Once Saved Always Saved? true or false?

[LilRitt04]

It seems like there is no true answer to this question, but I want to know peoples insights on it. What do you all believe? How can you justify it? What makes you think that way?

I dont understand it when people say that once you are saved you are always saved. How is that true? If you sin doesnt that mean you are in wrong doing and must repent for it? But people argue that God saved us eternally...How does it work. I have seen it were people back it up with scripture...but then I can back it up and say its wrong. So which is it? My boyfriend for example backs it up with scripture that once you are saved you are always saved. But then I came back and said NO...but then he was like how could you say that when God said in his word that he will never leave or forsake us. So I said "Well, he wont...we leave him by committing sins that we do everyday naturally."

I could argue this until I am blue in the face...God will never leave us or break the promises but how can people justify that once you are saved you are always saved. I really dont understand...Somoene please give me some insight on this! Thanks

God Bless,
Jenn

 

[Grizzly]

Here's a nonbelievers take on it, so take this with a grain of salt.

Once you are saved, you are always saved. The problem is determining when "saving" takes place.

For example, let's say that "you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior" and have "given your life to him". It appears that you are saved. However, let's say that 10 years later, you realize that the God of the Bible is just another myth and you reject your former beliefs.

To the regular person, it might appear that you were once saved but now you are not. However, I have seen others that would argue that you were never saved in the first place. That is, those previous 10 years in the service of the Lord were a lie. Because the Bible says that once you have been in fellowship with God, you can never turn away. Since you turned away, it must mean that you were never a Christian.

I don't understand that thinking, but I know people on this board who would agree with that understanding.

 

[doubtingmerle]

I dont understand it when people say that once you are saved you are always saved. How is that true?

It can't be true. For I was once "saved," that is, I had trusted Jesus as my personal savior. But I no longer identify myself as a Christian, and would no longer qualify as "saved". And many others here have gone through a similar experience.

So obviously, a person can be "saved" and then change his mind.

 

[Rosa Mystica]

OSAS is totally false. If this philosophy was true, then one would be able to be an unrepentant sinner and still get into heaven b/c he/she "believed that Christ was my Saviour." Sorry, faith w/o works is dead.

 

[Freodin]

The only reasonable conclusion I see for this debate: It is impossible to find out if and when someone is saved, so this OSAS debate is completely meaningless.

 

[Logic]

What about "never saved, but some people think they are saved for some reason"?

 

[Kathleen111]

It is a birth of the Holy Spirit. It is very much a reconciliation of the soul of the man to God. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to God. The Holy Spirit brings gifts and you will know by these gifts that you are saved. The greatest of gifts are faith, hope, and charity. God NEVER abandones us. We are all sinners. Other than JC, we all sin and all fall short. We are all equal in that respect.

Men see it as this sin is better or worse than that sin, and less sin is better than more sin. Truth be told, it's all equally bad. A lie is as bad as adultery and killing whether its your first offense or hundreth. It's bad. Whether it is a sin of the mind, body, or soul, all bad.

You've heard of the Fear of the Lord? Well, proverbs tells us that God chatises those he loves. And sister am I loved. I can't even think about doing something wrong without being busted. That's the clincher. When you become saved you become disciplined. The root word in discipline is disciple. Oh my, honey, He will smack you down that straight and narrow if you are really and truly saved. Sometimes I have to wonder if that is what is preventing people from calling to God to receive the Holy Spirit? A saved person can't get away with anything. I think so too about once that Holy Spirit is in there, it's in there, and it's always going to work to keep you on that path home.

 

[Dave Taylor]

OSAS really has nothing to do with it; for humans can deceive and be deceived and make all kinds of claims; but ultimately only God knows the true heart of a person; and whether or not true Salvation and Repentence and Sanctification has occurred or not.



The Bible tells us that when salvation truly occurs to a person, that:

II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Ephesians 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Romans 8:24 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."


Anyone can claim to be saved.

Anyone can claim to be a Christian.

Anyone can 'feel' as if they truly were a Christian.

Anyone can also 'feel' as if they, for whatever reason, chose recant and abandon it.

However, those are all actions and emotions that man makes up for his own reasons.

When God 'saves' someone and changes them from the 'old man' of sin; into the 'new man' wherein dwelleth righteousness; to the point that 'the old things are passed away' and the person now has 'the mind of Christ'; there nature has been changed.

Once true and God-given salvation from above has graced a person, it is against their new nature to reject it, and to turn away. That is true salvation. Metamorphic Salvation from God Himself; not a mere claim, feeling, or emotion.

Personally, I would never believe anyone's story who claimed to be a saved, born-again Christian at one point in their life; only later to abandon it; and to turn away from Christ and reject Him. Anyone who would do this, IMO, never was given a new spiritual nature by Christ, never was born again, and never put on the new man.

Perhaps this is what some of the 'I used to be a Christian but now I am not' folks might want to consider. But on a positive note for you guys, it is never too late; as long as you are taking breathes.

Jesus said,
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? "Matthew 16:24

 

[doubtingmerle]

Men see it as this sin is better or worse than that sin, and less sin is better than more sin. Truth be told, it's all equally bad. A lie is as bad as adultery and killing whether its your first offense or hundreth.

Oh, please do be serious.

Do you really think that a child stealing a cookie is as bad as murder? Surely you can't possibly be serious.

 

[Stormy]

Oh, please do be serious.

