Once Saved, Always Saved Doctrine is False and Dangerous

The greatest false teaching of our day is the idea that once saved, always saved. This is the idea that no matter what we do or how we live, we shall still enter heaven because we can’t lose our salvation. That is not true, and neither Jesus nor his apostles taught any such thing. Grace is not a license to sin.

It is clear from scripture that we can lose our salvation if we continually live in willful and unrepentant sin. A Christian who is sinning willfully cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This is because they are denying Jesus and nullifying his work on the cross. They do this by refusing to submit to the Holy Spirit to sanctify them. Instead, submitting to sin and the flesh. Jesus did not die to give us a license to sin, and any such teaching is the doctrine of demons.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-31

Depart from me. I never knew you.

Jesus was clear that many will come to him on the last day professing to be saved, and he will deny them because they are workers of iniquity.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23)

The lukewarm shall be vomited out.

Jesus tells us the lukewarm, who are double-minded, will be vomited out of his mouth.

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16

Names can be erased from the book of life.

Jesus makes it clear that names can be erased from the book of life.

“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 3:5

“But the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33

Only he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Jesus tells us that only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

Without holiness, no man shall see God.

The apostles of Jesus repeatedly warned that we must strive for holiness if we wish to see God.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.” 1 Peter 1:14-17

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:4-9

The danger of falling away

Born-again Christians have been given a new nature. To be born again is a new birth; you’re not the same person. You cannot continue in your old way of life if you’re sincerely born again. Jesus redeems and saves us from sin. The Holy Spirit regenerates us, placing God’s nature within us. This nature desires to obey God and is empowered to do so. A true Christian can’t want to sin willfully; the Holy Spirit will convict them, and they will repent.

When a person repeatedly hardens himself against the conviction of the Holy Spirit and goes back to his old way of life, that person is now a transgressor and counted with sinners. Their name is removed from God’s book. They cannot inherit God’s kingdom in that state and are destined for hell unless they repent sincerely.

Grace is not a license to sin.

We are saved by grace, but we do not continue to sin in the name of grace. The grace of God empowers us to produce works of righteousness, which prove that we are born again. The born-again person and the sinner are two different creations. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature/creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and reflects that nature.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

Any branch that does not bear fruit is cut off.

Jesus said in John 15 that any branch IN HIM that does not produce fruit is cut off and burned in the fire. This branch has stopped abiding in him. These are believers he is talking about here. We may begin in Christ, but if we go back to sin and stop bearing the fruit of being God’s offspring, which is righteousness and holiness, he will eventually cut us off.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:4-6

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Are you born again? Do you have eternal life?

Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, dying for us on the cross, taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.

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