Is Once Saved Always Saved
1 John 3:8-9
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in Him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
Commentary:
When a person is truly born of God, his outward man is put to death and the inner man is made alive through Christ. This means that he no longer continues his sinful life but denounces it and sins no more. He sins no more because the Holy Spirit now dwells in Him. That means he who continues to sin after confessing Jesus is not truly born of God. It was only lip service because there is no evidence of change in heart. A person born of God has a complete change of heart and will hate sin and not continue in it. It is the Christ in us that causes us to “not sin.” Jesus Christ is the seed that remains in us.
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. Behold, all things have become new. (2 cor 5:17)
Renouncing sin is the great proof of spiritual union with, continuance in, and saving knowledge of the Lord Christ. Beware of self-deceit. He that doeth righteousness is righteous, and to be a follower of Christ, shows an interest by faith in his obedience and sufferings. But a man cannot act like the devil, and at the same time be a disciple of Christ Jesus. Let us not serve or indulge what the Son of God came to destroy. To be born of God is to be inwardly renewed by the power of the Spirit of God. (Henry)
1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has
been born of Him.
1 John 3:6
No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.
3 John 1:11
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves
Him who begot also loves Him who is begotten of Him.
Therefore, whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And he who is born of God cannot sin. If a person sins, whether he claims to be a believer or not, he is NOT born of God. Plain and simple.
The power to overcome sin is the baptism of the Holy Spirit which allows you to operate in the supernatural. It is true that we all have sinned, but we do not need to continue in sin. We can SIN NO MORE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
If a person lives in disobedience, he is a child of satan and not a child of God. He is committing the works of the flesh because he is a child of the devil and not of God.
Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The flesh and the spirit are constantly opposed to each other. They can never co-exist. The one that you feed the most is the one that will dominate. There is a choice to be made everyday: to live according to the spirit of God, or according to the flesh. To choose Christ or to choose sin. A child of the devil follows the appetites of his flesh, which is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16) A child of the devil is moved by the pleasures of sins, the world, satan, and self, namely selfish desires. He seeks to glorify self, not God. He seeks to put his own needs and wants above what God wants and requires. He is submitted to his own fleshly desires. He may read the Bible and go to church, but his heart is far from God. He neither obeys the word of God nor adheres to the living standards set by Christ Jesus. In his eyes, he is his own god. In his eyes, he is the master of his own destiny.
According to Paul, he is warning against putting confidence in the flesh in Phil 3:1-3:
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Believers who put confidence in the flesh feel that they have skills and gifts that makes them more useful and valuable for the kingdom of God -- that they are better speakers, more popular and well liked by others, that they have established status in the eyes of man, or that they think that they are more righteous and holier than others. The danger in this is because they think that they can rely on their outstanding qualities to qualify them for God’s services as opposed to relying on the person of Christ Jesus to empower them to serve God. What they really need to do is develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, to commune with Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth. There must be an internal circumcision and a commitment to make no allowance for the flesh. There must be a reverence for the Lord
The Apostle Paul tells us in Phil 2:12 “to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” That means we work at it until we die or until Jesus comes back. But there are people who feels that they have already arrived. They don’t need to work out their salvation anymore because they are all good and saved. This is a lie that many believers have swallowed.
As long as you are alive on this earth, you are to continue “to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The only time that you have arrived is when you are in Heaven and not a moment before. If you think you are already there and there is no need to “work out your salvation “anymore, you are actually still under grace and mercy and have not moved into a place of glory to glory. You are still a level 1 Christian… a carnal believer. A level 3 believer knows that he cannot stop working out his salvation with fear and trembling. He is moving from glory to glory.
What are the characteristics of the flesh? The first is remaining long as babes. The second characteristic of the fleshly is that they are unfit to absorb spiritual teaching.
‘I feed you with milk and not solid food for you are not ready.’
