The question of whether a person who is saved can lose their salvation has been debated by Christians for generations.
While Scripture supports the concept of eternal security for believers, the conversation isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Let’s explore what the Bible teaches about the concept of “once saved, always saved” (OSAS), the challenges surrounding this belief, and how we should respond as Christians.
The Bible clearly teaches eternal salvation for those who are in Christ.
Here are two key passages:
Jesus says,
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand
Paul declares that
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These verses make it clear that salvation is God’s work, not ours, and His promises are unshakable.
However, how we live out our faith matters deeply, and it’s worth examining two types of believers often discussed in this debate.
This person might say, “I got baptized and went to church, so I’m saved.
Now I sleep around, get drunk, and don’t pray—but hey, once saved, always saved, right?”
This raises the question: Can a person lose their salvation if they deliberately and persistently choose to live in sin?
On the other hand, this person says, “I’ve put my faith in Christ, but I blew it last night. I never thought I’d do that. Did I lose my salvation?”
This leads to the question: Is this person’s salvation secure simply because they feel remorse, even if they continue to struggle with sin?
One of the most crucial principles in Scripture is that salvation does not grant us permission to live however we please.
In Romans 6:1–2, Paul writes, “What shall we say then?
Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
Before coming to Christ, we often lived without regard for sin, but once we believe, the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
The Spirit convicts us when we sin, producing a godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
This is part of the process of sanctification, where God shapes us to become more like Christ.
If someone claims salvation but continues in willful, unrepentant sin, it raises questions about whether they truly understand or have embraced the gospel.
While believers are secure in Christ, we still have free will.
We can either follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit or resist it.
When we repeatedly choose sin, we begin to quench the Spirit’s work in our lives.
Over time, this can lead to spiritual numbness, making it harder to discern God’s voice or feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Quenching the Holy Spirit does not mean losing salvation, but it does hinder spiritual growth and disrupts our relationship with God.
Ultimately, if we persistently reject God and choose to follow our sinful desires, He will allow us to face the consequences of our choices.
As stated in Romans 1:24, “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.”
This path, if left unrepented, ultimately leads to eternal separation from God.
C.S. Lewis explains in Mere Christianity that “God is outside and above the Time-line. In that case, what we call ‘tomorrow’ is visible to Him in just the same way as what we call ‘today.’”
From our perspective, it may seem as though someone who once professed faith has “lost their salvation”.
However, in God’s timeless view, they were never truly saved.
Jesus Himself warns in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
Notice that He doesn’t say, “I knew you once.”
This indicates that salvation is not something gained and then lost—it’s evidence of a genuine relationship with Christ.
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While salvation is secure, sin still has consequences.
A believer’s sin may disrupt their fellowship with God, but it does not undo their salvation.
As the Bible teaches, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves” (Hebrews 12:6).
This discipline is meant to restore us, not condemn us.
Living in sin also damages our witness to others, brings unnecessary pain into our lives, and hinders the abundant life God desires for us.
Though we cannot lose our salvation, we must take responsibility for our actions and seek to walk in obedience out of love for Christ.
Yes, but it’s not a free pass to live however we want.
For the careless sinner, hope remains as long as they have breath. Even in their final moments, they have the opportunity to repent, just as the thief on the cross did in Luke 23:39–43.
For the sensitive sinner, God’s grace is sufficient for their weaknesses. However, they must be willing to truly repent and seek to grow in their faith, rather than remain stuck in patterns of habitual sin.
True salvation produces fruit—evidence of a transformed heart and life.
If you’re struggling with sin or questioning your salvation, take comfort in Philippians 1:6:
He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
Remember: Salvation is a gift from God, not something we earn. But out of gratitude for this incredible gift, let’s strive to live in a way that honors Him.
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