Do you really think that a child stealing a cookie is as bad as murder? Surely you can't possibly be serious.

I would really like to see the misinterpreted Bible verse that is being used to validate this position.

For the life of me, I haven't a clue where it could be found.

 

[Kathleen111]

Would you tell this child if he confesses that it is ok to steal cookies? Sin without forgiveness is like peanut butter without jelly. Sticky. It is these early lessons that take hold for life.

Can you forgive a man for murder as easily as forgiving a child for stealing a cookie? God forgives all.

 

[Robby]

How can you be said to be "saved" if you are still in danger? There is a contradiction here.

 

[UMP]

It seems like there is no true answer to this question, but I want to know peoples insights on it. What do you all believe? How can you justify it? What makes you think that way?

I dont understand it when people say that once you are saved you are always saved. How is that true? If you sin doesnt that mean you are in wrong doing and must repent for it? But people argue that God saved us eternally...How does it work. I have seen it were people back it up with scripture...but then I can back it up and say its wrong. So which is it? My boyfriend for example backs it up with scripture that once you are saved you are always saved. But then I came back and said NO...but then he was like how could you say that when God said in his word that he will never leave or forsake us. So I said "Well, he wont...we leave him by committing sins that we do everyday naturally."

I could argue this until I am blue in the face...God will never leave us or break the promises but how can people justify that once you are saved you are always saved. I really dont understand...Somoene please give me some insight on this! Thanks

God Bless,
Jenn

First you have to understand what the word "saved" means. If it's something that man does himself, than yes, you most certainly could lose it. However, if being saved is an act of God, something God does for YOU, it is impossible to lose it. Christ died for His people. NONE of those shall be lost, or else Christ died in vain, which is not possible. Remember, God is perfect and HE CANNOT lie.
Here is something to read on the subject if you are interested.

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0075.htm

 

[UMP]

OSAS really has nothing to do with it; for humans can deceive and be deceived and make all kinds of claims; but ultimately only God knows the true heart of a person; and whether or not true Salvation and Repentence and Sanctification has occurred or not.



The Bible tells us that when salvation truly occurs to a person, that:

II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Ephesians 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Romans 8:24 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."


Anyone can claim to be saved.

Anyone can claim to be a Christian.

Anyone can 'feel' as if they truly were a Christian.

Anyone can also 'feel' as if they, for whatever reason, chose recant and abandon it.

However, those are all actions and emotions that man makes up for his own reasons.

When God 'saves' someone and changes them from the 'old man' of sin; into the 'new man' wherein dwelleth righteousness; to the point that 'the old things are passed away' and the person now has 'the mind of Christ'; there nature has been changed.

Once true and God-given salvation from above has graced a person, it is against their new nature to reject it, and to turn away. That is true salvation. Metamorphic Salvation from God Himself; not a mere claim, feeling, or emotion.

Personally, I would never believe anyone's story who claimed to be a saved, born-again Christian at one point in their life; only later to abandon it; and to turn away from Christ and reject Him. Anyone who would do this, IMO, never was given a new spiritual nature by Christ, never was born again, and never put on the new man.

Perhaps this is what some of the 'I used to be a Christian but now I am not' folks might want to consider. But on a positive note for you guys, it is never too late; as long as you are taking breathes.

Jesus said,
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? "Matthew 16:24

Good stuff
Thanks !

 

[Stormy]

I have only been saved once, when I was about eight years old. Life sometimes took me in ways that Jesus would not have chosen for me. But when I stopped and turned around ... He was still there.

I am never leaving again. I was saved once... he kept his part of the bargain, and now I will too.

I don't know how it works for anyone other than myself.

IMO Death catches you in the direction of your walk. If you are walking with Jesus, then your path is to Heaven. I am so thankful that I turned around.

 

[Soul_Searcher]

I know you're asking is OSAS biblical, and it is and it isn't, as Paul says yes, but Jesus says no--I'm betting on Jesus for this one. Read Matthew 7 and 25 for starters.

 

[Crispie]

Accept Jesus Sacrifice and all your sins are forgiven. There is no sin you can commit that you wont had already recieved forgiveness for, so no matter what once saved always saved.

 

[LilBrat4him]

ok, If you do something bad to your mom or turn on her dose that make u not her child ? No, so once your Gods your always his Jesus died once!



Brat

 

[AudioArtist]

That's ridiculous. Read James.

What you are implying is that we can believe in Christ and go on a murdering rampage-it won't matter, because he died for ALL our sins.

And Paul doesn't contradict Jesus on this-he too urges that we turn from our sins and follow Christ and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit. In Romans he says that we can choose sin as our master which leads to death, or Jesus who leads to life.

Just because Christ saved us and forgave us our sins, does not mean we are not held accountable for how we behave. It says in Peter that Christians will be judged too. Also, in the parable of the goats and sheep, Christ throws the goats (who had not been compassionate to others) into Hell. Another thing-John says that if anyone claims to love God yet does not love his nieghbour, he is a LIAR. So just because you believe in Christ does not mean you can go on being horrible or selfish towards others.

 

[LilRitt04]

See I agree with the people that disagree with OSAS...I think it is the most false doctrine if I ever heard one! I read about it today and it doesnt make sense. People can argue with me all they want but if you mess up you not God broke a promise...so therefore...yes we are not perfect we are human, but God expects us EVERYDAY to strive to be more like him...

thanks everyone for clearing this up for me!