Extremes on a position are rarely a good thing, and that’s no exception when it comes to the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” or “Eternal Security.”
Often, when one teaches this doctrine they may say, “You can commit any sin as a child of God and remain saved.” I’ve studied with people who told me that they were drunkards, drug users, and even sold drugs, all the while being absolutely assured of their redemption and safety in Jesus Christ. Brethren, this is sacrilegious and an affront to the holiness of God! It makes a mockery of presenting “your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” and not being “conformed to this world” (Romans 12:1-2).
However, by the same token those who teach that one can fall away and forfeit their eternal life may have another unhealthy extreme that says, “One specific, unconfessed sin and you’re eternally lost.” I would suggest that this train of thought is as equally dangerous as the former.
While it’s true that the Bible teaches that a Christian may fall away, or lose their eternal life in Christ through willful rebellion and sin, we have to balance this with the truth that we can know security and confidence in our salvation in Jesus Christ — even if we don’t remember every transgression as we go before God. If a man commits a sin, a good and honest heart will lead him to confess and repent for this sin, but he’s not in a yo-yo state of salvation throughout his day, in which he can have no confidence in his eternal destiny.
Listen to what Paul says …
Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
2 Timothy 1:12: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
2 Timothy 4:8: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Paul spoke as one who had confidence in his salvation, and The Author of it! Did this mean that salvation couldn’t be lost? No. Does it mean that we’re constantly in a state of fear that we may die and be condemned? No.
John wrote, “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” (1 John 5:13). John says that we may know that we have eternal life. How? By conforming our heart and life after Jesus Christ, by obedience to Him as Master, particularly as it relates to sin and forgiveness.
In an earlier place in his letter, John wrote, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” (1 John 3:18-21). What can give us confidence? Our obedience in deed and in truth. And even if our hearts condemn us, God knows and will reward accordingly. If our heart doesn’t condemn us (that is, we don’t have a “pierced” conscience), then we have confidence before God. If your conscience does bother you, then confess and repent, and ask God for His merciful forgiveness (Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:8-10).
Extremes on this doctrine can be equally destructive to one’s faith, which is why it’s helpful to have a balanced view. Can we fall away? Yes! Can we have security in Jesus when we come short and fail? Yes!
I understand that we have to somewhat tread lightly when we discuss God extending His grace. It’s His gift, and that makes it difficult to quantify in it every Christian’s circumstances. But for a Christian, there is assurance that God does indeed forgive if sins are confessed. Jesus gives grace, but grace is given to the contrite heart that desires to turn to and please Him.
Today, rest in the confidence that Jesus is merciful and gracious if we’ll submit to Him, despite our failures and flaws. Strive today to be more like Jesus, but be balanced with knowing that should we let His words slip from memory, should we embrace our willful rebellion to God, we can certainly fall from grace.
Adapted from Kyle Ellison