Is once saved, forever saved a false doctrine?

I have come into contact with certain brethren, that even the title once saved, forever saved offends them. Once saved, forever saved is a teaching that contradicts the theology of many. Personally, once saved, forever saved is not a false doctrine, I consider it a good and a healthy doctrine, one which is very consistent with the Pauline epistles, and the rest of the scriptures. 

What is Once saved, forever saved?

Proponents of this doctrine, asserts that once a person exercises saving faith in Jesus Christ, the person becomes a new creation and is eternally saved. Once the person is saved by the power of the Holy Spirit, he or she is kept secure in his salvation, and will persevere in it, until he will meet face to face with the Lord. Those who advocate for this teaching, believes that a Christian cannot lose his salvation, for he is saved once and for all time. 

Is it a false doctrine?

Every false doctrine is not in unison with what the bible teaches. There are quite a number of reasons why certain people consider once saved, forever saved as a false doctrine. One of the main reason why once saved, forever saved has been tagged as a false doctrine is because, they ignorantly thinks it gives people the occasion to wallow in licentiousness. But of a truth, such asseveration is not scriptural at all. Those who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness are ungodly men who do not have any personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Jude addressed a category of such people in his letter, when he wrote to the brethren to earnestly contend for the faith which was handed down to us: For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ-- Jude 4

The certain persons in the text does not refer to believers, rather the apostle was cautioning the church of certain people who have secretly crept into their midst, and have turned the grace of God for a cloak of unrighteousness. A Christian in whom dwells the Holy Ghost will by no means turn the grace of God into loose living. People regard once saved, forever saved as a false doctrine, because to them the doctrine does not encourage sanctification. But no, once saved, forever saved is a doctrine which is according to godliness.

Another reason why people believe once saved, forever saved is a false doctrine, is because they are of the view that it is not taught in the scriptures. Though once saved, forever saved is not written verbatim in the scriptures, but the concept of once saved, forever saved is ubiquitous throughout the entire scriptures. 

Scriptures which supports once saved, forever saved 

Jude 1: 24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.

The Greek word for, "keep" is the word "aptaistos" and it means "to watch that is to guard". So the apostle is saying that God is able to watch and guard you, so that you will not stumble and fall away completely, but to make you stand in the presence of his glory with great joy. So this text means that once you are saved, God will preserve you unto the end

1 Peter 1:5

who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Our salvation is kept safe and secure by the wonder working power of God through faith, unto the salvation of our body ready to be revealed in the last time. Our salvation is eternally secure for the purpose that we might receive the salvation of our body on that day. So once we are saved, we are forever saved 

Romans 8:30

and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

In theology, this particular verse is called the chain of salvation, from predestination to glorification. When you look at the chain, you can see that none of the chain is broken. Which means that those whom God has predestined unto salvation will eventually be glorified. It is impossible for one who is justified not to be glorified, for the chain of salvation cannot be broken. 

John 14:16

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever

The Holy Spirit is said to dwell in and with us forever. If the Spirit is said to dwell with us forever, then how is it possible for a Christian to lose his salvation? To lose our salvation, the holy Spirit will have to leave us permanently, which will contradict Jesus own words. The Holy Spirit in us is more than enough evidence that we are once saved, forever saved. 

Romans 8:33-34

Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us

Every charge leveled against us is hereby declared null and void, why? Because God is the One who has justified us and whoever that condemns us, their condemnation is obsolete, because his death and resurrection and it's effects stands in a place of perpetual intercession for us. Our salvation is more than secure, we cannot, ever lose this precious gift of salvation, which means that once we are saved, we are forever saved.

Romans 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This text is in the present tense, which means that in Christ Jesus, there is no way, never will there be any condemnation for a believer who has genuinely professed saving faith in Christ Jesus. The punishment we ought to suffer, Jesus our substitute has already paid the price for us. Therefore, God will never punish us for the same sins our substitute suffered for

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

For a Christian to lose his salvation, then Jesus will have to amputate a member of his body which is utterly impossible. How can Jesus destroy a part of his own body? 

Brethren, the scriptures which argues for the case of once saved, forever saved are more, but I believe the scriptures which I have cited from God's word are enough to support and to prove the point that once saved, forever saved is not a false doctrine exposited in the church, but one which is very consistent with the truth of the gospel. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Though once saved, forever saved is not written verbatim in the scriptures, but the concept of once saved, forever saved is ubiquitous throughout the entire scriptures. 

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