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Once Saved Always Saved

by Henry Bechthold  
1/26/2011 / Bible Studies

Is the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine biblically correct? Is it true that, once a person has placed their faith in Jesus, they can never depart from their relationship with Christ and can never be lost? According to the Bible, the answer is a resounding "NO"!

The Apostle Paul stated that some will "depart" and "stray" from the faith (1st Timothy 4:1; 1st Timothy 6:9-10), so it obviously is possible to do so. The Apostle Peter warned that a person can turn away from Jesus, and that if he does, he is worse off than before He knew Jesus, which would have to mean that he would be lost (2nd Peter 2:20-22). And, Peter also warned us to beware lest we fall and be led away with the error of the wicked, so it is clearly possible for this to happen (2nd Peter 3:17).

The Bible states that it is possible to "fall from grace" and become estranged or separated from Christ (to be separated from Christ is to be lost); likewise, Scripture states that it is possible for a "brother" to violate his conscience and perish; a "brother" is a fellow saved Christian (Galatians 5:2-4; 1st Corinthians 8:8-11). The Bible also says, in Hebrews 2:1-3, that it's possible to "drift away" if we're not careful, and that if we do, how shall we escape for neglecting so great a salvation? Therefore, we obviously can drift away from our salvation.

God's Word states that it is possible to "depart" from the living God, and that we are partakers of Christ only "if" we hold fast until the end (Hebrews 3:12-14). Likewise, the Apostle Paul states that we're saved "if" we hold fast to the gospel, otherwise we'll have believed "in vain" (1st Corinthians 15:1-2). So, once again, there are conditions for remaining in this saved state, and it is possible to have believed "in vain", which plainly indicates the possibility to become lost if we stop holding fast to the gospel.

The book of Hebrews teaches that it is possible for people who were clearly very close to Jesus and "filled with His power", to fall away, and that it's impossible to bring them to repentance again, obviously indicating that they're lost (Hebrews 6:3-6). Similarly, the prophet Ezekiel declared that, if a righteous person turns to iniquity, he will die (Ezekiel 33:18); once again, clearly teaching that "righteous people" can turn back to a life of sin and be lost.

James 5:19-20 states that it's possible to "wander away" from the truth, and if you do, someone needs to turn you back from your error to "save your soul from death". In other words, it's possible to wander away and to need to be "resaved". Also, in Romans chapter 11, the Apostle Paul compares God's people to an olive tree, and he teaches that, if people don't "continue in belief", they will be "broken off" or separated from God's olive tree (Romans 11:17-22). And, if we've been removed from God's olive tree of faithful believers, we are certainly in a lost state.

In Revelation 3:5, Jesus states that those in the Church who overcome will not have their names "blotted out" of the Book of Life. Therefore, it obviously is possible to have your name "blotted out" or removed from God's Book of Life if you do not overcome. Similarly, Hebrews 10:26-29 says that it is possible for someone who was "sanctified" by the blood of Jesus, to turn away and sin willfully, thereby bringing upon himself the fearful expectation of "judgment and fiery indignation" (in other words, the hell fire). So, previously "sanctified people", which would have to be saved people, can turn back to a life of willful sin, thus resulting in them going to hell. And, finally, the Apostle Paul states that we will reign with Jesus Christ "if" we endure, and he also says that Jesus will deny us if we deny Him (2nd Timothy 2:12). Keep in mind that Paul is writing to Christians, so it is clearly possible to "not endure" and to deny Jesus, thus resulting in His justly denying us.

In fact, according to 1st Corinthians 9:27, even the Apostle Paul knew that it was possible for him to be rejected and to become a "castaway or reprobate" if he was not spiritually disciplined. And, don't let any modern, seeker sensitive preachers deceive you concerning what Paul meant here, by telling you that he was not referring to the loss of his salvation, but only to losing extra rewards in heaven. The Greek word used by Paul is "adokimos". He said he disciplined himself lest he should become adokimos. What is "adokimos"? It means rejected, unapproved, disqualified, worthless, a castaway or a reprobate. A reprobate is defined in dictionaries as being a wicked, immoral, depraved or corrupt person. Paul said he disciplined himself so he would not become like that. The original Greek word makes it clear that Paul realized that even he could fall into the depraved, immoral, corrupt and wicked condition of a reprobate.

Think about it. If the Bible states that this could even happen to the Apostle Paul, couldn't it also happen to modern Christians? And, do you think that wicked, corrupt, depraved, immoral reprobates are still "saved" people who will enter heaven? Of course not! This text alone refutes the "Once Saved, Always Saved" dogma.

