Once Saved Always Saved?

Over the last few months, we have discussed on a number of occasions if a believer in Christ could lose their salvation. The question stems from those we see saying they are a believer that continually live a Biblically immoral lifestyle. From celebrities to athletes to coworkers, it has become very fashionable to thank God and to proclaim Him their savior. The following week, we see them in the paper, on the news or at work/school participating or promoting ideas or lifestyles that are clearly sinful.

So what does God have to say about this? It is important that we define what a Christian is and what a Christian is not. Saying a prayer, raising a hand, walking down the aisle, or growing up in a church does not make you a Christian.

A Christian is a person who has received by faith the gift of salvation from God through belief that Christ was God made flesh and was sent to the earth to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins both past, present and future. A Christian believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth that Christ is the Lord of their life and Savior of their soul which would have been condemned to hell had it not been for the grace of God. (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10).

The following occurs at salvation and would have to be negated if once saved we were able to lose our salvation:

• We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) - in order to lose our salvation, God would have to undue making us a new creation
• We are redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-19) - in order to lose our salvation, God would have to revoke His purchase (the shed blood of Jesus)
• We are justified (Romans 5:1) - justification means to declare righteous. In order for us to lose salvation, God would have to go back on his word
• We are promised eternal life (John 3:16) - eternal is forever. In order for us to lose salvation, God would have to break His promise of eternal life

There are many more examples, but the Bible tells us that God doesn't lie and He can't go back on his word. Therefore, a Christian cannot lose their salvation.

Now, what about those who continue to live a sinful lifestyle?

1 John 3:6 says that anyone who "lives in Him" (is a Christian) does not continue to live in sin. The Bible also says that anyone who departs from the faith, was never really a Christian (1 John 2:19). Christians, while always struggling with sin {this is a sign of humanity}, do not willing engage in sinful lifestyles. To do so proves they were never saved to begin with.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God's hand (John 10:28-29). But those who proclaim a saving knowledge of Christ turn from sin on a daily basis and through the strength of the Holy Spirit living in their lives resist the temptations of evil.

**Note** - portions of this discussion adapted from www.gotquestions.org