned away from the faith, giving their minds to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirits, Through the false ways of men whose words are untrue, whose hearts are burned as with a heated iron; Who keep men from being married and from taking food which God made to be taken with praise by those who have faith and true knowledge.

This verse seems very clear. Someone who is part of “the faith” (i.e., saved) is turned away (i.e., lost).

MODERATE AGAINST

1 Timothy 4:16

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

Don’t stop or you will lose it. See 2 Tim 2: 16-18 below, and those verses which related to endurance and perseverance above.

WEAK AGAINST

1 Timothy 6:20-21

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.”

Some professed knowledge, it was false, it took them astray from the faith. Not a strong argument…doesn’t even say they lost salvation, or describe consequences.

STRONG AGAINST

2 Timothy 2:11-12

This is a true saying: If we undergo death with him, then will we be living with him: If we go on to the end, then we will be ruling with him: if we say we have no knowledge of him, then he will say he has no knowledge of us: If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.

Remember that Paul was speaking to the Messianic Jews, who were being persecuted. These people were saved. These passages indicate to me that apostasy was possible, and that if they became apostate, they would lose their salvation. 

WEAK FOR

2 Timothy 2:13

If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.

I think this is a weak verse to use in the argument that salvation is permanent. This simply says that Jesus will not be untrue to himself. Doesn’t say he is going to keep you saved. But just above that are more verses that are truly pertinent, see 2 Tim 2:11-12.

STRONG AGAINST

2 Timothy 2:16-18

But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are HYMENAEUS and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some.

Gone astray from the truth, indicating they had it, and lost it.

MODERATE AGAINST

Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Attend. Do not forget. Practice. Study the word. Be aware. Don’t slip. Because if you do…Paul was speaking of salvation to the Messianic Jews. Why warn them of slipping if salvation is eternal?

MODERATE AGAINST

Hebrews 3:12-14

My brothers, take care that there is not in any one of you an evil heart without belief, turning away from the living God. But give comfort to one another every day as long as it is still Today; so that no one among you may be made hard by the deceit of sin. For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ.

Use it or lose it! And be sure and keep the faith, because if you do keep the faith to the end, we will be with Christ. But if we don’t keep the faith…

VERY STRONG AGAINST

Hebrews 6:4-6

“As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit, With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time, and then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.”

The first two verses define precisely an individual who had being saved and was receiving the benefits of salvation. The last verse states clearly that a person is quite capable of falling away from the faith…and if they do so, that it is impossible for their salvation to be renewed. Also see this Romans passage that seems to states the opposite. The context is somewhat different, however, and the Hebrews passage may be referring to blaspheming the Holy Spirit…see those passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

STRONG FOR

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

This is another good verse that indicates that salvation is eternal. Jesus is able to save “completely” “to the uttermost” (KJV), all those who come to God through him. And he is the only way to salvation, so one must go through him. However, it still does not actively prohibit freely turning away. Jesus is “able” to save.

STRONG FOR

Hebrews 10:12-14

But when Jesus had made one offering for sins forever, he took his place at the right hand of God, and has been waiting there from that time, till all who are against him are made a footrest for his feet. Because by one offering he has made complete forever those who are made holy.

That sounds very permanent. Not impermanent at all. However, the majority of Hebrews is a warning to early Christian Jews not to renounce their faith, or revert to some degree of Judaism, and warns directly of apostasy. It seems important to understand this verse and others that support OSAS in Hebrews in this context; just see v26-29 below.

VERY STRONG AGAINST

Hebrews 10:26-29

“For if we do evil on purpose after we have had the knowledge of what is true, there is no more offering for sins, but only a great fear of being judged, and of the fire of wrath which will be the destruction of the haters of God. A man who has gone against the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the word of two or three witnesses: But will not the man by whom the Son of God has been crushed under foot, and the blood of the agreement with which he was washed clean has been taken as an unholy thing, and who has had no respect for the Spirit of grace, be judged bad enough for a very much worse punishment?

This passage seems to say clearly that persons who had been saved, but continue to sin, will be punished worse than a man who has gone against the law of Moses, and seems likely to suffer from the “fire of wrath” used for the destruction of the haters of God. While the last sentence is rather convoluted, it seems very clear that someone saved, who turns against the Son, and disrespects the Spirit (see verses about sinning against the Holy Spirit, this is a BAD sin), is basically toast.

STRONG AGAINST

Hebrews 10:38-39

“But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

Use faith to preserve. Use faith not to shrink back. Use faith to live. Otherwise you may shrink back to destruction. This seems to say that one can choose to turn away from faith, and the consequences of that choice are grim.

MODERATE FOR

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”

“I will never leave you or abandon you” This is a promise from God that indicates eternal salvation. However, this same promise was made to Jacob (Gen_28:15), to Israel (Deu_31:6, Deu_31:8), to Joshua (Jos_1:5), and to Solomon (1Ch_28:20). God did NOT give Israel up, leave them, or abandon them, UNTIL they left him. When viewed in this light, the argument for OSAS weakens.

STRONG AGAINST

James 5:19-20

“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.”

