. :: Assurance of Salvation

Assurance of Salvation ("once saved / always saved")

Can a Christian "lose" his salvation? Once a Christian places faith in Christ, is there a risk or danger of falling short of salvation? Can a believer do something to get "disqualified" from eternal life? The answers to these questions have severed families, friends, and fellowships for centuries. This paper addresses the issue from a "wholistic" approach. By wholistic, I mean I am not going to cite three proof texts, claim biblical support, and stomp arrogantly into the sunset. In this paper I will deal with the biblical argument on both sides of the issue and seek integrity in the answer from the word of God.

People who believe in a Christian's "assurance of salvation" often cite the following verses in support or their opinion.

I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given {them} to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch {them} out of the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (II Timothy 1:12)

Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

This wonderful set of verses is just a sampling of the many texts I have heard used in support of the notion that we Christians are "once saved, always saved" (a term for which I eagerly await someone to demonstrate biblical support).

Do these verses argue that a life once placed in the care of God (though faith in Jesus Christ) can never be condemned to hell? No. They do not. What they do teach is the power of God to save us in spite of any attempt of Satan to destroy us. These verses all focus on the power of God to save.

That is why I say, "Our Assurance of Salvation depends on the faithfulness of the object of our faith." Don't you agree? I hope every Christian has total confidence of God to save them in the face of every Satanic effort to destroy us. I think I Timothy 1.12 (quoted above) says this best.

So is the issued closed? Are we "eternally secure?" Is our "assurance of salvation" a settled matter upon "placing faith in Christ"? There are many firm believers in this camp. For them, a handful of verses settles the issue and no further voice from the Holy Scriptures is allowed to speak. But is that the end of the matter? Does God have anything more to say? Let's suppose for a moment that the issue at least still open for discussion.

What is the opposite of "assurance of salvation"? Is it "anxiety of damnation"? If we are not "eternally secure" are we "eternally insecure"? Many on the side of the "once saved, always saved" debate would like to polarize the discussion into those two camps. If you do not agree with the (generally) Calvinistic theology of "eternal security," then you must be one of those "saved by works" folks who are certainly going to hell (or going to heaven, but with no joy in the journey).

Some folks forwarding this argument like to take Ephesians 2.8 (by grace you have been saved through faith. . .) and claim, "If you don't believe in the sovereign Grace of God then your faith must be in the works or man - which the Bible clearly denounces!" Sound familiar? Of course it does. Simplistic and misleading arguments are the easiest to use and repeat. The more difficult task is to do some thorough Bible study and come to a biblical understanding of the issue.

The first step toward biblical truth and away from the partial (if not heretical) arguments of "once saved, always saved" is to consider the full scope of what the Bible says - not just what comforts us as to our viewpoint.

Read the following:

And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matt 10:22)

Is Jesus wasting His sweet breath on a rhetorical statement here, or is it possible not to endure to the end? Many folks who defend "once saved, always saved" claim statements like this, and the ones from Hebrews to follow, are not real warnings or possibilities, but hyperbolic warnings against impossible eventualities. They believe these rhetorical statements serve to heighten the importance of faith, but suggest no real danger because of "un-faith".

And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:20)

Did the seed on the rocky soil come to life? Yes, it did! In this parable on the Kingdom of Heaven there is heavenly life in this seed, but there is "falling away" or death because the life was not firmly planted. "Once Saved, Always Saved"? The case is mounting against this extraordinary statement.

First of all, we have to agree with scripture that this condition refers to a person who had enjoyed heavenly life. This destroys the argument that the person wasn't really saved, but just "appeared" to be a Christian. Notice Jesus' introduction of the phrase "falls away." This is the exact same term used for the exact same scenario presented in the next passage from Hebrews:

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
and {then} have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. (Hebrew 6:4-6)

This passage is terrifyingly simple. To whom do the terms "enlightened," "tasted heavenly gift," "partakers of the Holy Spirit" apply? Do they apply to people who show real interest in Christianity and even practice some of its teachings, but then decide against it when they discover the real cost of discipleship? Some would have us understand that these "fallen prospects" of Christianity got the "taste" of it but then spit it out. Having rejected their little taste, they forever lost hope of being saved. What an intentional distortion of God's plain truth! Consider Hebrews 2.9:

"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone."

How does the author of this book of Hebrews view taking a "taste" of something? For Jesus, it meant to take it in the mouth, to swallow, to digest and for the thing to become wholly part of you - in Jesus' case, death. Do we dare say that we "taste the heavenly gift" in a way different from how Jesus' tasted death. It takes bold Bible manipulation to change the inspired author's meaning of a word.