It is also highly significant that the same Greek word, "adokimos", which Paul said that he could become if he was not disciplined, was the word he used to describe the list of rejected sinners in the last days that we are to turn away from or avoid (2nd Timothy 3:1-8). He said in verse eight that these people were adokimos (reprobate-KJV, rejected-NIV, disapproved-NKJV) concerning the faith. In other words, they were reprobates who were rejected and worthless. Remember, Paul admitted that he also could become adokimos just as these rejected sinners. Are the adokimos sinners listed in 2nd Timothy 3:1-8 still saved? Of course not! This is a description of people who are lost; Paul said that even he could also become like them if he was not disciplined.

Furthermore, in Romans 1:28, Paul states that the sinners that he lists, which includes fornicators, murderers, idolaters and haters of God, had forsaken God and developed an adokimos (reprobate-KJV, depraved-NIV, debased-NKJV) mind. Their minds, thoughts, attitudes and purposes had become depraved, immoral, corrupt and wicked as those of a reprobate. These adokimos minded sinners in Romans chapter one, were not saved people. They are presented as rebellious, wicked and rejected by God; Paul uses that same word, adokimos, to describe what he could become if he was not spiritually disciplined. Even Paul could become like them. Even Paul could fall into such a state of depravity and wickedness, thereby resulting in him being rejected as a reprobate.

This Greek word, "adokimos", is only used eight times in the entire New Testament. Every single time, without exception, it describes people or things that are wicked, depraved, debased, worthless, rejected, disapproved, disqualified, reprobate etc. It never depicts anything good or of saving value. We have already studied three of these adokimos texts. We will now examine the other five passages.

Titus 1:16 refers to a group of people that it describes as having denied Christ, and as being abominable, disobedient and adokimos (reprobate-KJV, disqualified-NKJV, unfit-NIV) for every good work. Remember, the Apostle Paul said that he could also become adokimos like these people mentioned by Titus if he was not disciplined.

Hebrews 6:4-8 describes people who forsake Christ, and compares them to land that drinks in God's blessings of rain, but then bears only useless thorns and briers. It then declares that land to be adokimos (rejected-KJV&NKJV, worthless-NIV), and whose end is to be burned. Once again, remember that the Apostle Paul stated that he could also become adokimos like that land if he did not discipline himself.

In 2nd Corinthians 13:5-7, Paul uses "adokimos" three times. In verse five he states that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are adokimos (reprobate-KJV, disqualified-NKJV, failed the test-NIV). He then said in verse six that he trusted that the Corinthians knew that he and his companions were not adokimos. And, in verse seven, he prayed that the Corinthians would avoid evil and live honorably, whether or not they viewed him as being adokimos. Of course, the key verse in this passage is verse five. Paul clearly states that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are "adokimos". In other words, to be adokimos is to not have Jesus within you! Once again, remember that Paul declared that he could also become adokimos. In other words, even the Apostle Paul could end up not having Jesus within himself, if he did not maintain spiritual discipline.

That's why Paul said that he disciplined himself. He did not allow himself to have a careless or lazy spiritual attitude. Paul did not believe in once saved, always saved, and neither should we.

It is also certainly not a coincidence that, immediately after Paul admits the possibility for himself to become "adokimos", he uses the example of Old Testament Israel to teach us not to repeat their sinful compromises (1st Corinthians 10:1-12). He reminds us that many of the Israelites who had been "baptized" in the sea, eaten the spiritual food (manna), and drank the spiritual drink from the "Rock" (Christ); nonetheless, later perished through various sinful compromises with lust, idolatry, sexual immorality and complaining. He concludes his point by saying, "therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall".

Paul's message is clear, and it should be a wakeup call for today's unbiblical, "once saved, always saved" preachers! Immediately after Paul admits the possibility for himself to become adokimos in 1st Corinthians 9:27, he then shares examples of how large numbers of God's "Old Testament Church" (Israel) fell into sin and perished, after initially having been delivered from Egypt. He concludes his point by stating that these things were recorded as examples for our admonition; moreover, that we, therefore, who think that we'll stand, should take heed lest we fall (1st Corinthians 10:11-12).

In summary of these verses in 1st Corinthians, Paul's message is certainly powerful and clear. He reminds us that even he, the powerful and inspired apostle, could fall into the depraved, wicked and lost condition of a "reprobate", if he did not keep himself spiritually disciplined. He additionally reminds us that many Old Testament Israelites who had initially been delivered from the sins of Egypt, did later fall into sin and perish. He then instructs us to be admonished and to learn from their example, lest we fall due to our arrogance! It is undeniably obvious to any honest and unbiased person that this passage unequivocally refutes the Church's "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine.

For a list of the numerous scriptures that conclusively refute this doctrine, read my article titled, "Once Saved, Always Saved", at my website address listed below.

I am an evangelical, non-denominational, Christian pastor. You can research other interesting and provocative topics at my website: http://www.godormen.com.

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