by R. L. Morrison

The words of the title are an affirmation. In other words, they are stating a fact that many people believe the Bible teaches. But the question mark makes them just that, a question. Is a person, once saved, always saved, in so far as eternal salvation is concerned?

This doctrine is the fifth point of Calvinism. It is stated in these words: 'Since salvation is entirely the work of the Lord, and man has absolutely nothing to do with "getting saved" in the first place, it is obvious that "keeping saved" is also the work of God, apart from any good or bad on the part of His elect'. This is accepted by many religious bodies today, although some make slight changes in it. For example, consider the Baptist Manual. They accept the last part but reject the first part. They teach that a man must repent of his sins and turn by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a one is born again and can never be lost, regardless of his manner of life.

But what does the New Testament have to say? If these ideas are in harmony with the New Testament, then all men should accept them. If they do not agree with New Testament teaching, then all should reject them.

First, consider the statement "Man has nothing to do with 'getting saved' in the first place." It is not possible to reconcile this statement to one made by Peter, who, directed by the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost of Acts 2 said: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). Peter told those assembled on that day they could save themselves, and encouraged them to do so. The next verse (41) reveals that about 3000 of those who heard did exactly that: doing as they were told, by repenting and being baptized for the remission of their sins. The last sentence of the chapter reveals that the Lord added daily those who were being saved to the church. The ones added were those who obeyed the apostle's commands, and were saving themselves by so doing. In every conversion recorded in the book of Acts, those who believed what they heard "saved themselves" by their complete obedience to the commands of the apostles. Now, whom should we believe? The things men have written, or that which was made known by the Holy Spirit?

In regard to falling away, or a "saved" person being lost, men have written this: "There is not a single, solitary verse or passage in all the Bible that says a saved person can be lost after he is saved, or says that a saved person can finally go to hell at last."

Of course, no one can turn to a scripture that states in "those" words that a saved person can be lost. But there are many passages that do teach that a saved person can be lost. There are many more which warn those who are saved of the danger of falling away from the faith. In fact, such teaching or warning can be found in almost every book in the New Testament.

In Luke 16, Jesus spoke of two men. One of them was a rich man. The other was a poor, sick beggar who laid at his gate. The rich man could have helped the beggar but he did not choose to do so. Both men died. In hell, the rich man saw Abraham afar off, and the beggar, Lazarus, in his bosom. The rich man asked "father Abraham" to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue "for I am tormented in this flame." He was told that his request could not be granted. Here is the account of one who was in a covenant relationship with God, but he was lost in hell! He was a Jew. He addressed Abraham as his father. But he was lost! Eternally lost! Now some one may say, "Well that occurred under the Old Testament law." True, it did. But the statement that we are considering said "There is no passage in ALL the Bible which says a saved one can be lost in hell." Luke 16 is in the Bible. If those people, under the Old Testament law, in a covenant relationship with God, could be eternally lost, why should one believe that people today in a covenant relationship with God cannot be eternally lost?

In Acts 8, we find the account of Philip preaching in Samaria. There, a certain man named Simon had deceived the people, leading them to believe that he was some one great. But, he, and many others, believed the things Philip preached concerning the kingdom of God, and were baptized. Later, the apostles Peter and John came to Samaria and laid hands on some who received gifts of the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this, he desired this power of the apostles and offered them money to obtain it. Peter said to him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Repent, therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee." Here is the account of an obedient believer, a man who had been saved, becoming guilty of sin. He was told that he would perish with his money, unless he sought the forgiveness of God through prayer. Notice Peter told him that he would perish with his money. Surely no one believes that his money would be eternally saved. If he did not repent of his evil thoughts and pray for forgiveness both he and his money would perish. Who can believe this means eternal salvation? However, some say he was never saved anyway. But Luke says he was saved. He believed just as others did. He was baptized just as they were. If any of the Samaritans were saved, he was of the number. And some of them received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual gifts were not for unsaved unbelievers. It would be rather difficult, it seems, for those who believe that one is saved at the point of faith, to deny that Simon was a saved man.

In 1 Cor. 5, Paul spoke of a member of the church there, who although was a saved person, was guilty of fornication. In Chapter 6, verse 9, he wrote that fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If a failure to inherit the kingdom of God DOES NOT mean the eternal loss of the soul, what does it mean? If Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit will not allow a saved person to be lost, why did Paul tell the Corinthian church to put that wicked fornicator out from among them? If he could not be lost, why bother him?

In 1 Cor. 9:27, Paul wrote: "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Castaway means (by W. E. Vine) rejected, disapproved, and so rejected from present testimony, with loss of future reward. Yet, some people teach that it is impossible for a saved person to be lost eternally. Paul was not of that number, as he KNEW he could depart from the faith and be eternally lost. He said so in the passage quoted above. If it was possible for an apostle to be lost, is it not also possible for any child of God to be lost?

