“Once Saved, Always Saved.”
“Eternal Security”
By Joyce Webb 2025
There are churches that preach—that once you come to Christ for forgiveness of sin—and you choose to follow Christ—that from there on—you will always be “saved” for eternity.
There are some verses of scripture to think about on this.
Paul said in Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation (times of terrible trouble and persecution),
Or distress (great pressure on our spirit and feelings to make us discouraged)
Or persecution (people doing mean, hateful, hurtful things to us)
Or famine (not having enough food to eat)
Or nakedness (not having clothing or maybe place to live)
Or peril (danger, war, etc.)
Or sword (war, fighting)
Vs. 37 Nay, (No), in all these things we are more than conquerors (those who win) through him that loved us.”
Vs. 38 For I am persuaded, (I am sure) —that neither death, nor life,
nor angels,
nor principalities,(an area ruled by a prince—such as a fallen angel that has been allowed to rule over an area of the earth,
not powers, (spiritual powers of demons)
nor things present, (things now)— nor things to come,
Vs. 39 Nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
As Paul traveled around from country to country preaching—he was in places of strong evil spirits. People in these countries worshipped idols, and animals, and spirits.
These spirit powers were very strong.
The people who lived in these places —believed and worshipped these powers.
When Paul preached about Jesus—-the people were against it—they did mean, hurtful things to Paul.
Not only what they said—but he was beaten, put in prison, etc.
Paul suffered beatings, hunger, cold, –people hating him—people trying to hurt him.
Paul is saying here—-that none of these things can break his relationship to God.
They were hard things to go through—but with God’s strength—Paul’s relationship with God was not to be broken.
Because—Paul was determined to choose God —-and stay with God no matter how many bad things happened to him.
Nothing that could happen—would be strong enough to make Paul give up God/Jesus.
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Jesus said in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
Vs. 28 And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Vs. 29 My father, which gave them (to) me, is greater than all’
And no man is able to pluck them out of my hand.
In these verses, Jesus is saying—that powers and forces —of men—can not take a believer out of Jesus’ hands.
Paul said the same thing. No “power”—is able to break his relationship with Jesus—-if Paul wants a relationship with Jesus and chooses to keep his relationship—-no “outside” power can break it.
Jesus is saying the same thing. No man—whatever he does to a believer—can pull that believer from Jesus’—if that believer wants to stay with Jesus.
If they stay with Jesus—they will have eternal life and not perish–or die eternally in hell.
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In both of these—it is about powers and forces —“outside” of a person that try to break up the relationship with God.
If a person decides to stay with Jesus/God—-no “outside” power can pull them away.
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Eternal salvation— is about a person’s will and choice—to believe and stay with that belief.
If a person has decided –”willed”—to belong and stay with God—nothing—and no one—-can break that decision or will of that person.
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Outside “powers” can put a lot of pressure on a person to try to make them give up God—-but they can not do it.
In history, we read of — people who have been burned alive—trying to make them give up believing in God.
The person would not give up God—and they burned alive. God helped them through it– and they did not give up God—even though the suffering and pain was so awful. They died still staying true to God.
Because—they wanted eternal life.
If you give up God/Jesus—-there is no eternal life for you.
Eternal life in only in Jesus.
If you give Him up—and turn your back on him—who will give you eternal life? He is the only one who can give you eternal life.
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There are many verses—in the Old Testament and in the New Testament—that talk about turning away from believing in God/Jesus –and going your own way—walking in sin or disobedience.
Here are some of them:
Ezekiel 33:13 “When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live;—-if he trust to his own righteousness,— and commit (do) iniquity (sin)—-all his righteousness shall not be remembered;
But for his iniquity (sin) that he hath committed (has done) —he shall die for it.”
Vs. 18 “When the righteous turneth (turn) from his righteousness, and committeth (does) iniquity (sin),—he shall even die thereby.”
Vs. 19 “But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.”
In Jeremiah Chp. 2, 3, 6, 12, 14, 31, 49—all talk about the people of Israel —who once obeyed God—”backslide” into sin and evil.
Much of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel–are about how Israel —who once promised to be faithful to God and walk in His ways and obey Him—-turned their back on God—worshipped idols and did all kinds of sins.
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In the New Testament—Jesus says in
Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh–(over comes sin–conquers, wins over sin)—(him) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
——-I will write upon him the name of my God—-)
Vs. 21 “To him that overcometh will I grant (give) to sit with me in my throne—-”
Revelation 2:7 “To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life…”
Paul said in Philippians 3:14 “I press forward (for) the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
In I Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race—run all,—but one receiveth (gets) the prize?
So, run, that ye may obtain (get the prize).”
In II Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast (firm, true)– in the faith, quit you like men (act like) — be strong.”
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The New Testament if full of teaching about God wants from us and that to please him—we must obey his teachings.
To have eternal life we must keep a relationship with Jesus/God.
He is the only one who can give us eternal life. It is His heaven.
If we want to go there, we must keep our relationship with Him.
If you turn away from Him—-where will you get eternal life?
Paul talks about the Christian life as a race. Not a race that just the one who comes in first get a prize—–but that all who finish the race get the prize.
Beginning the race—or going part of the way in the race—-does not get the prize. You must finish the race with Jesus until your last breath.
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That goes back to choice.
To say that a person —-once they have come to Jesus to be forgiven and are “saved”—- forevermore—eternally——would mean—they can never make another choice about God.
We know that we make choices about things—every minute we breathe. We choose to do this thing or that thing. We can make opposite choices in seconds.
We can “will” to do something or not. And we can “will” it in seconds.
All long as we breathe—we can make a choice about something.
God has given every person “free will” to choose what they will think and choose.
It goes on– until your last breathe.
So, how can you say—that if you choose to follow Jesus at one time in your life—-that you can never make another choice?
The truth is—-you must make a choice to obey God’s way— or your own way—many times in a day.
Every choice we make about how we will behave and speak and think—we make a choice to act like God or do it our own way.
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Outside “powers” —either spiritual ones, or of men—-can not break your relationship to God if you choose to stay with God.
But you can break your relationship to God —at any time—by turning your back on God—and going your own way. Or by choosing to sin and ignore God.
You are responsible—by your choosing— to keep your relationship to God open and true.
We are human, we fail, we sin, we disobey.
Sin is always a danger to our relationship with Jesus.
What we do when we sin—is the important thing.
Letting sin go on, and on—not confessing it and not asking for forgiveness—is a very dangerous thing spiritually.
We need to come to Jesus immediately and ask for forgiveness.
Do not let sin and disobedience shut down your relationship to God.
Come to Jesus immediately and make things right.
We can pray and seek God for strength to “overcome” temptation and stand true in times of persecution.
On-going sin and disobedience—will destroy your relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit is faithful to come to us and warn us, and try to bring back to God. The Holy Spirit does not give up on us easily.
But there comes a time, when —if a person refuses to listen to the Holy Spirit and goes his own way—-the Holy Spirit may just leave him alone.
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We choose to stay with God or not.
We make that choice—many times in one day.
Will I obey God in this thing—or do my own way?
You can choose God or not—-until your last breathe.
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If you decide that eternal life is the most important thing to you—-no one and nothing—-can take that from you.
Only you—can give it up—if you that is what you choose to do.
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For all of us—I hope we will choose to stay with Jesus/God until our last breathe.
Eternal life is our goal. (Not life here on earth.)