Why do some Christians Beleive “Once saved, always saved” ?

Question

THE “Son of Sam” killer terrorized New York city residents for more than a year, killing six random victims and wounding several others. Yet the person accused of the crime reportedly had been “saved” at a church meeting about four years before his reign of terror began.

A former army friend of the suspect who had invited him to the church meeting relates that the new convert “came up to me grinning and laughing and saying, ‘Man, I’m saved.’ Then we came back that same day for the evening service and he went forward again at the invitation [to accept Christ]. He told me afterward that he just wanted to make sure it [being “saved”] took.”

Upon hearing the charges against this former member of her church, another member told the Associated Press: “I’m just thankful he was saved.” Why? She declared: “The Bible says, once saved, always saved.”—New York Post, August 25, 1977, p. 2.

Does the Bible actually say, “Once saved, always saved”? No, it does not use those words in any specific text, but many sincere people believe that this is what the Bible teaches. And it is true that a number of Bible texts indicate that the basis for salvation is not one’s works, but, rather, faith in Jesus Christ, together with God’s “grace” and mercy. (Eph. 2:8, 9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:4, 5) Additionally, Jesus himself said that “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”—John 3:36, Authorized Version (AV); 1 John 5:13.

From such references it is often reasoned that if one ‘has everlasting life,’ he actually possesses it permanently; it cannot be lost, or, as many would have it: “Once saved, always saved.” However, does this understanding fully express the Scriptural view of gaining everlasting life?

Well, Christians concerned about their salvation may also wish to consider Jesus’ declaration that “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:12, 13; Mark 13:13, AV) And the apostle Paul comments similarly: “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”—Heb. 3:14, AV.

Answer 1

But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers.(1 Peter 4:7)



What salvation did Peter have in mind? Obviously, the “once saved, always saved” idea held no place among the brothers of that day. All the things that had heretofore seemed vitally important and indispensable to those converts from Jewry and pagandom were about to crumble and disappear in the crucible of world hatred. The opportunity to preach was about ended, and they were not yet saved. The apostles and disciples were to be scattered and hounded like animals, and some of them put to a torturous death. Jehovah’s restraining hand would not much longer hold off the fierce attack of hate-filled enemies of Jerusalem, its temple and its worship. Jesus had announced the doom of the city and all it stood for and urged those who heard him to be ready for instant flight as soon as the final warning sounded. A time of soul-searching judgment that, when the searing flame of tribulation would try every man’s work whether it was of the quality to endure. Surely a time for servants of God to be wide-awake and filled with concern about how they might survive the terrible end of that system of things and be delivered for further happy privileges of theocratic service!—Matt. 23:37, 38; 24:15-21; 1 Cor. 3:13-15, NW.

Answer 2

Many preachers lull people into a false sense of security with their indiscriminate use of “born again” and “once saved, always saved” slogans and theology. Millions of people from nearly every religion and sect of Christendom have been led to believe that they are “born again” and “saved.” Unblushing politicians blithely make the same claim. Yes, their favorite preachers tell them that they are at peace with God because they are “saved”—and this in spite of their religious, political, and nationalistic divisions! And the people love it, even as they did in Jeremiah’s day! (Jeremiah 5:31; 14:14) They think they are beyond the reach of God’s Armageddon judgment.—Jeremiah 6:14; 23:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Revelation 16:14, 16.



However, a careful study of God’s Word and Christ’s teachings shows that only a limited number share the privilege of being born again, born ‘from water and from spirit,’ thus to share heavenly rulership with Christ. (John 3:3-5; Romans 8:16, 17; Revelation 14:1-3) The “great crowd” of true Christians today do not need to be born again, since their hope of everlasting life is earthly, not heavenly. (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3, 4) Furthermore, Christendom’s teaching is based on a false premise—that man has an immortal soul in need of salvation. Nowhere in the Bible is there support for such a doctrine, which is in fact derived from ancient Greek philosophy.

Answer 3

I'm answering because I haven't seen a halfway decent answer out of all of the responses so far.



First of all, I will not judge the "son of Sam," or you, or anyone else in all of humanity. Neither will I scoff and say, "prove it" at any baptism. We are saved by grace, and by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. If the son of Sam was not saved, then where was the church in mentoring him, guiding him, teaching him in the ways of the Lord?



Second, Once Saved does not point to a specific time when a person chooses "door #1" among other idols and tells God what to do. Once Saved points to predestination and who has the authority to save. That would be God.



Third, some faiths do believe that once "door #1" is chosen, the person is definitively saved. I disagree. We do not tell God what to do.



Yes, once saved, always saved, because God does the saving, not man in declaring salvation by his own virtue for himself or for others based on what he has done. We do not have access to the book of life, although the church does have some control over whom it takes in and expels as its members.

Answer 4

Sorry that you are misinformed, but the bible does not teach once saved always saved. We cannot sin and still reap the benefits of a saved life. Look at the example of Adam and Eve. How many sins did they commit before God kicked them out of the garden? Did he allow them to stay there after they sinned? No, because they were no longer saved after they sinned. He put angels there to keep the way and to keep them from partaking of his goodness. If we commit one sin, we are not saved. We must repent and turn from our sins and live a holy, consistent life. If you are drowning and someone saves you, are you still drowning? So if you are sinning, and Jesus saves you; you are not still sinning. If you are, you are not saved.

Answer 5

Ok. Hold fast to "the beginning of your confidence steadfast unto the end." Where your confidence? Who's keeping who?



