Once saved, always saved?

You hear in the church all of the time about members questioning someone’s salvation. They may even question their own salvation. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (New International Version). Is it really this simple? Well, the Bible also says, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” Not to mention, questioning someone’s salvation alone is arguably wrong.

For a believer to be saved in the first place, they need to have a regenerated heart. After this, the next question is: once saved, always saved? The Scriptures have some conflicting evidence much like the Calvinist vs. Arminian debates, but they seem to be more in favor of a once saved, always saved stance. And although we need to be careful to not lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), it seems common sense points to the fact that once someone is truly saved they are eternally secured.

For example, John 10:28 says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (New International Version). John 3:15 says, “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Also, 1 John 5:4 says, “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (New International Version).

In contrast, Matthew 24:13 says, “but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (New International Version). Revelation 3:5 says, “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels” (New International Version). And, John 15:6 says, “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (New International Version).

If you really belong to God and are truly saved, you are probably going to follow Him until the very end, right? I think it would also be safe to say that you will ultimately end up where you belong. God is the infinitely perfect judge. He will determine where you belong for all of eternity. You won’t be forced into Heaven, and won’t accidentally end up in Hell. When interpreting the Scriptures, common sense (without leaning entirely on our own understanding) goes a long way. 

My stance: A believer who is truly born-again has eternal life. Can someone who is born-again become un-born again?