Rebutting “Once Saved Always Saved”
Published July 25, 2024 at 8:06 AM
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One major false doctrine plaguing Christianity is the doctrine of eternal security, more commonly referred to as “Once Saved Always Saved” (OSAS). This doctrine asserts that a person is eternally secure, once they become a Christian. In other words, OSAS claims that Christians cannot fall away from the faith; their salvation is essentially locked in.
Not only is this doctrine unbiblical, but the consequences of its application are destructive. To be specific, OSAS is a doctrine that promotes lawlessness and lukewarmness, which is why this article will use the Bible to refute it.
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BIBLE EVIDENCE AGAINST “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED”
#1 THE GREAT APOSTASY (2 Thessalonians 2)
In my opinion, the simplest refutation against OSAS is Paul’s prophecy of the Great Apostasy. Paul makes it clear that in the end times, there will be Christians who will fall away from the faith. Below are Paul’s exact words in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, with the key portion emboldened.
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
NOTE: another reference to the Great Apostasy is found in 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
To understand this verse in context, Paul is discussing The Day of the LORD, which consists of Jesus’ Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead (sometimes called the rapture). He’s telling Timothy, and the entire church, not to be deceived about the timing of it all. There is a list of things that must happen before Jesus returns, and the first thing he says is that a falling away must come. There is no ambiguity in this statement, as the Greek word used here is “apostasia”, which means “leave” or “to depart”. (https://biblehub.com/greek/646.htm)
In simple terms, Paul is saying that Christians will leave/depart from the faith.
These verses show that a Christian can lose salvation, as there will be Christians who fall away from the faith. Some may argue that these people were never true Christians, but this argument does not work because you cannot leave something that you were never part of. False Christians cannot fall away from the faith, since they were never truly a believer; only believers can fall away. Additionally, false Christians are often considered “tares” (Matthew 13) and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7) who will be exposed when God sends judgment. The act of falling away is linked to genuine Christians who leave the faith.
We are living in the fulfillment of this prophecy, as many Christians are leaving the faith. The Great Apostasy is also seen through the fact that many churches have abandoned the basic principles of Christianity. We live in a lawless generation, where evildoers are waxing worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13), and the love of many is growing cold (Matthew 24:12). These factors, alongside people doubting that Jesus will return (2 Peter 3:1-9), are what is causing the Great Apostasy.
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#2 BACKSLIDING (2 Peter 2)
The next argument against OSAS is the fact that the Bible makes it clear that Christians can backslide and fall from grace. It is possible to be saved, and on fire for Jesus, then return to living like the world. Peter talks about this exact scenario in 2 Peter 2:20-22, in which he says:
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)
To understand the full context of this verse, Peter is warning of false teachers who appeal to the lusts of the flesh. Some Christian teachers enable people to once again be entangled in the pollutions of the world, which goes against the entire message of Christians being set apart (in this world, but not of this world). This type of backsliding causes the person to be worse off than they were before they knew Jesus. They are returning to their vomit, despite knowing the gospel.
In simple terms, Peter is saying that saved believers can go back to living in sin.
Similar to the Great Apostasy, Christian backsliding disproves OSAS. It is possible for someone to come into the truth of Jesus, and be saved, but still fall away because they are ensnared with the world.
In modern times, there are Christians who try to live for Jesus and the world. They know the gospel, and have some semblance of the fear of the LORD, but still don’t want to let go of their sin. Lust, greed, and idolatry trip up Christians and cause this exact type of backsliding. This type of Christianity is lukewarm and lawless, and it is dangerous because most lukewarm people believe they are saved. However, Jesus makes it clear that he will reject lukewarm believers and vomit them from his mouth; he never knew them (Revelation 3:15-16, Matthew 7:21-23).
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#3 APOSTATE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH (1-2 Kings, 2 Chronicles)
The third argument against OSAS draws on the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. Numerous kings were declared righteous in the sight of the LORD, as they kept his commandments and were justified by faith. However, a handful of these kings fell away in the latter days of their reign, as their hearts drifted from God. We will discuss two kings who drifted from God; one is well-known and the other isn’t.
KING 1 – SOLOMON
Solomon is the most renowned of the kings who drifted away from God. His reign started strong, as he built the temple and asked God to give him wisdom to rule. However, as Solomon got older, he began to drift more and more away from God.
“For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (1 Kings 11:4)
Solomon went from building the temple, to building altars for other gods. Two of the gods he served, Chemosh and Molech (1 Kings 11:5-7), were gods that people offered child sacrifice to (Leviticus 20:1-5, 2 Kings 3:26-27). A lot of this backsliding happened because of Solomon’s lust; he had a divided heart.
Some may argue that Solomon didn’t fall away, but rather that his heart was always set on sin. However, this argument can be applied to every single person; we all have a sinful nature. This is why we are called to crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5, Colossians 3). Christians who fail to crucify the flesh will often fall back into sin.
It should also be noted that David struggled with the same sin as Solomon (lust), yet it didn’t lead him away from God. David had a heart that chased after the LORD, choosing to run toward God, instead of away from Him, when he sinned (read 2 Samuel 12). The contrast between David and Solomon shows that all believers struggle with sin, but that the hearts of some believers can drift away from God because of how they handle it.
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KING 2 – JOASH (aka Jehoash)
The second king who drifted away from God was Joash, king of Judah. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD when he was instructed by the priest Jehoiada.
“Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” (2 Kings 12:2)
“Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” (2 Chronicles 24:2)
These kings were measured by the standard set by David, so kings who are said to have done right in the sight of the LORD kept the Law and followed in the steps of David. And we know that David (like Abraham and a host of others) was justified by faith, even before Jesus died on the cross (Romans 4, Hebrews 11).
Thus, it is fair to conclude that Joash followed the LORD and was saved early in his reign. However, his heart drifted away, as he was corrupted by bad advisors. Once Jehoiada died, the bad advisors led Joash down a path of apostasy.
“Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.” (2 Chronicles 24:17-18)
What happened to Joash not only shows how someone can go from serving the LORD to living in sin, but it is clear proof that bad company corrupts good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20). Be wise about who you hang around, as bad friends can lead a believer away from God and back into sin.
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CONCLUSION
After reading this article, I pray you have a better understanding of why OSAS is unbiblical. Christians can backslide and fall away from the faith, even after being saved. There are biblical accounts of people falling away, alongside Paul detailing how people would fall away from the faith in the last days. It is possible to fall away from the faith and have your name blotted out from the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19). However, those who walk in the ways of God, and endure to the end, will be saved and won’t have their name blotted out (Revelation 3:5).
Moreover, I pray you see the dangers of the doctrine of OSAS. It has been used to promote a faith of lawlessness. While it is true that we are justified by faith, and works-based salvation is a false doctrine, let us never forget that our faith should produce good fruit. Obedience and doing the will of God are the bare-minimum (Matthew 7:21). And as James put it best, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26).
Thank you for reading, and always remember to stay vigilant!
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