Perseverance: Once Saved, Always Saved, Right?

I recently received a good question from someone about a passage of Scripture that is difficult to interpret.  The passage, Hebrews 6:1-8, is one of several warning passages in the book of Hebrews which deal with the dangers of falling away from the faith.  The individual asked me how we should interpret this passage since we believe that a person cannot lose his or her salvation.  As I began to think on this passage, I decided that instead of just providing an interpretation of the passage, it would be better to address the broader topic that these warning passages bring up first.  Namely, “Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?”  After dealing with this more expansive question, I will deal specifically with Hebrews 6.

Once Saved Always Saved, Right?

It is common to hear Christians make the statement, “Once saved, always saved.”  This statement, while true, doesn’t say enough.  It could mislead a person into thinking that an individual, who claims to be a believer but lives in a state of persistent rebellion and disobedience to Christ, is genuinely a Christian.  The Bible, however, knows nothing of a Christian who lives a life characterized by habitual disobedience.  So, while it is true that a person who has genuine, saving faith in Jesus is always saved, the biblical doctrine is better described by saying that a true Christian is one who will, by God’s grace, persevere in and by faith until the end. 

This perseverance is guaranteed for a true child of God because God will preserve all who truly belong to Him.  It is not a matter of how strong our faith or grip on Him is.  It is, instead, a matter of His faithfulness to those who belong to Him.  Several passages make this clear:

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day (John 6:39-40).

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, 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 (John 10:27-29).

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:29-30)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6). 

Other passages could be cited, but the point is clear: God holds on to those whom he has saved.  He completes the work he began from regeneration to glorification.  He doesn’t leave things partially finished (like we often do).  This is a glorious and comforting truth that all Christians should spend time getting better acquainted with.   

Over the next few weeks, I hope to sit down with this doctrine and you so that we can get to know it more in-depth.  We will look at what the doctrine is and what it means.  We will examine some objections to the doctrine and see if they are legitimate or not.  Then we will take an up-close look at Hebrews 6.  Finally we will see the implications of this doctrine for our lives.  I pray that this will be a fruitful journey for each of us.