Once Saved, Always Saved?
1 John 1:9 – But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done.
The big question is confession and how often should we do this. First I have to say “once saved, always saved” has not Biblical backing that I can find. My concern is that we may lose salvation if we don’t remain in a constant state of confession.
I know there are scriptures where one can reject their salvation. Many say one was never really saved, I believe it’s more an extreme case of backsliding. We can look at many scriptures to see this. Matthew 7:19-23 comes to mind first where in the end people are crying out saying they did good in Jesus’ name and he rejects their pleas. That is quickly explained away as on the salvation not being “real” and they were just doing “works” in Jesus’ name without a relationship.
Now I turn to 1 Timothy 4:1 for a one to really ponder:
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
It continues in verse 2 to say that the ones who reject their faith “are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” The only way one can “turn away” is to be either exposed to it or in it altogether. Theologians argue this is people that did not have true conversions and therefore turned from the faith, I believe one can turn from salvation. I know many, some very close to me, who have rejected their salvation which I believe was genuine. I fear they will be pounding at the door saying I knew you Jesus, and he will reject them.
So can you lose it? Sure, if Devon or Veronica looked at me and rejected me as their father, I would still love them with all my heart. I would also never reject them from my inheritance, small as it may be. John 6:37-40 support this saying that Jesus “will never drive away” his children. So the argument can be given that God will allow those to return even if they rejected the faith from love.
This would then imply that all God’s children would be welcome into the kingdom of heaven. I reject that whole heartedly since there is no scripture that would even imply this, but it does offer a logical argument for the “once saved, always saved” theology.
In the end the key is not to “turn away” and take that chance that Jesus will not know you. Keep praying, keep reading the Bible and keep going good in Jesus’ name.