The person who falls away is not the one who understands how sinful he is. That person tends to cling tenaciously to the Savior. But the one who thinks he has what it takes to hold on, he is in danger. "He who has, shall be given more, but he who has not shall lose what little he thinks he has."



It's not the person who claims to be saved who is saved, but the person who confesses that "Jesus is Lord, and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9-10). Show me where son of Sam confessed the Son of Man, and I'll grant you that he was in fact saved. "No one can say Jesus in Lord except by the Holy Spirit."



The question you need to answer first, is how is man saved in the beginning? By works of righteousness, by faith in Jesus Christ, by baptism, by repentance, by predestination, church membership or some combination of these? Because however he is saved in the first place is the same way he continues to be saved.



John 5:24: "he that hears my words and believes on the one who sent me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgement, but has (already) passed from death to life."



Yours in Christ, Nick



"he who endures to the end" refers to those at the time of the tribulations surrounding the second coming. Remember that saved ("sozo" in the Greek) can mean many things: redemption from sin, healing, rescuing, deliverance from danger, etc.

Answer 6

Because once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your one and only saviour,you can never be parted from him again,no matter wht sins you commit after accepting him.Christians will be judged yes but the difference is that Christians are forgiven only because Christ dies upon the cross for our sins.Christians arnt perfect just forgiven.

Answer 7

I DO NOT believe in that doctrine.



I mean, come on. It's okay to do whatever you want because you're saved! I mean, yeah girl. Go ahead, wear that one piece bathing suit on the beach because you know, it's MODEST because it covers a little bit more of your skin. Take that same Christian and put them out on the street in that one-piece bathing suit and if they see guys lusting, you better run and change because it's a SIN. But it's okay on the beach 'cause you're swimming.



JESUS LOVES ME, He can put up with it!



There's something seriously wrong with this picture.



http://www.anointedlinks.com/once_saved.html

Answer 8

Once saved is not in the Bible,,man has changed the word,s to make it seem like that but it,s wrong,it,s a lie of Satan,,we can

not be saved and still live in sin,and believe me a Christian still

love,s the sin,s of this world,,but we must restrain from them

and the one,s that tell this to be true, I believe will have the same destiny,because if they cause them to go to Hell,they will follow,

Answer 9

we for sure don't believe that Rom 11:17-24 says "you to can be cut off"and the bible says in so many places that you can lose your salvation but people still say that Catholic church has many traditions,well this IS a man made tradition that Jesus condemns in MT 23 that all a tradition of man,but so dose the watchtower has Alto of man man tradition does it!

Answer 10

Some Christians are simply wrong. They'll probably get through the pearly gates, but it is a false doctrine.

Answer 11

just saying some magic words don't mean you are saved. a saved person has Jesus in their hearts a lot of people fool themselves into thinking that they are saved but you can fool me and you can fool yourself but you can't fool God. as for the guy who claimed to be saved then went on a killing spree i think his actions suggest that he was never saved.

Answer 12

a free ticket to paradise;how convenient! I'd like a pair,one for my serpent and one for my dog. --'thumbs down',christian i was referring to your prophets and priests,'serpents/dogs' Isa.56:10,11 Job30:1 Ps.22:16 Phil.3:2 Rev.22:15 Mt.3:7; 12:34; 23:33 Lk.8:33

Answer 13

i don't know why some people say.





its not true if you get saved when you are 15 and when you are 18 you do drugs or drink or just sin in general you are not saved.





unless you repent and ask God to forgive you!

Answer 14

No the bible doesn't say this. The people who believe this misinterpret certain passages. The bible talks about enduring, and it repeatedly says that we will be judged for our deeds.

Answer 15

Not.

Jesus Christ's salvation is a sure thing, but we can screw it up.



Until a soul puts on immortality, they are not saved "yet".

Is that hard to understand?



So when some one says they are saved, in reality it is a process leading to putting on immortality.



Traditions of men make void the Word of God, and yes I must admit I believed at one time the premise of your question, until I studied harvest and resurrection. Enough said.









Merry Christmas !!

Answer 16

Once saved always saved mindset is easy to justify an immoral lifestyle after baptism. It's definitely not ok or right, though.

Answer 17

Not sure really, I did ask this once and I got a lot of hateful answers. :p

But if that's true, then I go to heaven no matter what. :D

I was saved before, but now I'm not Christian anymore.

Answer 18

It says faith without works is dead. If you don't do good works your faith is dead, and if you don't renew your faith, then your name is removed from the book of life.

Answer 19

Oh.

Sooo...were asking or preaching? Oh, a little of both I see.

And I don't know why many people believe that. Maybe it's true. Maybe it isn't. I'm atheist. I'm not really concerned.

Answer 20

Cause somebody taught them wrong ans they question themselves and think they must be misunderstanding scriptures that say otherwise.



1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.



Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;



Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.



The Bible teaches time and time again that if you don't repent for your sins you perish. If you deny him, he denies you.



Only IF WE CONFESS does he forgive.

1 John 1

5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.



If we continue to live in sin we should be afraid. Very afraid.



Heb 10

23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29Of 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?

30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.



Even if God has performed miracles through us if we turn our back on him and live in sin he will cast us out ("I never knew you" is a phrase that was used to disown/excommunite someone.)



Matthew 7

21Not 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.

22Many 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?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.



24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.



Jude

5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day

24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Answer 21

it is truth.



When Christ comes to dwell with a believer, He takes refuge. No one and nobody will ever take Him from you.

Answer 22

So its sort of like a cosmic enema, I can jive with that.

Answer 23

so many interpretations....