Hebrews 6.4-6 emphatically teaches that it is possible to accept Christ as savior ("taste the heavenly gift" of salvation) and still fall away. How?

The next passage describes the concept of "falling away" very clearly:

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on {the testimony of} two or three witnesses.
29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people."
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
. . .
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
. . .
38 But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
(Hebrews 10:26-31, 35, 38-39, vesres numbered for clarity; some verses omitted for brevity not to obscure the meaning of the passage)

Is this just another passage with a showy warning against something that could never happen? Is this another rhetorical statement? (Isn't it amazing how many statements that we are uncomfortable with are rhetorical?) Verse 26 says that if one "willfully" or "deliberately" (NIV) chose to continue in sin, that there is no sacrifice for sin. Salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is bought by Jesus ("sacrifice") dying on the cross for our sins. That sacrifice will not apply if we chose "to go on sinning."

The NIV's "deliberately" gives us a good picture. To chose to continually sin, we must deliberate about it. We study the temptation and assemble information about outcomes and consequences. To chose to sin in the face of what a Christian should know about not sinning, means to continually reject the faith relationship with Christ - which we all agree is what saves us. (go chase a rabbit: Genesis 6.5 says: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God hates all sin, but He seems to have a problem redeeming folks who are thoroughly given over to sin.

Was Noah a sinner? Undoubtedly. Why did God save him and his sinful family? Gen 6.8 says it is because "Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of the Lord." Go back to Ephesians 2.8. What access God's Grace? Faith. Noah was saved by faith - just like the Good Book says. All people sin - sinfulness is a common human condition (see I Cor 10.13), but "sin-filledness" is a condition that God does not seem willing to address with grace.) Let me repeat: To chose to sin in the face of what a Christian should know about not sinning, means to continually reject the faith relationship with Christ - which we all agree is what saves us.

Did that last sentence take you too far, too fast? I say that pondering sin and choosing it repeatedly is to reject the faith relationship with Christ, What do you think? Can you explain it another way? Go ahead. Work it out. Write down. How you would describe a Christian who continually choses sin? I'm not talking about the stumbling errors Christians make for lack of preparation (to handle temptation effectively), I am talking about what the writer of Hebrews is talking about - continually thinking about the choice of sin and willfully, deliberately, continually choosing to sin. How in the world do you characterize that other than rejection of the faith relationship with Christ?

(A quick note here to direct your attention to John 15 - a passage of surpassing importance to this subject. Note especially verse 3 which is our promise that we are "once saved." Note verse 4 and 6 which are our promises that unless we abide or dwell by faith in Christ - we will be pruned away and cast into fire. Always Saved? Now be careful! We are not saved by bearing fruit. This passage makes it abundantly clear that bearing fruit (works) is a consequence of abiding in Christ in faith. Note Matthew 10.22 where "endure" or "stand firm" is the same word as abide here in John 15. Where is the promise of "Always Saved"?)

Let's add a little more biblical information here. In your own Bible, read Romans 14.23. What does it say? "Whatever is not from faith is sin." Although Paul is first talking about food, he enlarges the principle to apply to everything - "whatever."

Say it again: "Whatever is not from faith is sin." That is a comprehensive truth. Test out Eve in Genesis 3. She sinned because she lacked faith in God to: a) provide her with food, b) satisfy her natural senses appropriately, c) place her in the correct relationship to Him. A Satanic trifecta; he hit Eve's body, mind, and spirit. The first sin was a lack of faith. Your first sin was a lack of faith, and every sin until then end of the world will happen as a lack of faith - that's what the Bible says!

Is one sin a rejection of faith? How many sins does it take until we have forfeited our salvation? (Let's be careful. When the professor in college said he didn't have an attendance policy, I was the one who demanded to know, "what will happen if we miss too many classes?" The professor should have answered, "Clark, are you in this class to cut it or to learn?" That would have shut me up.) Are we in Christianity to sin or to grow in the likeness of Christ? One sin does not disqualify one from faith in Christ (which, remember, is the only thing that saves us). We have numerous examples (Peter, David, Moses, etc.) of Bible heroes who sinned, but through faith persevered. Hebrews 10.26 does not come close to suggesting that one or a few sins disqualifies one from salvation - - - NOR does it suggest that it could not happen!!