Paul wrote of another evidence of being fleshly. He asserts that while there is jealousy and strife among them, he asks “are you not of the flesh and behave like ordinary men?” The sin of jealousy and strife are proof of carnality. It is evident that a person belonging to the flesh comforts himself like ordinary men and sins often. To be fleshly or carnal is to behave like ordinary men. Let us not argue our being label as being spiritual or carnal. If we are not governed by the Holy Spirit, what profit will the mere designation of the spiritual be to us. This is after all a matter of life, not of title. (Watchman Nee 86-88)
According to Philippians 3, Paul is warning against living for the flesh.
Phil 3:17-21
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
People who live for the flesh are only concern with self and the appetites of the flesh. They thrive on pride, position, status. They are concern with what to eat, what to wear, what to drive. They are concerned with making themselves shine instead of making Jesus shine. They are only mindful of the here and now and do not concern themselves with the things of God and the extension of His Kingdom.
Our citizenship is in heaven. That means we should live to pursue intimacy with God. This one pursuit becomes our one consuming focus because our citizenship is in Heaven with Christ. It has nothing to do with earthly or fleshly matters. So, if we are governed by our fleshly desires, we would have no desire to be with the Lord and we are really being an enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our earthly, fleshly desires cause us to be an enemy to Christ because our flesh becomes more important than Jesus Christ. Christ came to earth so that we can have eternal life, salvation unto God. It is the joy of knowing that we will be spending eternity with Jesus Christ that should motivate us to live for Him. It is the fruit of the Spirit which is found in Galatians 5.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Jesus is in prayer. He is in Heaven, in intercession for the believers. In John 17:20-21, Jesus is praying:
20 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.”
The convergence of a person’s spirituality is a combination of religious dogma and spiritual laws. It should achieve the impact of a believer into a convergence, moving from grace and mercy to a place of glory to glory. If one is still stuck in religion and spiritual laws, how will he be able to experience this continual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. There is always going to be something there that he must do before he can accomplish this oneness. And these obstacles and trials will always be with us. We must fight the good fight of faith and never give up. I Tim. 6:11-12 talks about it:
“But as for you, [a]O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.”
The daily battle is there to keep us in check.
What is our reward in heaven?
It is eternal life with God.
It is our citizenship with Christ in Heaven
The transformation of our lowly body to His glorious body.
Isn’t salvation our main reward in heaven?
The reward of heaven is eternal life in Christ. I am saved from the power of death, and this evil, wicked and perverse generation. I am also saved from sin, satan, self and the world. I am saved from my sins. I am also healed and delivered and set free from all evil. Evil cannot touch me in Heaven. It has no rights, power or jurisdiction over me in heaven. I am saved from my sins. I am saved from satan’s power, the wrath and eternal death. The reward of being a citizen in heaven is salvation from sin, satan’s power, wrath and eternal death.
Matthew 1:21 (salvation from our sins)
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He
will save His people from their sins.”
Hebrews 2:14-15 (salvation from satan’s powers)
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He
Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy
him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Romans 5:9 (salvation from wrath)
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
John 3:16-17 (salvation from eternal death)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.
One of the main rewards of heaven is our salvation because we are being saved from sin, satan, the world and self.
A pastor made this statement recently -“When a saved person sins, he does not lose his salvation but only his rewards in heaven.”
Isn’t our reward in heaven our salvation from sin, satan, the world and self?
If we continue to sin, we will lose our citizenship in Heaven. When we sin, we not only lose our salvation, but we lose all our rewards in heaven. If we continue to sin with our eyes open which is called the sin of co-mission, we lose it all - our salvation and everything else. If we continue to sin after we have been enlightened by the Word, we lose our salvation and there is no more salvation to be gained.
Because according to Heb 6:1-6, if they continue to fall away and continue to sin, it would be impossible to renew them again to repentance. This is because they were once enlightened and have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. This scripture right here is evidence that you can lose your salvation if you keep sinning. And these lukewarm pastor will say “we all sin. NO one is perfect. Just plead the blood of Jesus.”