In Gal. 5:1, Paul instructed these people to "stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." He also warned them against submitting to the Jewish law of circumcision. In verse 4, he wrote, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace." This passage is exactly the opposite of the doctrine which teaches "Once saved, always saved." Paul was writing this to children of God. In 3:26 he wrote, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." This passage provides no comfort for those who teach salvation by "faith only", for in verse 27 he says, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ Jesus have put on Christ." Only those who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. The word "fallen" in verse 4 means to "fall out". As used in the scriptures it means a "departure." Those who lived then, as well as those living now, who seek to be justified through the law of Moses, have departed from Christ, if they were ever in a covenant relationship with him. Salvation is in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10). What shall be the end of those who leave Christ? Not eternal salvation, for it is in Christ. The alternative is eternal loss, which means eternity in hell.

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight; IF ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and was preached to every creature which is under heaven" (Col. 1:21-23). These Colossians had been reconciled to Christ through the preaching of the gospel. But, they were to be presented holy, unblameable, unreprovable in his sight ONLY IF they continued in the faith, and were not moved away from the hope of the gospel. What would happen if they did not continue in the faith? They would have been unholy, blamable and reprovable in his sight! Paul wrote this to people who had been reconciled to God. He did NOT say that Christ or the Father or the Holy Spirit would keep them holy and unblameable. Paul said THEY, THEMSELVES must do that! Once saved, always safe? Not according to Paul, the apostle!

"But the younger women refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith" (1 Tim. 5:11-12). Paul wrote "having damnation", which we think most will agree is just the opposite of eternal life. But what would cause this to happen? THEY CAST OFF THEIR FAITH! Does this mean they ceased to believe and obey the truth they once accepted? If not, then what does it mean?

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1). Peter wrote that even among brethren false teachers would arise, teaching error, even to the point of denying Christ. Notice that he wrote this to Christians and said some of them would be guilty of this sin. He wrote that swift destruction would follow. Who will affirm that eternal life is described as swift destruction?

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:6-10). John told Christians that it is necessary to walk in the light, the truth. A failure to walk in the light is to walk in darkness, which is to sever one's relationship to Christ. John also says that he who says he has not sinned and does not sin, is self deceived. He has no truth in him. He is also said to be a liar, and no liar has eternal life in him (Rev. 21:8). John warned Christians about lying. It is something they can do, but from which they must restrain themselves. A failure to do so means the loss of eternal life. No, John did not teach "Once saved, always safe."

Jude spoke of men who crept in unawares, who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denied God and Jesus Christ (verse 4). He continues to describe them: clouds without water, trees whose fruit withereth, raging waves of the sea, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. This is not a picture of faithful obedience to the will of God. It is not the description of men being kept from sin by Christ or the Holy Spirit. It is rather a description of men following their own will and wisdom rather than obeying God. To these, Jude says, is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. No, the word "hell" is not used here. But surely all will agree this is not a description of heaven, and as you know, there is only one other alternative.

John writes to Christians, exhorting them "that ye sin not." (1 John 2:1). If they could not sin, John's exhortation would have been unnecessary. But then John says: "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." In 1 john 1:9 he writes, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So a child of God can sin. To be forgiven, a child of God must confess his sin. Now, if he does not confess his sins, and does not pray for the forgiveness of them, will he be forgiven? If he dies with his sins unforgiven, will he be saved? Some men say "yes". But consider what Jesus said of those who die in their sins: "I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall din in your sins; whether I go, ye cannot come" (John 8:21). Now, here is the question: If they cannot go to heaven because they died in their sins, and they cannot go to hell where Satan is because they cannot be lost, WHERE do they go?

A child of God can sin, and can so sin as to be eternally lost. If not, why confess and pray to be forgiven?

Further, John says: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). Some children of God did sin, and any child of God that says he does not sin or has no sin deceives himself. As John stated: all children of God, including John himself, are included. Can a child of God lie? If he cannot do so, then John was warning him against something he could not do. But John said he could so sin!

What will You accept: God's word, or the doctrines of men?

Here are some other things the scriptures teach that Christians are to avoid because they are sinful: stealing, adultery, drunkenness, lusts, murder, false witnessing, blasphemy, evil thoughts. But some say it is the body that sins, but the spirit, the heart of man does not. If you believe this, consider this saying of Jesus: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man" (Matt. 15:19-20).

These things come from the heart. Therefore the spirit of man is involved in them. The Word does teach that a child of God can sin with his spirit; and such sin, unforgiven, will cause that person to be eternally lost!

"All liars will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 21:8). Question: Does this include children of God who lie? What does the word "all" mean? Just a few? Most liars? Or does it mean every one who is a liar? Isn't the answer obvious?

Here are some things the Bible teaches which sets forth the error or falseness of the doctrine "Once saved, always safe".