Is once saved, always saved biblical?

Once saved, always saved biblical?

from Questions and Answers

by Neil McBride

 What Does “Once Saved, Always Saved” Mean?

“Once saved, always saved” is the belief that once a person genuinely receives salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, they cannot lose that salvation, regardless of their future actions.

The Biblical Emphasis on Continual Walking in the Spirit

The Bible does not present salvation as a one-time event or an intellectual decision. Instead, it consistently describes the Christian life as a daily, ongoing relationship with God—a journey marked by faith, obedience, and spiritual transformation. This journey is only possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look more closely at a few key passages:

Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

This command from the apostle Paul highlights the importance of active, ongoing participation in the life of the Spirit. The phrase “walk by the Spirit” is in the present tense in the Greek, indicating continuous action. It suggests that the Christian life is not about a single moment of decision but about maintaining a lifestyle of dependence on the Holy Spirit. This walk is how we overcome sinful desires; not by human willpower but by divine guidance and strength.

Romans 8:13-14 – “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All whom the Spirit of God leads are sons of God.”

This is a sober warning and a glorious promise. Paul contrasts two paths: living by the flesh (our sinful nature) leads to spiritual death, while putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit leads to eternal life. Again, this is not a one-time action but a daily spiritual discipline. Furthermore, Paul says that those the Spirit leads are the true children of God. Being “led” implies ongoing direction and submission to the Spirit’s influence. It reveals that a Spirit-led life is the defining mark of a true believer.

Luke 9:23 – “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'”

Jesus makes it clear that following Him involves daily self-denial and surrender. Taking up one’s cross is a metaphor for dying to self; our desires, ambitions, and sinful tendencies—and living for Christ. Including “daily” emphasises that discipleship is a continual process, not a one-time confession of faith. To follow Jesus is to walk with Him daily, in every circumstance, no matter the cost.

These verses teach that true salvation is lived out daily through a vibrant, ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit. A genuine believer:

• Actively resists sin through the Spirit’s power
• Chooses to follow Jesus even when it’s hard
• Lives with a posture of daily surrender and obedience

In other words, the assurance of salvation is not based solely on a past decision but on the present reality of one’s walk with Christ. A truly saved person will demonstrate that salvation through a consistent, Spirit-filled life.

Therefore, while salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), the evidence of that saving faith is a life that reflects the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

Warnings Against Falling Away

While the Bible offers strong assurances of God’s faithfulness and saving grace, it also contains serious and sobering warnings about the possibility of turning away from the faith. These warnings are not given lightly—they are intended to wake believers up to the dangers of spiritual complacency, unrepentant sin, and drifting from the truth.

Let’s examine some of the most pointed passages:

Hebrews 6:4–6

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their harm and holding him up to contempt.”

This is one of the strongest warnings in the New Testament. The individuals described here have experienced deep spiritual realities; they have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift (often interpreted as salvation or the Holy Spirit), and even shared in the Spirit’s power. Yet they can still “fall away,” a term that implies a total and willful turning from Christ.

What’s especially alarming is the Author’s statement that it is “impossible to renew them again to repentance.” This implies a point of no return, not because God is unwilling to forgive, but because the person has so hardened their heart that they no longer desire repentance. This underscores the importance of continuing in faith and humility, not treating God’s grace as something cheap or to be taken for granted.

Hebrews 10:26-27 –

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”

After knowing the truth, this passage confronts the danger of deliberate, ongoing sin. The writer of Hebrews is not talking about struggling with sin, which every believer does, but about willful, unrepentant rebellion. According to this passage, such behaviour demonstrates a rejection of the sacrifice that brings salvation.

The result? A fearful expectation of judgment. These words should shake us out of any complacency. True faith is not passive; it bears fruit in obedience, reverence, and repentance. The Christian life is marked by a continual turning toward Christ, not away from Him.

2 Peter 2:20-21 –

“For if, after they have escaped the world’s defilements through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

Peter describes individuals who have come to a knowledge of Christ; they’ve escaped the corruption of the world, presumably through some level of faith and repentance. However, they later return to those same corruptions and are “overcome.” The imagery here is of a person being swallowed again by the sin they once fled.

Peter’s conclusion is striking: it would have been better for them never to have known the truth. Why? Because turning away after receiving the truth brings greater accountability and judgment (see also Luke 12:47-48). This is a direct challenge to the idea that someone can live however they want after claiming salvation. True knowledge of Christ is meant to result in transformation and holiness.

What Do These Warnings Tell Us?

These passages paint a clear picture: There is real spiritual danger in abandoning the faith. While many believe that a truly saved person cannot lose their salvation, these warnings cannot be ignored or explained away. They exist to caution believers:

• Don’t take salvation for granted.
• Don’t harden your heart through willful sin.
• Don’t presume on God’s grace while living in rebellion.

At the very least, these verses suggest that those who fall away were never truly saved, despite having had profound spiritual experiences (see 1 John 2:19). Others interpret them to mean that genuine believers can forfeit salvation by persistent rebellion. Either way, the message is clear: the Christian life is not static—it requires endurance, vigilance, and daily dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Perseverance of the Saints (The Other Side)

While Scripture contains clear and urgent warnings about falling away, it also contains powerful promises of God’s sustaining grace for those who are truly His. These verses offer comfort and confidence that salvation is not upheld by our strength alone but by God’s unshakable faithfulness.

