Not “Once Saved, Always Saved”

Consider that Christ said, “But he that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13;10:22). Christianity is an endurance test, with nothing automatic. A Christian can abort in this lifetime, if he does not continue in the right path. No one is permanently saved at conversion. Christ said (twice) that His servants must “endure to the end” of their lives. What is the point of this statement if salvation is assured upon accepting Christ?

The book of Hebrews contains several admonitions—WARNINGS—to those who would live the Christian way in a negligent manner! Paul wrote, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip[Greek: to run out of a leaking vessel]. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we NEGLECT so great salvation…” (Heb. 2:1-3).

Be careful! This is a caution to all. Salvation is not easy. It can slip away if we let important understanding and need for action “leak” from our lives.

Paul continued by describing the grave danger of wilful sin: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to GOOD WORKS: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [members of the true Church of God meet together each Sabbath]…For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 10:23-26).

This is serious! The ministers of this world teach that people are under grace—that they are already saved in this life—that they cannot fall away or abort because of misconduct, sin. Do not be confused by soothing words of deceit from those who claim to represent Christ. God has standards and they must be met. (Also read James 4:17.)

In Hebrews 6:1-20, Paul described the one who has “fallen away.” He paints a sobering picture: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Heb 6:4-6). For such “there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”

These verses leave no doubt that it is possible to be a true Christian and fall away from the path to salvation. I have known many who have “tasted the good word of God” and been “partakers of the Holy Spirit” who have ceased to be “enlightened”—and have fallen away from God and salvation. Paul states that it is IMPOSSIBLE for such people to recover!

These are the plain words of the Bible. Each scripture referenced here is critical and must be carefully read, even to begin recognizing the obligations that God places on His servants. Do not be like so many who easily dismiss them, falsely trusting that they have “Jesus in their heart.”

This world’s professing “Christian” ministers teach an unscriptural, false, pagan “salvation” of going to heaven, instead of the truth—that this life is to prepare us for rulership. They ignore the verses that we have just examined because they do not want to be responsible for having to do anything. How does “already saved” fit with living a life of suffering, growing, obedience to God and intense persecution (John 15:20; II Tim. 3:12; Psa. 34:19; etc.)?

If salvation comes instantly, at the moment of some kind of religious experience labelled “conversion,” with no obligation to perform good works, why does God not simply bypass this life and take people immediately to whatever their reward is supposed to be? The ministers of this world do not and cannot answer this question!

Do not fall for the siren song of “just believe.” It is the greatest single deception that spiritually blind “Christian” theologians have foisted upon an unsuspecting traditional Christianity!

“Rewarded…According to Works”

We have read Ephesians 2:8-9 about salvation “by grace…through faith” and that even faith is a gift. Theologians, religionists and churchmen almost universally stop reading at this point. Why does almost no one continue on to read the all-important Eph 2:10?

Notice: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” That is right! Christians must “walk…in good works” as “His [God’s] workmanship.”

Now read and understand a critical verse. Matthew 16:27 states, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall REWARD every man according to his WORKS.” Notice it did not say, “saved by works” (for salvation is a gift) but that every man is “REWARDED…according to his works.” Christ brings every man’s reward with Him at His Coming.

When he was under attack by the evil works of Alexander the coppersmith, Paul said, “The Lord reward him according to his works” (II Tim. 4:14). In this case, Alexander’s evil works had earned him a “reward.” Consider this: Your reward is what you earn—after receiving the gift of salvation by grace! You can earn the “wages” of a greater or lesser reward in the kingdom of God by the amount and degree of your good works. Notice what Paul wrote to the Romans: “Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of DEBT” (Rom 4:4). Salvation is by grace, but the reward is a debt paid by God to each person for his works.

Think of it this way. Nothing you do will get you into the kingdom. This comes by grace. Everything you do determines your degree of reward after you get there. In other words, salvation is not grace OR works, but grace AND works!

A Lifelong Battle

We read, “He that endures to the end shall be SAVED.” Living a life of growing and overcoming is not easy. It is a constant daily struggle against the pulls of the flesh and the temptations of sin. This is why Christ also said, “Enter you in at the strait [difficult] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad [easy] is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [difficult] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). Most naturally seek the easy, “broad” path.

But Peter wrote, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (I Pet. 4:17-18).

Christians are now being judged. The world is not. (Read our free booklet A World in Captivity to learn why.) What would be the point of this judgment if our works—our conduct—made no difference to God? Our works do make a difference to Him.

Paul understood this. Notice: “And this I do…that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know you not [most do not] that they which run in a RACE run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain [win]. And every man that strives for the mastery [championship or victory] is temperate in all things. Now they [non-Christians] do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we [Christians] an incorruptible.

I therefore so RUN, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I…lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [failure, loser]” (I Cor. 9:23-27) and “Wherefore…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us RUN with patience the RACE that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).

Paul knew that his race was a marathon, not a sprint. So is yours.

He also described Christianity as “wrestling” (Eph. 6:11-12) against the “wiles of the devil.” And he instructed the Philippians to “PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14). He recognized that it takes great effort to run and win a long race.