Is Salvation Eternal?

A question was submitted to us that we're delighted to answer.  The query was this: do we as a church family believe that once a person is truly saved (see the link) that they will always be saved? Does an individual's sins subsequent to their salvation somehow render God's saving grace null and void? Can one who was once truly born again end up lost at some future point?

Different people think different things, but the correct answer to this question is found only in God's infallible Word. There are several passages that address this very issue in extremely clear ways. Let's have a look at a few. Ephesians 2:8-9  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹  Not of works, lest any man should boast."

The Bible makes it very clear that we can’t do enough to earn salvation because we are born with a sin nature. and have no ability to pay for our sins Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Hebrews 9:22b: "without shedding of blood is no remission. (or forgiveness of sin) But not just any blood Hebrews 10:4-5 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. ⁵  Wherefore when he (Jesus) cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Jesus)"

Salvation is a gift that was purchased at great cost, the sacrificial death of Jesus God’s only Son, His blood was required to pay the sin debt of man. The gift he purchased is eternal. The Word of God states the duration of the gift as eternal or everlasting.

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:36   "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 5:24  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 6:37-39  "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁸  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

John 10:28-29  "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁹  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

There are a few things we know about a gift. The purchaser determines the gift to be given.(its value etc) In this case Jesus purchased the gift of salvation and states it is eternal and all who come to him will never be cast out. This is how we overcome one of the greatest tools of the devil..doubt. For a Christian doubt will cause them to hesitate to share their faith. But to know our salvation is secure gives us boldness to share with other how they too may receive this eternal gift, which is exactly what the Bible teaches.

1 John 5:10-13  "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
¹¹  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
¹²  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
¹³  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

In vs. 13 the word “know” is the Greek word that means absolute knowledge, you know without a doubt. It’s like being married you either know you are or you know you are not. But what do we absolutely know in vs. 13? We have eternal life (which by definition means forever) It’s like a child being born into a family, his birth established him forever as a child to his parents. His position is secured by birth. A Christian’s position is secured by his new birth in Christ.

The confusion comes in our fallen thinking: surely if I do something “bad enough” God won’t let me into heaven..but then we would have to define “bad enough” if we say that’s “sin” then what kind and how much. James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Do we always do all known good? Do we always abstain from all know evil... if we’re honest we have to say no. In fact 1 John 1:8  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." That’s why God deals with us as children once we trust Him as savior, because we become his child and he deals with us accordingly. Every parent wants his child to admit their wrong 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

However, God being our perfect parent has his means of correcting us as his child. Hebrews 12:5b-8.. "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

One of the evidences of our salvation is the correction by the father. One of the evidences that my dad was my dad was the correction he gave me when I needed it as a child. You see even God’s children sin. But salvation gives us a reason not too and a new nature (empowered by the Holy Spirit) that helps us over come our fleshly desires. Some will say; “if I’m saved” I’ll just sin all I want? Really? If one is saved he should not want to sin, certainly the new nature doesn’t want him to, but if he does there will be consequences Galatians 6:7  "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Discipline is never enjoyed, and as a child of God why would we want to disobey and displease our father who purchased our salvation at the price of his Son.

When we sin God gives us the opportunity to confess it so our fellowship with him will not be broken  1 Corinthians 11:31-32  "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (however, if we refuse he begins the correction process) ³²  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

However, for those who are “in Christ” there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...

Salvation is a marvelous gift for which we are, though undeserving, truly grateful.