Let’s explore a few key passages:

John 10:28-29 –

“I 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 the Father’s hand.”

Jesus speaks with absolute certainty here. Eternal life does not begin only in the future; it starts now and comes with the promise of permanence. The imagery of being held in the hands of both the Son and the Father conveys double security. No external force, not the devil, persecution, or suffering, can sever a believer from God’s grasp. This underscores the truth that our salvation is anchored in God’s power, not our performance.

Philippians 1:6 –

“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Paul expresses total confidence, not in the Philippians’ ability to persevere but in God’s ability to finish what He started. This verse emphasises the continuity and completion of salvation. The “good work” of salvation is initiated by God, sustained by God, and brought to completion by God. It’s a process that involves growth, maturity, and sanctification, but ultimately, God ensures it reaches its intended end.

Romans 8:38-39 –

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This sweeping declaration underscores that nothing, no circumstance, trial, or spiritual power, can sever the relationship between Christ and the believer. God’s love is unbreakable and eternal, and for those who are truly in Christ, it forms the foundation of their security. This passage isn’t a license for sin, but a confidence to walk faithfully, knowing God’s love will never fail.

How Do We Reconcile These Truths?

The Bible affirms God’s preserving power and the believer’s responsibility to endure in faith and holiness. A biblically grounded view holds these two truths together in tension, rather than choosing one at the expense of the other.

God preserves those who are truly born again (Perseverance of the Saints)

God genuinely saves, sanctifies, and sustains those whom He genuinely saves. True believers are not perfect, but they persevere. Their salvation is secured by God’s sovereign grace, not their own merit. The Spirit dwells within them, guiding, correcting, and empowering them to remain faithful. When they stumble, they repent. When they wander, the Good Shepherd brings them back.

Salvation is a work of God from start to finish.

True salvation will always result in a life that continually walks in the Spirit.

While works do not earn salvation, it is evidenced by a transformed life. The presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer produces fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), creates conviction of sin, and inspires love for God and others. Faith that does not produce obedience is dead (James 2:17). So if someone claims to be saved but lives in habitual rebellion or total indifference to God, their profession is called into question.

A truly saved person will walk in the Spirit, obey Christ, and endure in faith.

They may struggle and fall at times, but they will not live in willful, unrepentant sin. Their lives will show evidence of God’s ongoing work. They won’t be perfect but will be pressing forward (Philippians 3:12-14), growing in grace and truth, upheld by the Spirit.

A person who abandons Christ and lives in persistent, unrepentant sin—turning away from the truth and rejecting the voice of the Holy Spirit—reveals that they were never truly born again, regardless of any prior experience or confession of faith.

As 1 John 2:19 says:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.”

This doesn’t mean that salvation is fragile or easily lost. Rather, it means that genuine salvation endures. A faith that fades completely and never returns was never saving faith.

Conclusion

The Bible presents a rich and balanced view of salvation—one that includes both God’s unshakable promises and our ongoing responsibility to walk in obedience and faithfulness. These two realities do not conflict but instead work together to reveal the true nature of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

You are secure in Christ if you are truly saved.

The foundation of our assurance is the character and work of God. He initiates salvation, sustained by His grace, and secured by the finished work of Christ on the cross. The one who is genuinely born again is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14) and kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). Jesus Himself assures us that no one can snatch His sheep from His hand (John 10:28–29), and that the good work God began in us will be brought to completion (Philippians 1:6). This gives believers great confidence—not in themselves, but in God’s faithfulness.

But that security is evidenced by continual walking in the Spirit.

True salvation is not just about praying or making a one-time decision but about entering into a lifelong relationship with Christ. Jesus calls His followers to take up their cross daily (Luke 9:23), walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13). A saved person will bear fruit (John 15:5), grow in holiness (Hebrews 12:14), and persevere through trials (James 1:12). These are not how we earn salvation, but the evidence that we truly belong to Christ.

So, is “Once Saved, Always Saved” biblical?

The answer is: Yes—but only when rightly understood.

The phrase “once saved, always saved” is often misused to imply that someone can profess faith in Christ, live however they want, and still be guaranteed eternal life. That is not what Scripture teaches. The Bible is clear that a profession of faith without a pattern of obedience, repentance, and spiritual growth is suspect. Jesus warned that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father (Matthew 7:21-23).

In that light, the biblical teaching is better captured by the phrase:

“Those who are truly saved will endure in faith, grow in grace, and walk in the Spirit until the end.”

A Call to Self-Examination

Because of the seriousness of these truths, Scripture calls us to examine ourselves:

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

This is not a call to live in fear or insecurity, but with sincere humility and a heart surrendered to God. Assurance is not found in a past event alone but in a present, living relationship with Christ, marked by trust, obedience, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.

Final Encouragement

If you are walking with Jesus, trusting in Him daily, and relying on the Holy Spirit to grow in love, holiness, and truth, you have every reason to rest in the security of your salvation. But if your life shows no evidence of that relationship, God’s Word urges you to return to Him, repent, and receive His grace anew.

“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

Let us, therefore, hold fast to Christ with confidence and humility, trusting that He is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

Is once saved, always saved biblical?

from Questions and Answers

DTA – Neil McBride

(CEO and founder of Downtown Angels)