One has truth, and leaves, and is turned back by his brother. He is saved, and his sins forgiven, again. I think there is thus a difference between straying or stumbling, and turning around and running full force the other way. I think there is a difference between publicly renouncing your faith (as some Messianic Jews did, thus becoming apostate) and falling once or twice, getting back up, knocking the dust off, and getting on with your life as a good Christian.

WEAK FOR

1 Peter 1:5

…who, by the power of God are kept through faith for that salvation which will be seen at the last day.

We, like those Peter was addressing, are kept saved thru faith. While this verse is heartening, it does not clearly address the (im)permanence of that salvation. We are saved by grace through faith…and if that faith is lost or forsaken or forsworn?

CONTEXT: 1^st John, 2^nd Peter and Jude are addressed to Christians in the body of Christ, warning them of false teachers who were saying that one could sin as much as you wanted to after you were saved (early Gnostics), because salvation was eternal. These books warn that these false teachers would be judged harshly.

WEAK AGAINST

2 Peter 1:4-11

And through this he has given us the hope of great rewards highly to be valued; so that by them we might have our part in God’s being, and be made free from the destruction which is in the world through the desires of the flesh. So, for this very cause, take every care; joining virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue, and self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind, and love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself. For if you have these things in good measure, they will make you fertile and full of fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the man who has not these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having no memory of how he was made clean from his old sins. For this reason, my brothers, take all the more care to make your selection and approval certain; for if you do these things you will never have a fall:  For so the way will be open to you into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For great rewards, a sequence of behaviors and actions. Do it right and never fall. Doesn’t really say that if you don’t do it right you will turn away, tho. Not a strong argument for losing salvation.

WEAK AGAINST

2 Peter 2:1

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

Also not a strong argument. The false prophets and teachers may never have been saved.

STRONG AGAINST

2 Peter 2:20-22

“For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.’”

The first verse appears to refer to persons who have turned away from the corruption of the world, have been saved, and later returned entangled in the world. The implication is that these people will be more viciously treated after death by God’s wrath than those people who were never saved.

STRONG AGAINST

2 Peter 3:17

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness”

If you have it, you can lose it, if you hang out with the wrong people.

MODERATE FOR

1 John 2:3-11

And by this we may be certain that we have knowledge of him, if we keep his laws.  The man who says, I have knowledge of him, and does not keep his laws, is false, and there is nothing true in him:  But in every man who keeps his word, the love of God is made complete. By this we may be certain that we are in him:  He who says that he is living in him, will do as he did.  My loved ones, I do not give you a new law, but an old law which you had from the first; this old law is the word which came to your ears.  Again, I give you a new law, which is true in him and in you; for the night is near its end and the true light is even now shining out.  He who says that he is in the light, and has hate in his heart for his brother, is still in the dark.  He who has love for his brother is in the light, and there is no cause of error in him.  But he who has hate for his brother is in the dark, walking in the dark with no knowledge of where he is going, unable to see because of the dark.

This passage lends credence to those who believe that those who supposedly “fall” are actually never saved. The phrase “still in the dark” indicates that he was never saved. However, this doesn’t address those who get saved, believe they are saved, act like Christians, and then at a latter date, consciously turn away…if such a thing is possible.

MODERATE FOR

I John 2:18-19

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you were given word that the Antichrist would come, so now a number of Antichrists have come to you; and by this we are certain that it is the last hour. They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us.

This verse implies that the false teachers (antichrists) were never saved, and thus this verse is supportive of the OSAS argument. Thus, these people did not fall from grace, but never had it. These were apparently persons who were members of the early church who began teaching early Gnostic views and ideas.

WEAK FOR OR AGAINST

1 John 2:24-25

But as for you, keep in your hearts the things which were made clear to you from the first. If you keep these things in your hearts you will be kept in the Father and the Son. And this is the hope which he gave you, even eternal life.

IF you believe, IF you keep it in your hearts, THEN you have eternal life. But see comments on John 3:16. What happens if you quit believing, turn away from that belief?

MODERATE FOR

1 John 3:4-6

“Everyone who is a sinner goes against the law, for sin is going against the law. And you have knowledge that he came to take away sin: and in him there is no sin. Anyone who is in him does no sin; anyone who is a sinner has not seen him and has no knowledge of him.”

This verse seems to indicate that any sinner, perhaps someone who has apparently been saved, was not really ever saved, if he continues to sin. But the verse just below it seems to say something different, see 1 John 3:7!

MODERATE AGAINST

1 John 3:7

My little children, let no man take you out of the true way…

This verse implies that if you are in the true way, it is possible to be taken out of it, otherwise, why warn others of the potential danger? Thus one can leave the true way. Further, this verse indicates that it is possible for another person, someone else, not your self, to take you out of the true way. This seems in direct contradiction to John 10:27-29. Also, see 1 John 3:4-6.

WEAK FOR

1 John 5:12-13

He who has the Son has the life; he who has not the Son of God has not the life. I have put these things in writing for you who have faith in the name of the Son of God, so that you may be certain that you have eternal life.

