Once Saved, Always Saved – If You Want to Be

12 February, 2013 A Faith to Live By

if

I heard a minister tell a story about being asked if he believed in “once-saved-always-saved.” He replied, “I do… If you want to be.”

With my understanding of scripture, I agreed with him. I wasn’t raised under the teaching of once-saved-always-saved, so it was a new thought to me when I first heard it. But in my love of scripture, I had studied many passages that warned of falling away from your first love, leaving the principles of faith, and returning to former ways and thus making the sacrifice of Jesus something of little importance. So I was of the understanding that salvation should be guarded and not taken lightly.

This morning, as I opened my Bible to re-read some passages I had studied yesterday, I sat in awe of the truth right in front of me that I had missed the day before. It seems the Apostle Paul agreed with the minister I mentioned earlier. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, he said, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.”

Another translation says, “It is this Good News that saves you, if you continue to believe it…” (vs. 2, NLT).

IF is a big word for being only two letters. It’s means “on condition that” or describes “uncertain possibility,” or under the terms of “no ifs, ands, or buts” it removes reservation or excuse.

IF is the key.

We are all ONCE saved and ALWAYS saved IF we want to be.

Over a year ago, I had a lady from church call me one Sunday afternoon and ask if I would talk to her friend about this because he had some questions for me. I said yes, so she put him on the phone. He said, “But what about John 10:28 where Jesus said no one can snatch people out of God’s hand? Doesn’t that imply once-saved-always-saved?” I answered, “Absolutely. But think about what Jesus said — ‘Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand’ — In other words, once you belong to Jesus, the enemy can’t TAKE  or STEAL you back. But Jesus didn’t say you couldn’t choose to leave or walk away.”

I then read to him John 6:66 which says, “From that time on, many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” These disciples did not yet have the benefit of the death and resurrection of Christ which would bring them salvation. But they are still an example to us that those who were ONCE a follower, could have ALWAYS been a follower, IF they had CONTINUED in the faith… but they didn’t. They chose to walk away.

But let me say this: I don’t believe it’s easy to fall away from your faith. This is why we have the Holy Spirit. He helps us on hard days and in moments when we make poor choices and choose our flesh over our faith in Christ. And for some of us, those choices take us down a longer path than we intended, but that’s why we can re-affirm (or rededicate) our faith in Jesus when we’ve come to our senses. Like the prodigal son, the Father runs to embrace every heart that returns to Him.

The key is to continue in our faith.

No one has to worry about being saved “IF [we] hold fast and keep firmly” our faith in Christ. This isn’t perfection and it isn’t works –it’s simply taking care of the precious free gift God has so graciously given us all.

So yes, I definitely believe in once-saved-always-saved! If you want to be.

This post was written by

Daphne DelayDaphne Delay – who has written posts for Mirror Ministries.
Author, Speaker. Forgiven and Free. Proclaiming the good news of God's righteousness to this generation!

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Comments (7)
  • http://www.mirrorministries.org Daphne Delay

    Thank you for all the posts on this blog. I wrestled with sharing it, but was convicted strongly by the Holy Spirit that I must. Every scripture you posted is a great example of these truths. The bottom line that I hope is communicated is that salvation is for everyone who truly wants it.
    God bless!

  • smt

    “He who conquers be clad in white garments and I will NOT erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life! He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Holy Spirt says to the churches!”

    Revelation 3:5-6, AMP
    Thus shall he who conquers—is victorious—be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him as Mine and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Holy Spirit says to the assemblies—churches.

    Philippians 2:12, AMP
    Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed my suggestions, so now, not only with the enthusiasm you would show in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out, cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling—self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.

    Philippians 3:14, NIRV
    I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus Himself.

    Mark 13:13, AMP
    And you will be hated and detested by everybody for My Name’s sake, but he who patiently perseveres and endures to the end will be saved—made a partaker of the salvation by Christ, and delivered from spiritual death.

    Romans 8:19, AMP
    For even the whole creation—all nature—waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known—waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship.

    1 Corinthians 10:12, NLT
    If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

    Matthew 7:21-23, NIRV
    Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what My Father in heaven wants will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord! Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in Your Name? Didn’t we drive out demons in Your Name? Didn’t we do many miracles in Your Name? Then I will tell them clearly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who do evil!

    1 Peter 2:2-3, AMP
    Like newborn babies you should crave—thirst for, earnestly desire the pure unadulterated spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto completed salvation, Since you have already tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.

    Romans 11:17-22, NLT
    But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in… to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. Well, you may say, those branches were broken off to make room for me. Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, He won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be CUT OFF.

    Revelation 22:18-21, NLT
    And I solemnly declare and warn to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this Book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this Book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this Book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the Tree of Life and in the holy city that are described in this Book. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, Yes, I am coming soon! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

  • Marci

    Daphne, as i read this i am reminded by the Holy Spirit how true this is. Joshua 24:15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord…choose for yourselves whom you will serve…But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Also one of my favorites and a favorite of many, Deuteronomy 30:17 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that i have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” You are right and this is such a timely devotional for today. We simply must choose to draw ourselves near to God continually. The choice to walk in salvation is clearly ours!

    • Marci

      Thank you so much for always being so obedient to the Lord and timely with your messages. They are always a blessing to me.

  • kalith@poka.com

    Excellent post! The church has confused and argued and split and made difficult that which is not so hard to understand. Thanks for sharing.
    Kalith

  • http://twitter.com/shauntya shauntya delay

    This is an important topic to spread light on, especially in our world today. I know of people who could argue with it because they don’t want to see it as truth. Our faith can be questioned to the end of time, but thankfully we have a God who will never give up on getting the truth to us. Faith is believing without seeing, but faith also allows us to see in the end! Thank you for this revelation!

  • Sheri

    Thank you for this post! If is a big word. Last night in our HMS class Mrs. Donna touched on this same subject – it is a choice. Once we choose God it is usually us that chooses to walk away not God.

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