I just remembered, after reading a post on some website, that I was going to write a post on the doctrine of eternal security, or, once saved always saved. Then I remembered that Kathleen also was interested in hearing my thoughts on this subject as well, so I thought I'd better get started writing!

What got me thinking was this question I read somewhere on the internet that someone was asking,

Once a person is saved, will they always be saved?

And then someone answered this person with Hebrews 5:9, and said something to the effect that the question was pretty easily answered with this verse.

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

According to popular modern Christianity, once a person is "saved" and becomes a "Christian" they are eternally secure, sealed, and are going to heaven no matter what they do in the future. And, according to popular modern Christianity, if a supposedly saved person commits an act that is completely contrary to the Word of God, then somehow they were never truly saved to begin with.

Obviously the person who responded with Hebrews 5:9 didn't catch the meaning of the end of the verse — "unto all them that obey him"…… No obedience, no eternal salvation.

Alright.. so can a person ever lose their salvation? Let me give you a small example I thought up on this subject.

Suppose I was given a gift on my birthday, something that I really really wanted, something I had wanted so bad that it was precious to me. If I keep track of it, do not misplace it, and take very good care of it as if it were precious to me, would I ever fear of losing it? No, not if it were precious to me and I took very good care of it.

Okay, suppose I was also given another gift — one that didn't have much value to me, but nevertheless it was given to me. Now, suppose I didn't take very good care of it, misplaced it often, and didn't keep track of it. What do you think would eventually happen? I would lose it.

The same with salvation. If it is precious to you, and you obey and abide by the commandments of the Lord, and strive to live a sinless life, you need not have a fear of losing your salvation. But, if it is not precious to you, and you are careless with it… …well, I'll let you stew over the answer, I'm sure you can figure it out.

Let's take a look at Revelation 3:5
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.

What happens if someone doesn't overcome? What will happen to his name in the book of life? Apparently, it will be blotted out. So, if a name that was in the book of life can be blotted out … what does that tell you?

Now see Hebrews 10:38,
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

And 1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

So, apparently one can draw back and depart from the faith. Does this mean they were never saved to begin with? Negative. It means that they LOST what they HAD. They departed.

What does depart mean? It means to go away, to quit, leave, or separate, to withdraw, to forsake. So if one is departing from the faith as 1 Timothy says some will, it means they are forsaking it, which means they had to have it in the first place in order to forsake it.

The Bible says that nothing will enter heaven that defileth, maketh a lie, or worketh abomination (Revelation 21:27). So if someone is trying to say that once you are a Christian you can never lose your salvation, you are sealed, hell-proof, fire-proof, and couldn't go to hell if you wanted to no matter what you ever do in the future, that makes one of two people a liar. It either makes the person spouting that off a liar, or it makes God a liar.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; [Titus 1:2]

A person has a free will before salvation, and none after? Foolish, and unbiblical logic!

Romans 11:21-23
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

2 Peter 2:19-22
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 2:2-3
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

2 Peter 3:16-18
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Brother Matthew made a very good point on one of his posts on our guestbook about OSAS (once saved, always saved)

I was saddened by the response of some of the poeple to the message that OSAS (once saved always saved) is a fabrication of Satan, a false tradition. Many people are hoping in the false assurance of OSAS. The doctrine does not make sense.

If God created Lucifer and Lucifer was the high ranking angel in heaven, and OSAS doctrine is true, then Lucifer is saved! Think about this foolish doctrine, if Satan was saved at some point (and he was) how then did he get lost??? Because he sinned! He was given free will and he chose to sin!

If we could never depart from the faith, err, or turn away, why would we be warned to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"? "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"

Just think. The angels were in Heaven and they didn't have eternal security! They sinned. God cannot allow sin in Heaven. Those who sin are called sinners. God will not allow sinners into Heaven.