This is a subject I have studied at great length over several years. I have read the reasoning that persuades some to believe that once saved does not necessarily mean always saved, such as the parable of the sower and also calls to the Christian to persevere to the end. However, I am convinced that those who genuinely know Jesus as their saviour, are eternally saved. John 3:15-18 says about Christ: “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” In John 10:28-30, Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can 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. I and the Father are one." The forgiveness of God through Christ is sufficient to cover all of our sins - past, present, and future. There is nothing a person can do that God cannot forgive. This doctrine is supported by Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 4:30, and Jude 24, among others.
So God predestined true believers to be saved, and the promise of 'eternal life' is just that - a guarantee of once saved always saved.
Hi Allan, just found your blog and thought I would answer this question for you if you dont mind. This question is the age old question of Calvinism, Arminianism or free grace view. I think the biggest hurdle it seems to people accepting once saved always saved is that it doesnt seem right to be able to say a prayer and then do whatever you want afterwards knowing that your salvation is assured. However I believe that once the Holy Spirit is operating inside you, sin is still possible but an unattractive way to live and in fact sinning when born again is a miserable way to live when the Holy Spirit is present to convict you of the wrongdoing but it will not remove your salvation. I agree with the passasge of John 10:28 the amplified version is even more clear which reads so... "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed] And no one is able to snatch them out of my hand."
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and keep up the good work, Im sure more people will respond here soon.
This is a subject I have studied at great length over several years. I have read the reasoning that persuades some to believe that once saved does not necessarily mean always saved, such as the parable of the sower and also calls to the Christian to persevere to the end.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am convinced that those who genuinely know Jesus as their saviour, are eternally saved.
John 3:15-18 says about Christ: “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
In John 10:28-30, Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can 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. I and the Father are one."
The forgiveness of God through Christ is sufficient to cover all of our sins - past, present, and future. There is nothing a person can do that God cannot forgive. This doctrine is supported by Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 4:30, and Jude 24, among others.
So God predestined true believers to be saved, and the promise of 'eternal life' is just that - a guarantee of once saved always saved.
Hi Allan, just found your blog and thought I would answer this question for you if you dont mind.
ReplyDeleteThis question is the age old question of Calvinism, Arminianism or free grace view. I think the biggest hurdle it seems to people accepting once saved always saved is that it doesnt seem right to be able to say a prayer and then do whatever you want afterwards knowing that your salvation is assured. However I believe that once the Holy Spirit is operating inside you, sin is still possible but an unattractive way to live and in fact sinning when born again is a miserable way to live when the Holy Spirit is present to convict you of the wrongdoing but it will not remove your salvation.
I agree with the passasge of John 10:28 the amplified version is even more clear which reads so...
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed] And no one is able to snatch them out of my hand."
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and keep up the good work, Im sure more people will respond here soon.
John