Dec 3

Written by: Dan Cartwright
12/3/2009 5:20 AM 

While that might be true, it might not be the best way to ask the question, or discuss the issue. Passages that support the position that once a person believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ as God's Son (has been 'saved' from condemnation), that person will remain 'saved' are these:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them , and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Any one who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:9-12)

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (I John 5:13)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you. Through faith you are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation…” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The above passages are often used to support the slightly broader subject of the 'assurance' of salvation, that we can know with certainty that, as believers, we are in fact children of God through Christ. They bring great comfort to us when the enemy brings doubt into our minds. Two passages specifically speak to what can be more properly termed the 'perseverance' of believers - that once a person belongs to God through Christ, he/she will always belong to God through Christ.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them , and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you. Through faith you are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation…” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

There is a subtle difference in saying "I was saved and I will always be saved." or saying "The God who saved me can and will also keep me in His hand." While both might be true, the focus of the former often becomes "I" and focus of the latter is God. The first often gives rise to boasting (or the appearance of boasting) while the second gives God all the credit.

The bottom line, no matter how we discuss the issue, Scripture simply rules the day!