Once we're saved will we always stay saved?
We can't lose our salvation after we're saved:
Salvation is a free gift from God:
If we could lose our salvation, then by whatever condition we could, we would have to work not to do that to be saved, and we couldn't ever know we are saved:
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:5-8)
- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)
- For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever... (Psalm 37:28a)
- All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37-40)
- And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
- Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
- Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
- That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. (John 18:9)
- Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
- In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
- Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)
- Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)
- Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)
- And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
- I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
- This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:58)
- Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)
- Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14)
- If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:9-12)
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)
- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Salvation is a free gift from God:
- But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)
- Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18)
- For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. (Romans 11:29)
If we could lose our salvation, then by whatever condition we could, we would have to work not to do that to be saved, and we couldn't ever know we are saved:
- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)
Bible Versions and the OSAS doctrine
Many doctrines are attacked by word differences in translations of the Bible commonly used today. Notable among them is the doctrine of OSAS or "Once Saved Always Saved." People exposed to newer Bible versions throughout their lives pick up on these differences and the ideas implied by the text become rooted in their minds. All that has to be done to achieve the effect is one seemingly unimportant word change. It's a desperately unfortunate thing when those ideas lead you believe in a false gospel. I'll let you read the examples below for yourself to see what I'm talking about so you can see why this is such an important issue.
1 Corinthians 1:18
King James Bible
1 Corinthians 15:2
King James Bible
2 Corinthians 2:15
King James Bible
Ephesians 4:30
King James Bible
1 Corinthians 1:18
King James Bible
- For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
- For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 15:2
King James Bible
- By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
- and by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you—unless, of course, your faith was worthless.
- and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
2 Corinthians 2:15
King James Bible
- For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
- For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
- For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
Ephesians 4:30
King James Bible
- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.