The doctrine of eternal security, also known as “once saved, always saved,” is a debated topic among Christians. Some believe that if you have truly been saved, you can never lose your salvation, no matter what sins you commit. Others argue that this doctrine promotes an attitude of “easy believism” or gives people a license to sin since their salvation is eternally secure.
So what does the Bible really teach about eternal security? Can a person who has been genuinely saved ever lose their salvation? And does having assurance of salvation lead to increased sin in a believer’s life?
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
First, it’s important to understand how we are saved in the first place. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by our own works. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, we are forgiven of our sins and declared righteous before God. This salvation is a free gift of God’s grace.
Passages like John 10:28-29 reveal that nothing can snatch believers out of God’s hand. Once we are genuinely saved, we are secure in Christ forever. Our salvation does not depend on our good works, but on Christ’s finished work on the cross. Since we didn’t earn salvation by our efforts, we don’t maintain it by our efforts either.
Does Sin Cause Loss of Salvation?
What happens, then, when a believer sins? Can ongoing sin or backsliding cause someone to lose their salvation? Most biblical evidence indicates that salvation cannot be lost, even if a Christian falls into sin or spiritual complacency.
Romans 8:35-39 emphasizes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Jesus assured us that He gives eternal life and we will never perish (John 10:28). The Holy Spirit is given as a guarantee and seal of our redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14).
However, this doesn’t mean sin is harmless. Persistent sin can damage our fellowship with God even though our relationship remains secure. Unconfessed sin in a believer’s life can lead to loss of joy, spiritual power, and rewards (1 Corinthians 3:15). God will discipline His children who continue in willful disobedience (Hebrews 12:5-11). Though we can’t lose salvation, sin still has consequences.
Examining Ourselves
How can we know if we possess eternal salvation? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Evidence of salvation includes an ongoing pattern of righteousness, distaste for lingering sin, desire to obey Christ, and love for other Christians (1 John 2:3-6, 3:6-10, 5:2-3).
Good works don’t secure our salvation but they do provide assurance of it (James 2:14-26). If there is no spiritual fruit in someone’s life, it raises questions about whether they have experienced true regeneration (Matthew 7:16-20). We can have full assurance of salvation if we see the Spirit’s transforming work in our character and conduct (1 John 3:19-21).
Does Security Lead to Sin?
The doctrine of eternal security is sometimes falsely accused of promoting sin in a believer’s life. But Scripture plainly teaches that grace is not a license to sin. Paul refuted this argument in Romans 6:1-2, asking “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Grace actually empowers us to live righteously (Titus 2:11-14).
Someone who continues in unrepentant sin is likely not genuinely saved to begin with. Hebrews 10:26 warns that those who go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth do not have eternal redemption but only judgment. First John 3:6 declares that true believers do not keep on sinning as a way of life.
Rather than encouraging sin, security in Christ motivates us to live in holiness and honor God with our lives. Out of gratefulness for our salvation, we aim to obey and please the One who set us free from sin’s bondage and penalty (Romans 6:17-18, 12:1-2).
Can Salvation Be Forfeited?
Some verses are often used to argue that salvation can be lost if a Christian falls away. For example, Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of those who have “fallen away” after tasting spiritual truth. Does this mean they have lost their salvation?
However, most scholars believe this passage refers to those who profess faith but have not experienced genuine regeneration. They have only tasted the truth, not internalized it. Similar passages warn of those who escape the world but later are “overcome” by entanglement in sin (2 Peter 2:20-22) and those who did not “abide” in Christ (John 15:6, 1 John 2:19).
These verses don’t describe true believers losing their status before God. They depict people who claimed to follow Christ but did not have a saving relationship with Him.
Chastisement of the Lord
If a Christian strays into serious sin and refuses to repent, God may choose to end their earthly life prematurely. We see this occur in the church at Corinth where some who partook in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner became sick or died (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). The Lord’s loving discipline can involve physical consequences or even death for obstinate disobedience.
Even when God’s discipline is severe because of willful sin, the believer’s relationship with God remains secure. Physical death may cut short their earthly life but not jeopardize their heavenly home. This chastisement demonstrates God’s love in working to restore them and protect the honor of Christ’s church.
Loss of Rewards
While our salvation is secure regardless of our works, our eternal rewards do depend on how we live. Poor conduct leads to loss of rewards we could gain. Paul illustrated this in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 using the analogy of building with gold, silver, or wood.
Works built with inferior materials will be burned up on judgment day, yet the believer will still be saved, but as through fire. Their worthless works will not stand the test of God’s examination. Sinful choices result in forfeited blessings we might have otherwise enjoyed for eternity.
God Preserves His Children
Ultimately, our security rests on God’s purpose and power. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us permanently (John 14:16-17). God’s grace enables us to persevere in faith and not abandon Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-9). Our salvation is rooted in the sovereign, unchangeable election of God (Romans 8:28-30).
Philippians 1:6 expresses beautiful assurance that God will continue His work in us until the day of Christ. What God begins, He promises to finish. All true believers will be presented blameless before God’s throne as Christ’s bride (Jude 24-25).
Test of Authentic Faith
Eternal security is not a license to sin but an incentive to obey. Genuine saving faith will be evident through righteous living, distaste for lingering sin, and spiritual fruit. Wrong thinking that salvation makes our works inconsequential reveals a false assurance. True children of God walk by the Spirit and crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:16-24).
The doctrine of eternal security is an immense blessing to believers. It anchors our hope and reminds us that our salvation rests on Christ’s merits, not our own. This truth fosters deep gratitude to God for saving us. The biblical evidence overwhelmingly affirms that nothing can separate us from God’s love and those He justifies will be glorified (Romans 8:30). Our eternal inheritance is secure.
