The real question few bother dealing with is, "Yes, but are you truly saved?"
I've had friends who sure acted like they were saved only to wander away decade later. Because of that, I don't trust simple because someone assumes saved, the person IS saved.
Which brings it back to me -- how do I know I'm saved? I've got that one answered for me. And that wasn't an easy answer. It took a lot of God forcing me into places I never wanted to go. How many here can say the same thing for themselves?
I get the impression not many on this board, because this board is always about everyone else.
Hello atwhatcost,
Please consider the following:
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
In the above scripture, that the person in question is referred to as "servant" that is, he is a believer and not just a believer, but an overseer, that is pastor or one put in charge over other believers. The example shows him going back to living according to the sinful nature and that because he says my master (the Lord) is staying away a long time. So, the scripture demonstrates that he is a believer and an overseer of other believers and that if the Lord comes back and finds him living according to the sinful nature, then he will separate that person from the righteous and give him his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers.
Once saved always saved is a false teaching, for faith is required for salvation. Think of salvation by grace through faith as a wall socket, where the wall socket represents God's grace and the plug represents the individuals faith. We plug into God's grace by having faith, but when you pull the plug out of the wall socket, then you have unplugged from God's grace. Faith is required to maintain salvation throughout our entire walk with Christ. Here is another example of a believer being able to lose their salvation:
"My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
First of all, notice in the scripture above that those being addressed are "brothers and sisters". This would first show that they are believers. The scripture demonstrates that a believer can wander away from the truth, which would be them going back and living according to the sinful nature. Notice also that while in that wandered state, that the person is accumulating sin and is on their way to death. If a person warns that person and brings them back from their wandered state, then all of those sins that they were accumulating are covered over and they are no longer headed towards death. Why? Because they are now once again exercising faith. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption if we continue in faith. But when we stop having faith, the connection to God's grace is broken and we need to return to him in order to get out of that state of separation.
Her is yet another example of believers being able to lose their salvation:
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."
In the scripture above, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, as well as to all believers throughout the church period. Branches are symbolic for believers in Christ. If a branch/believer does not remain faithful in Christ, then that believer cannot bring for fruit and any branch/believer who does not bring forth fruit will be thrown into the fire and burned. Again, remaining in Christ means continuing in faith. Outside of faith is separation from God and the accumulation of sin which leads to death.
Conclusion: Once saved, always saved is based on continuing in faith.
