Once Saved Always Saved?

The doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” is simultaneously both the absolute truth and a complete lie.

THE LIE
If you’re one of those Christians who believes that you are “saved” simply because somewhere in your past you agreed when someone told you that Jesus Christ is Lord, and now that you’re “saved” you can do whatever you want – sin as much as you want – and still go to Heaven, then you’ve bought into one of Satan’s biggest lies:  That once, you’re saved, you’re always saved.  Paul writes about the folly of this thinking:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? – Romans 6:1-2

THE TRUTH
However, if you became saved – really saved – where you truly love the Lord and put your trust in Him, the very real life-changing experience of salvation will permanently change you as a person.  Paul writes:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Your heart , soul, and mind are changed to the point where there is no turning back, and in that respect, once you are saved, you are always saved.  The doctrine becomes an absolute truth, and you are living for the glorification of God rather than living for sin:

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. – Romans 6:11-14

As a true Christian, with a real, heartfelt, sincere love for God, you may sometimes sin, but you will always return to Him, and know your salvation is secure because of the grace of God:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:22-24

FOR YOU, IS IT A LIE OR THE TRUTH?
The most important question when it comes to “Once Saved, Always Saved,” is simply this: 
Were you truly “once saved”?  Now is the time to search your heart, pray to God, and determine if you’ve bought into the lie or are walking in the truth.

WHAT NEXT!
If you beleive you’re saved, but haven’t really put into effort into your walk with God, please read 1 Peter & 2 Peter.  These are really short letters that Peter wrote, and give a solid straight-forward look at what a real Christian should be doing.  Here’s just a start to Peter’s wonderful direction:

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 13 – 16

The Real Heart Of The Matter

At the core of all these posts, there is one central theme (or there should be, if I am writing correctly).

Everything I am writing is about being real – being sincere – and not just going through the motions.

Jesus was concerned with matters of the heart.  He preached about repentenance, and about truly loving God:

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“‘The first,’ they answered.”
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” – Matthew 21:28-32

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” 
He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ 
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” – Luke 13:22-30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. – Mark 12:30

You can’t be a lukewarm Christian and expect to go to Heaven.  Your love needs to be real.  Your repentance needs to be real.  Be sincere in following God.  Search your heart for the truth.  If you find that you haven’t been sincere, that you haven’t really been pursuing God, make every effort to do so immediately.  It’s time to get real for God.  Follow Jesus with all sincerity.