Hebrews 10.26 demands that those who persevere in sin demonstrate a rejection of the faith that saves. The rest of Hebrews 10 provides an inarguable prognosis for those that enjoy their sin above their faith. Simply read verse 29: "By which he was sanctified" is in the past tense. It is talking about someone who has been / had been sanctified by the blood of Christ - that means "once saved" to you and me. (Just like the seed on rocky soil - there was undeniable Kingdom life!) The verse goes on to say that "severer punishment" is due that person. Always Saved? I read with delight the fictional accounts that spin this verse 180 degrees to mean that "they deserve a severer punishment - but through God's grace, they won't 'git' it." That is a gross deconstruction of what God has said! Go back to Ephesians 2.8 - by what means do we receive that Amazing Grace? Faith! And to persevere in sin means to reject faith! That's simple because it is biblical.

One final (major) point as we wrap up. What about this issue of sin? Aren't we all a fairly good at sinning? How do we know that we are not the ones that "go on sinning willfully"? Again, the Bible deals with most things directly, and usually simply. Let's look at John 16, specifically 7 - 15. If you will study this yourself, you'll see that the Holy Spirit has a primary ministry - "to convict the world." What does the Holy Spirit convict the world of? Four things (vs 8,13): Sin (our nature), righteousness (God's nature), judgement (God discerning between his nature and ours), and truth (the certainty that God is right). If we are believers in Christ we have received the ministry of the Holy Spirit within us (see Acts 2.38 for example). If we are tempted, the Holy Spirit's job is to "convict" us of God's righteousness and lead us not to sin. We may sin, but then the Holy Spirit "convicts" us again of sin, righteousness, judgement, and truth - attempting to gain our repentance from sin. We may sin again, but the Holy Spirit is there still leading us toward our faith in Christ and away from sin.

How then could any of us go on sinning willfully? Wouldn't the Holy Spirit's power be overwhelming? No, God has never forced any man to do any thing. We either listen to the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit or not. How do we deal with the tension between sin and the ministry of the Spirit? Option 1) By going crazy and living with two minds (and I have seen this happen) - one mind fully accepting the truth of the Holy Spirit, while one mind fully accepting a life of continual sin. Option 2) Stop our habitual sinning. (Hmmm, that does seem logical). Option 3) Stop accepting the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This last option fully explains the biblical teaching on the forfeiture of salvation.

If, as Christians, we like our sin and chose to continue in it, we are going to have to do something about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We can't avoid it. Remember Hebrews 6 says that we Christians are "partakers of the Holy Spirit". We can either stop sinning - or stop responding to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. How, by attributing the ministry of the Holy Spirit to something else. The Christian Scientists say that sin is overcome when we stop feeling guilty about it. Do you find a biblical basis for that? The Spirit says, "feel guilty, stop sinning, and seek forgiveness through Christ", but the Scientists say just stop feeling guilty. Some homosexuals like to say that bad feelings about their sodomy are brought on, not by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but a harsh, judgmental world. An alcoholic may attribute his "conviction" to a nagging wife or boss rather than to the Holy Spirit. Whatever the case, we humans are frequently better at assigning the Holy Spirit's ministry to "annoying people" than to the Holy Spirit of God.

So what? Is that "mis-assignment such a big deal." Is there any biblical situation where the work of God was attributed to something other than God? How about Mark 3.22-29? Jesus had done some "God-only" work - casting out demons, but some Jewish scribes said that Jesus did it by the power of Satan. Now, Hear Ye This, you must not mis-label the work of God. Jesus said that to do so was a "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit"!! And dear children, what is the unforgivable sin? Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit!!!!

Conclusion

I remind all my readers that the opposite of "Faith Alone" salvation is "Works Alone." (The Faith Alone school teaches "once saved, always saved.") Of course, with Works Alone, you never have ANY assurance of salvation.) However, neither is correct. I believe Faith Alone is correct in that faith is all that is required for salvation. We agree on that. But Faith Alone / Calvinism actually looks at faith as a work!!! They love to talk about when they "placed faith" in Jesus Christ - as if it were a one time event- that "once saved" moment. How often do we have to hear that we LIVE by faith before we start believing it? I began my life of Faith in Christ when I was seven years old. But the last thirty-three years of my life are no guarantee (assurance) of heaven if I now begin to love my sin instead of my Savior through faith. I have absolutely no hope of salvation through any single or collective work - so don't accuse me of being in that camp that hopes in its own goodness for salvation. I am Faith-Alone - and a Living Faith at that!

"Eternal security" is probably just a bad choice of words - once we enter eternity, we can rest secure that we will be there always! "Assurance of salvation" is a term that is correctly applied to the Christian's confidence that God is able to save us.

"Once saved, always saved" is a biblically unsupportable claim. Jesus, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews, all describe, in specific, inarguable language, that there are those who receive the gift of salvation, but fall away for lack of faith. You may not like the teaching, but it is taught nonetheless. You may have a denominational or theological bias against this teaching, but the Bible came first and speaks more forcefully than the dust and ashes of humanity.

