Once Saved, Always Saved: But When Are We Truly Saved?

By Roy R. Reeves

We often hear the phrase "once saved, always saved," which to some means that once a person is saved, he will always be saved, no matter what he does. Scripture does verify that when a person is born again and is truly saved, he has eternal security. But what is revealed in Scripture about this important issue must be properly understood. Misinterpretation of this important biblical concept can have dire consequences.

This book will discuss many positive aspects of the "once saved, always saved" concept. However, it will also show that there is significant potential for misunderstanding and misusing this idea in ways that may be dangerous from a spiritual point of view. These dangers include erroneously thinking one is eternally saved when he is not even saved at all, making no effort to grow spiritually, and not working toward eternal rewards because one sees no reason to if he is already eternally secure. Topics such as what it means to truly be saved, at what time is one actually saved, the importance of being sure about one's salvation, the danger of turning the grace of God into licentiousness, and what happens with the carnal Christian will also be considered. This book will explore these issues from the point of view that if a person is saved, he will always be saved--but he must be truly saved to indeed have eternal security.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889431312

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Once Saved, Always Saved

But When Are We Truly Saved?

Roy R. Reeves

ISBN 979-8-88943-130-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88943-131-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Roy R. Reeves

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

1

The Concept of Once Saved, Always Saved

2

Can the Once Saved, Always Saved Concept Cause Problems?

3

What Does It Mean to Be Saved?

4

When Is One Saved/Born Again?

5

False Concepts Related to Salvation

6

Misinterpretation of Scriptures about Being Saved

7

Turning Grace into Licentiousness

8

Being Lackadaisical Because of Eternal Security

9

Can You Know for Certain?

10

Being Sure of Salvation

11

The Security of Knowing

12

Is the Carnal Christian Still Saved?

13

Conclusions

Notes

About the Author

Preface

In the modern church, we often hear the phrase once saved, always saved, which some take to mean that once a person is saved, nothing can change that. Scripture does indeed verify that when a person is born again and is truly saved, he has eternal security. This is one of the most assuring promises in the entire Bible. But what is revealed in Scripture about this important topic must be properly understood and applied.

In this book, we will discuss many positive aspects of the once saved, always saved concept. However, we will see that there is significant potential for misunderstanding and misusing this idea in ways that may prove dangerous from a spiritual point of view. These dangers include erroneously thinking one is eternally saved when not even saved at all, making no effort to grow spiritually, and not working toward eternal rewards because one sees no reason to if already eternally secure. We will also consider topics such as what it means to truly be saved, at what time is one actually saved, the importance of being sure about one's salvation, the danger of turning the grace of God into licentiousness, and what happens with the carnal Christian. This book will explore these issues from the point of view that if a person is saved, he will always be saved—but he must be truly saved to indeed have eternal security.

1

The Concept of Once Saved, Always Saved

Mankind has an inherent desire for security. We all want to know that our money is safe in our bank and to sleep soundly at night, knowing our military would defend our country should it be attacked by enemies. This desire for security is universal, seemingly part of human nature, and applies not only to physical but also to spiritual matters, especially salvation. Man has an intense need to know he can be secure about being saved and that he could not somehow lose that salvation. The stakes are higher than with questions about physical things, and often this leads to more significant concerns because of their eternal impact. Heightened anxiety about things affecting one's eternal destiny is certainly understandable.

Many believe that once a person has been saved, their salvation is eternally secured. This is often referred to by the expression once saved, always saved. The phrase is not found in the Bible but is part of the vernacular of many Christians. The wording suggests that a saved person is forever saved regardless of what might happen afterward. Everyone would like that assurance if it is possible.

With further discussion, we will see that, ultimately, Scripture indicates that once a person is truly saved, he is eternally secure. However, what it means to be truly saved is misunderstood by many in the modern church, leading to confusion and even sometimes to inappropriate behavior. This book will discuss problems that can arise when a person misinterprets what the Bible means regarding eternal security and bases his actions on feeling eternally secure when that may not actually be the case.

Scriptures demonstrating eternal security

Eternal security for the saved believer is clearly supported by several Bible passages. One of the most quoted is the following:

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39 NASB)

This verse says that a person firmly placed in Christ can never be separated from Him. It leaves no options for removing such a person from that relationship. It would seem that even if the saved person wanted to separate himself from the love of God, he would not be able to do so. How could anyone be more secure than that? Several other scriptures also state that when an individual is saved, he is essentially guaranteed to ultimately go to heaven. Saved persons are described as having been sealed and having a pledge from God regarding their salvation.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NASB)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13–14 NASB)

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge. (2 Corinthians 5:5 NASB)

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 NASB)

These verses portray the saved person as being sealed, much like the seal on a legal document finalizing its veracity, and indicate that God has given us His Spirit as a pledge. This is like a modern-day down payment on a purchase agreement, which insures the final payment will be completed in the future.

Jesus assures His followers that their salvation is secure.

My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no