Once Saved Always Saved
We must first understand that we are not saved by works of our own. Galatians 2:16“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Christ’s blood on the cross was the payment for the debt of sin that we owed. If Christ paid our debt for us, what more could a mere human do to add to that sacrifice.
God says that our good works are as filthy rags. They are worth less than nothing. Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags;”
Before we get started there is a question that needs to be answered. That question is, when God does a work, is there anything that man can do to undo what He has done?” This is an important question because one of the characteristics of the sovereignty of God is that no one can change His decree any more than a surf can change the decision of an earthly king. We can appeal to the king, just as we can appeal to God, but when a king or the King of Kings declares something to be so, then it is permanent. God can change his mind if He so desires but His character does not change. He said “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And what ever He so desires, that He does.” Job 23:13
John 6:39 “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” God says here that He WILL raise us up on the last day, if we have placed our trust in Christ Jesus. He says in this verse that we will have EVERLASTING life. Everlasting begins at the moment of salvation.
1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” This statement is really a statement that "you will" continue to believe.
Romans 8:3-39 “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are IRREVOCABLE.”
1 Peter 1:4 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, RESERVED in heaven for you.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” We are no longer the person we used to be we are changed, permanently changed. And, it was Christ that did the changing.
2 Corinthians 1:22 “who (God) also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.”
Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We have the Kings seal upon us. We belong to Him.
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were ONCE darkness, but NOW you are light in the Lord, Walk as children of the light.”
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
If someone is living in continual sin without guilt or remorse, then it is likely that they have never surrendered their life to Christ in the first place. We must remember that we can not save ourselves by our good works and we can not clean ourselves up enough to satisfy a Holy God. He must do the saving and He must do the cleansing. God said "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." You see, He does the cleansing, but we must confess. And repent, repent meaning to turn from sin toward Christ, and He will do the rest.
After we have confessed and become cleansed by the Lord, He then sends us the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit is our helper that Christ promised and our seal as mentioned earlier.
What a weight is lifted from us when we realize that we cannot earn heaven and that Christ did it for us. Resting in His arms as He takes us through life is more blessed than anything on earth.
Blessings to you all. I hope that you have now or will find this peace that Christ can give through His Word and Strength.