So is it biblically accurate for one to claim “once saved always saved?”
Do we only lose our rewards in heaven and not our salvation?
What is our salvation?
Do we really know the price we pay for sin?
Do we know what we are saved from?
If we continue to sin, we lose our salvation. If we continue to sin, we are NOT SAVED. If we confess Jesus Christ, we are saved from our sin. If we continue to sin, we were never saved to begin with. The evidence is in the recurring sins. If we were truly saved, sin and death have no dominion over us. Salvation is a gift and what we do with this gift determines where we spend eternity. Salvation is one of the main rewards in Heaven. So a person who lives in sin is not saved because he is not a true believer. And if he is not a true believer, he is NOT saved and has no reward in heaven, period.
What is the reward in heaven? isn’t it to be one with Jesus Christ? AS mentioned early, He is in constant intercession for us to be one with HIm as He is one with the Father. Isn’t the ultimate reward to be with Jesus?
The child of God lives for God’s glory. He is moved by the Spirit. He obeys the word and applies the word of God in his life. He yields to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He never acts hastily on his own. He waits for God’s direction. He seeks the Lord Jesus moment by moment. He communes with God daily. He loves the word of God and He is consumed by the Word of God. He loves good and hates evil. He loves what God loves and hates what God hates. He lives by faith and not by sight. He follows the straight and narrow. His heart’s desire is to please God. He worships God and talks of the things of God frequently. He exposes sin and darkness. His faith is in Christ and Christ alone.
Does a child of God divorce his wife except for marital unfaithfulness?. Jesus said in
Matt 5:31-32
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
And according to Paul in 1 John 7:10-11,
Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Malachi 2:14-16
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the Lord has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
16 “For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
God hates divorce. But He allows for it in the case of marital unfaithfulness. But nevertheless, God hates divorce.
So to answer the question “Can a saved person live in sin and remain saved,” the answer is NO.
Can a person lose his salvation if he keeps on sinning? Yes...Yes...Yes.
A truly saved person will not live in sin. He is born of God and he cannot sin. (1 John 3:9) If a saved person is living in sin, it is likely that he was never saved to begin with. He just gave lip service to the Lord. If he was truly saved, there would be physical manifestation in his change of heart and lifestyle. There are many so-called Christians in churches today who thinks that they are saved, but they have gravely deceived themselves. They have embraced sin and they have forsaken Christ. Their actions and behavior are not consistent with their declaration. They actually love their sin more than they love Christ. This is why they choose to remain in sin. Though their bodies may be in a church, though they may be serving in ministry, or giving tithes and offerings to the church, their hearts are far from Christ. Thus, they have deceived everyone around them.....including themselves. And if they choose to remain unrepentant, they will never see heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
There is a time, we know not when,
A place, we know not where;
which marks the destiny of men
to glory or despair
There is a line, by us unseen,
which crosses every path,
which marks the boundary between
God’s mercy and His wrath
To pass that limit is to die,
to die as if by stealth.
It does not dim the beaming eye,
nor pale the glow of health
The conscience may be still at ease,
the spirit light and gay.
and that which pleases still may please
and care be thrust away.
But on that forehead God hath set
Indelibly a mark
Unseen by man, for man as yet,
is blind and in the dark.
He feels perchance that all is well
and every fear is calmed
He lives, he dies, he walks in hell
Not only doomed, but damned!
O where is that mysterious line
that may be men be crossed
Beyond which God Himself hath sworn,
that he who goes is lost?
An answer from the skies repeats
“Ye who from God depart.”
Today, O hear His voice,
Today repent and harden not your heart.
- By Joseph Addison Alexander
In conclusion, a person who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And if he is born of God, he does not sin. If he continues in a life of sin, he was never born of God and therefore was never saved.
Miyagi
