ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?
Jay Yeager
In any study of the scriptures there is an absolute need for honesty. Heaven is too wonderful and hell is too horrible for us to do anything less. That is certainly true of the subject under consideration in this article. Now, before we begin our study, there needs to be some clarification. First, I believe as strongly as anyone that a faithful child of God (one who is doing God’s will) cannot be lost, but that is not the issue. The real issue is this: 1). Can a saved person fall away and be lost at last? 2). Can the saved depart from the faith that saved them? 3). Is it possible for a person to be added to the lamb’s book of life, and at some later time be blotted out?
1. Can a saved person fall away and be lost at last? I am aware that there are those who would quickly answer, “No! Once saved always saved!” While I intend to prove that to be false, simply for the sake of argument suppose that were true. That would raise a serious question: namely, why would God warn His children of a danger that was non-existent? For Example: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1Corinthians 10:12). To what end did God issue this warning?
Again, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a chase virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2Corinthians 11:2-3). The devil through his trickery brought the downfall of Adam and Eve. Paul was fearful that the same thing might happen to the Corinthians, yet how can a person fear the impossible? Friends, I realize that religious bias is hard to overcome, but these verses at the very least admit that the saved can fall away.
2. Can the saved depart (fall away) from the faith that saved them? Friends, if you have any respect for the scriptures you must answer in the affirmative, for the Bible in unmistakable language declares that not only can it happen, but in fact has happened. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and the doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1Timothy 4:1-2). How could the Holy Spirit promise a complete falling away from the faith, if falling away is impossible? “Well,” says one, “they were never really Christians.” Folks, listen please, you cannot depart from a place you have never been!
3. Is it possible for a person to be added to the lamb’s book of life, and at some later time be blotted out? Beloved, those who insist on the idea that if a person falls away they were never really saved in the first place find themselves in conflict with the Son of God. In Revelation chapter three the church at Sardis is being addressed, and here is the inspired record.
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels” (Revelation 3:1-5).
Now, both the former and the present state of the church at Sardis is vital to this discussion. First, what was their former state? They were members of the Lord’s church, therefore they were saved, for Jesus adds only the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). Who among us would dare deny that? What was their present state? Dead or dying! What was the message to the church at Sardis? Repent or perish! Cleanse your garments or be blotted out of the book of life. In other words the saved can be lost (Revelation 20:15).
