The doctrine of āonce saved, always saved,ā often referred to as eternal security, is not explicitly stated in a single Bible verse but is derived from several passages. Here are a couple of key verses often cited to support this doctrine:
John 10:28-29 (NIV):
āI give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Fatherās hand.ā
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV):
āFor I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.ā
But the problem with this doctrine is in the definition of āsavedā. What exactly are we being saved from? Hell? No. That is a byproduct of what we are being saved from.
The Bible specifically says these things:
John 8:34-36 (NIV)
āJesus replied, āVery truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.āā
Romans 6:22 (NIV)
āBut now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.ā
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
āIt is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.ā
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
āHe himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.ā
Romans 6:18 (NIV)
āYou have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.ā
John 10:10 (NIV):
āThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.ā
When we accept Jesusā sacrifice, we are accepting that he is saving us from slavery to sin (and its consequences). And when we accept Jesusā offer of salvation, we are accepting Jesus to be our new Lord (master).
It makes no sense to continue choosing to sin after we have accepted Jesus freeing us from slavery to sin. Those have truly accepted the offer of salvation, will not choose to return to their old master.
Does that mean we can lose our salvation? I think it is possible for people to voluntarily forfeit their salvation by ignoring Jesusā commands.
John 14:15 (NIV):
āIf you love me, keep my commands.ā
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV):
āTeacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?ā Jesus replied: āāLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.ā This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: āLove your neighbor as yourself.ā All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.ā
If we earnestly try to keep these commands, then we realize that it is impossible to choose to sin at the same time. And vice versa.
Matthew 7:19 (NIV):
āEvery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.ā