We will never so displease God by our sin that He will remove what He has given us through Jesus Christ (Romans 6.23). We may, however, despise that Good Gift, and return it without thanks anytime we wish. That is what the Bible says. No one will "lose" their salvation by sinning. Anyone can forfeit their salvation by trading the life of faith for the life of sin. That's what the Bible says. That's what I believe. That's the end of it.

Falling Away - The Biblical Explanation

(Only specific verses are cited for the sake of brevity. You are encouraged to read the entire passage to assure yourself of the correct application of these verses.)

Christ calls all to repent. (Matt 4.14)

Repentance is done only through FAITH in who Christ is and through the Power that He provides. (Matthew 16.16, Hebrews 11.6, Philippians 4.13)

Our Faith lays hold of God's Grace and Salvation is received. (Ephesians 2.8)

Whatever we say, think, or do - we are called to do it through Faith that God wills us to say, think, or do those things. Anything that our FAITH does not give us permission to do is SIN. (Romans 14.23)

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world concerning Sin, Righteousness, Judgement, and Truth - thereby revealing the will of God to us. (John 16.8,13)

Once our faith relationship (salvation) begins with Christ, we still must chose to obey and not sin. The beginning of salvation is not the end of the dynamic tension between faith and sin. (Romans 6.12, 7.15-19, 14.23)

The Scriptures teach that there is a difference between incidental sin (stumbling) and intentional /deliberate sin. (Hebrews 10.26, James 3.2, II Peter 1.10) (Note: All sin is sufficient to condemn one to Hell - Romans 6.23, but the distinction is made here between a life given over to sin and the sins that are a result human moral frailty.)

The Holy Spirit will Convict is of all sin. The Maturing Christian will confess incidental sin and repent and cease ongoing, intentional sin. (I John 1.9, Hebrews 6.1,6, Galatians 5.8)

The Christian who "sprang up" from "the word of the Kingdom" (Matthew 13.5, 19- 21), who has received the "heavenly gift" (Hebrews 6.4), who has been "sanctified" (Hebrews 10.29), and who then does not Repent of intentional sin is rejecting (by personal will) FAITH in the work of the Holy Spirit. That Christian is choosing to continue to walk in the dead, carnal life.

The Holy Spirit's ministry is to convict us to choose Faith over sin. If we choose sin over faith, we are rejecting Faith and denying the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. In doing that we blaspheme the Holy Spirit and discontinue our abiding Faith Relationship with Christ. That situation leaves such a person with absolutely no hope of salvation! (Matthew 12.32, John 16.8, 13, Romans 14.23, Hebrews 6.4-6, 10.26-39)

This scenario in NO WAY detracts from the sovereign power of God to save and to keep followers of Christ. This scenario in NO WAY puts any burden upon works for salvation. This scenario strictly adheres to the biblical teaching on the doctrinal of salvation of Faith Alone - a Faith that loves Jesus and lives out the teaching of God's Holy Word.

There is NO TENSION between the principles of "Assurance of Salvation" and "Losing Salvation." One concept (Assurance) proclaims the power of God to save us. The other concept describes our role in the relationship. The following outline is presented to further affirm the Power of God to Save.

Assurance of Salvation

(see John 10.24-30)

True Sheep hear the voice of Christ. (also see Romans 10.14, 17)

Those who do not hear are refusing to listen. (also see Romans 1.18-21)

True Sheep are known to God. (also see Matthew 25.12, Romans 8.14, 16, 27-29, 34)

True Sheep follow Christ (also see Matthew 16.24, Romans 8. 2, 4, 8, 14)

True Sheep will receive eternal life. (also see Romans 8.1, 11, 17, 23)

True Sheep are "Un-Snatch-able" (In Romans 8.31 - 35, the Apostle Paul asks five questions. The answer to each and all form the assurance of our salvation!)

Romans 8.31 - The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13.20) will protect us from the one whom is "against us" - the Roaring Lion (I Peter 5.8)

Romans 8.32 - God does freely give us Eternal Life (John 3.16, Romans 6.23) and all good things (James 1.17) and all good outcomes (Romans 8.28)

Romans 8.33 - Satan is our Accuser, but he will be destroyed! (Revelation 12.10)

Romans 8.34 - God is the Judge of All (Hebrews 12.23) and the Justifier of All! (Romans 3.26, 8.1)

Romans 8.35 - Our bond with God is inseparable! No earthly or satanic force has the power to pry God's hand loose from around us! Jesus has overcome the world! (John 16.33, II Timothy 1.12, 4.7-8)