5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

I would like to know if once you are saved, are you always saved?  Can you never lose your salvation no matter what you do?  This is what I was told about this basic teaching in Jhn 10:27-29.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
For Keeps

Dear For Keeps,

The idea that you can’t ever lose your salvation is a warping of Christ’s message in Jhn 10:27-29.  “Once saved, always saved” is a basic doctrine of Calvinism (read “Calvin And Sobs” for more details on the errors of Calvinism).  The Bible clearly says that you can lose your salvation.  Heb 3:12 says that we must be wary and protect our hearts because an evil, unbelieving heart can fall away.  2 Pet 3:17 says that we can lose our salvation if we get caught up in false teaching (1 Tim 4:1 also states this).  If we return to a life of ungodliness, then we crucify Christ again (Heb 6:4-6).

How do you know FOR SURE that you are saved?  I have many reasons and personal experiences that make me believe that I am saved, but I also have a very strong doubt that I am not.  If someone killed me right now, I would not know where I would go, and that is terrifying to me.  Someone once told me, "If you are 99% sure you are going to heaven, you are going to hell".  Well, I am about 50% sure; I don’t know what to do or believe.  I have trusted Jesus in my heart, and I also read the Bible and have read the book of John where it says, "So that you may know", but I still don’t know!  If I am saved, why do I doubt?  Why am I absolutely terrified of dying?  Why can’t I stop doing what I do that I KNOW disappoints Him?  If I were really and TRULY saved... wouldn’t all this be fixed?

Sincerely,
Doubting

Dear Doubting,

We can have confidence in our salvation when we have obeyed the Bible.  The Bible is God’s power to bring us salvation (Rom 1:16).  The Bible teaches that you are saved when you listen to what the Scriptures say (Rom 10:17), believe in Jesus (Jhn 3:16), repent (‘repent’ means ‘change your mind’ – Acts 17:30), and are baptized (Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Pet 3:21).  Once you are baptized, you become a christian.

After that, it is a matter of growing and learning like all children do (1 Pet 2:2).  Salvation comes from obeying God’s Word, not from how we feel.  Many people feel that they are saved… and actually they are lost (Matt 7:21-23).  The proof of salvation is found in aligning your life with the Bible’s teachings.  The Bible doesn’t require that we live perfectly, but it does require that we live faithfully (Rom 1:17).  When we combine our faith with a life that works for Christ (Jas 2:14-17), we can have confidence in our salvation.  If you would like help finding a congregation in your area that teaches and practices what the Bible says, e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom