Can you show me where the bible says "once saved always saved"?

Question

Kait....so you're telling me God chooses who will be saved and who wont? Doesn't that take away the whole "free will" thing?

Answer 1

Apart from the first 8 chapters of the book of Romans, there are Jesus' words. I would bring to your attention Jesus' use of tenses in John chapter 3. Verse 14-15: 'The Son of Man must be lifted up that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life' - notice it does NOT say 'WILL have' but 'HAVE'. Present tense. Verse 36: 'He who believes in the Son HAS everlasting life' - again, Present tense, not future!

Also, the apostle John in 1st Jn 3:14-16: 'We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' Present tense throughout! Not future!

The confusion about the supposed 'once saved always saved' idea arises from inability to make these distinctions:

Salvation is unconditional; fellowship with the Father is conditional.
Justification before God is unconditional; the anointing of the Spirit is conditional.
Christians' status in the family of God is unconditional; intimacy with Christ is conditional.
Believers' eternal destiny - whether going to heaven or hell - is fixed, but receiving a reward is conditional.

Oh, and the 'sinners prayer' is to be found in the New Testament, uttered by the desperate father asking Jesus' to heal his tormented son: 'Lord, I believe! Help thou my unbelief!' Mark 9:24

Answer 2

Regarding the "Once saved always saved "question, its definitely an ONGOING journey. There are some examples of Christians who apparently stumbled COMPLETELY OFF the path ( e.g. Judas, one of the original 12 Apostles ). And we must not forget the example of Satan, who was ORIGINALLY a holy angel, until he made some bad choices with the free-will that he had; and likewise, we all possess free-will to make right or wrong choices, with subsequent rewards or punishments that follow. So,to some extent,it can be a misleading dangerous idea to assume,"Once saved always saved ". Instead, "Endure to the end" . Moderate confidence is okay,but over-confidence is DEADLY. If anyone here has fallen off the path, by all means and EFFORT get back ON the path ,and STAY on it. LOL

Answer 3

Just like my answers to the Jehovah's Witnesses who ask for specific verses that describe the Trinity, "once saved, always saved" is a concept without a verse to give you the specific words that you are looking for. Yet if Christians do not have the assurance of salvation, they are left to their own methods of "attaining" that salvation through struggles that include acceptance, then falling away, then re-acceptance, in a potentially continuous cycle of belief and unbelief, with the judgment seat solely dependent upon their final decision before death. That's ridiculous. Assurance of salvation rests with God, not man, and this can only be done if God has the prerogative in salvation rather than our "choice."

Kait's answer tries to blend God's sovereignty and our free will, except that logically it doesn't work, and you've readily pointed out his error as well as the author's book that he takes his response to you from.. The only way to give man totally free will, and therefore attain fellowship with God on our own, is to take away his guilt before the Lord. The Bible continuously stresses that this is not the case.

So, "once saved, always saved" involves an a priori view of man's capacity to believe, and whether it is clouded through the Arminian view, or completely darkened through the Calvinist view. I have not yet seen a successful reconciliation of the two beliefs.

Answer 4

No, it does not use those words in any specific text, but many sincere people believe that this is what the Bible teaches. And it is true that a number of Bible texts indicate that the basis for salvation is not one’s works, but, rather, faith in Jesus Christ, together with God’s “grace” and mercy. (Eph. 2:8, 9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:4, 5) Additionally, Jesus himself said that “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”—John 3:36, Authorized Version (AV); 1 John 5:13.

From such references it is often reasoned that if one ‘has everlasting life,’ he actually possesses it permanently; it cannot be lost, or, as many would have it: “Once saved, always saved.” However, does this understanding fully express the Scriptural view of gaining everlasting life?

Well, Christians concerned about their salvation may also wish to consider Jesus’ declaration that “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:12, 13; Mark 13:13, AV) And the apostle Paul comments similarly: “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”—Heb. 3:14, AV.

Answer 5

first backsliding as well as blasphemy are in the Bible. i personally believe if you are in a backsliden state you may not make it to heaven. and then blasphemy you cant be forgiven off. one may ask what is the differance. well backsliding you fall into worldy things. however you dont claim to be God and most of the time you dont deny God exist either. you just live how you want to. blasphemy is when you have been filled with the Holy Ghost and know the truth. but then leave and claim you are God. like you might be given the gift to heal and instead of keeping it to God is the one who is healing you start to claim you are the one doing it. or you may fake speaking in tongues, and maybe can include you denounce God and say he does not exist and truly believe he does not after knowing the truth. again even paul talked about his salvation and how he was not even sure of it.

Answer 6

I don't think it is. Here is why: sure, once you are baptized, you are a child of God....however....your own free will CAN tear you apart from God and it is bound to, at one point or another. I am talking about mortal sin, which takes you away from the Grace of God. The good news? God calls all to repent and to reconcile with Him through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. With true sorrow, there is NO SIN that is unforgivable through God. He has Mercy and Compassion on all.

Answer 7

That is a Baptist teaching, generally derived from the scripture where God says in John 10:28 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
They do not understand that we ourselves can take ourselves out of God's hand by our own free will, by denying Him or turning away from God. If a believer decides he no longer wants God in his life, and curses God, Hebrews chapt. 6 and chapt. 10 tell us the consequences of someone who does that. There is no second chance for them.
To those who say 'once saved, always saved', I would ask, "and what of those who were saved who turn against God and curse Him? Are they saved?" This would be illogical. We can fall from grace and lose our salvation, but it takes a willful act of denial and rejection to do so.

Answer 8

I went through a phase where I was asking this same question (great question!). I personally never found evidence of this even though I had been taught it. I am under the impression that a person's relationship with God needs to be maintained, it matters how you live and that it is possible to fall away. I am no scholar however.

Answer 9

Great question!!!

Like, so when you think you are saved because "you got saved" you can go around the world and do whatever you please no matter what you are gonna be OK because once upon a time you were saved??? Ummmm... so no sin is big enough for you like, now you are the master and stuff? Cool! let's all join and "enjoy" life to its last consequences doing whatever we want because anyways once upon a time "we were saved" and we will always be, YAYYYY!!!!!!!! NO

I respect it but totally don't get it, makes no sense for me if anyone could email me and explain I will be totally thankful ^_^ No need to bash or whatever, ok?

Answer 10

HELL I am still looking for that "Sinners Prayer" the Born Agains keep quoting. I can't find it either.

I also had to mail order a Urim and Thummin so I could understand that gibberish talk they make when they are all standing around touching the face of Jesus while they pray...