While this verse states clearly that those who have the Son have eternal life, it does not speak in any way to it’s (im)permanence.

STRONG AGAINST

1 John 5:16

If a man sees his brother doing a sin which is not bad enough for death, let him make a prayer to God, and God will give life to him whose sin was not bad enough for death. There is a sin whose punishment is death: I do not say that he may make such a request then.

Brother = fellow Christian. Intercessory prayer can give (return) life to him, i.e., he can lose salvation, but it can be returned. It also refers to the sin against the Holy Spirit as being punishable by death, see Luke 12:10, et. al.

STRONG AGAINST

2 John 1:8-9

“Watch yourselves that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.”

Be careful not to lose what you have. That seems pretty clearly in favor of you being able to lose salvation, if you so choose to do so. This is an important verse in another way, however. It indicates that there may be something other than total Hell, and Heaven. There is Heaven, and then there is Heaven+reward. Could there be partial rewards, if there are full rewards? More on this.

WEAK FOR

Jude 1:1

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James, to those of God’s selection who have been made holy by God the Father and are kept safe for Jesus Christ.

The entire book of Jude (1 chapter) relates to warnings of evil ones who were “marked out before in the holy writings”, “saying evil against the Lord”, referring to those who try to influence and sway Christians away from their faith. While this verse tells us that Jude was addressing Christians “kept safe” for Jesus Christ, he is warning them that they were in danger of falling under the influences of these false teachers.

WEAK FOR

Jude 1:24

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to give you a place in his glory, free from all evil, with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, let us give glory and honor and authority and power, before all time and now and for ever. So be it.

He is able to keep you from falling, if you choose to be kept from falling. This verse does not speak to the unbreakable or irreversible nature of salvation.

STRONG AGAINST

Revelation 2:4-5

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent.”

The fallen (from salvation) but can repent, and be saved…again? Rededication?

WEAK AGAINST

Revelation 3:16, 19

“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, will I spit you out of My mouth. … be zealous and repent.”

John was talking to a church body, so it is hard to direct this to a given person. If you repent, you will be saved. If not, then you will not be saved, rather, God will have nothing to do with you.

  Synthesis

OSAS	for	against
VS	5	2
S	3	16
M	6	9
WK	5	12

The table shown here summarizes the verses reviewed above in terms of “direction” (for vs against) and “magnitude” (very strong, strong, moderate, weak). Just in terms of quantity, the argument against OSAS appears to have more backing, with more verses in 3 of the 4 categories. Even if we ignore the moderate and weak categories as not meeting an arbitrary “significance” threshold, the score is still 8 to 18, in favor of against.

The Bible warns over and over and over again not to stray from the faith, not to turn away from the Word of God, not to drift away, not to depart, don’t slip, but instead, to continue, to abide, to remain, to endure, hold fast to the truth. Why would there be so many warnings against a behavior or action if there were not problems associated with that action? Many of the verses are related to those attracted to early Gnosticism, which held that, since you’re saved, you can sin as much as you want, you will still go to heaven. The immediately obvious argument to this concept is that sinful behavior is not Godly behavior, and that one should try as live as much like Christ himself, if you are a real Christian.

Some people maintain that those who do stray, who turn away, who slip, who drift away, were never saved. The unfortunate problem with this argument is that there is no way to prove it falsifiable, i.e., we cannot prove this to be true or false. The same can be said for the opposite point…the answer to this question must wait for Christ’s return.

The most important question that can be asked is whether God would take away our free will. Since Adam and Eve, mankind has had free will. You can choose good, or evil. What you choose to do is very important. I believe that God does not restrict us from freely choosing to turn away from him. Of course, if you are reading this, you probably will not now nor ever willfully turn away. But, unless God has restricted our ability to turn away, has taken away our free will to do so, you can choose. Since I do not think that God would ever take away our free will, I think it is possible to lose salvation, solely by choosing to give that salvation up, by turning away from it.

There is another option as well…turning away not so much willfully, but rather, passively. The “lukewarm Christian”. One who believes in Christ, believes he died on the cross, but just generally lives they generally good and respectable lives in a state of “whatever”. They work, they go to Church occasionally, but they don’t tithe, they don’t pray, they come to church only because they are supposed to, and then only sometimes, they do not live the life of a Christian, loving others, forgiving others, helping others, praying for others.

There appears to be a critical point at which salvation is lost, and cannot be regained. Exactly what it takes to “blaspheme the Holy Spirit”, I am unsure of. It is clear that we can sin, and still be saved, and still have eternal life. It is equally clear that we can turn away, and lose salvation, at least it seems clear to me. Perhaps beyond this, is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, for which there is no recompense…Hell is the only answer.

The choice….is up to you.

Sources:  Other than the Bible, of course. These are things to read. I don’t necessarily recommend them, believe all they have to say, or support their websites in any way. They simply provide contrast in beliefs, opinions, and doctrine.

http://www.bible.ca/auto-fallaway.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_sava.htm

http://www.hoyweb.com/faq/security.htm

http://www.momof9splace.com/saved.html

http://www.behindthebadge.net/osas/