The saying “once saved, always saved” has been the saying of those who promote the idea of eternal security of the believer. I think we need to add a couple words to that to understand some of the Biblical statements regarding the issue. I prefer to say “Once saved, Always Saved, If really saved.” It’s not my place to question anyone’s salvation. I always accept everyone’s profession of faith as genuine. That issue is always between them and God. But I am convinced that a true believer can be confident that his or her eternal destiny is secure.  The true question involves our faith. Do we truly believe? We are often exhorted in Scripture to evaluate ourselves to see if our faith is true and sure. Paul urged the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Peter teaches, “Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). Jude adds, “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 21).

Our security in Christ is sometimes blurred by our lack of personal assurance. When we quiver in our depravity and begin to doubt, it’s truly important to reflect on where our security comes from. It doesn’t come from our feelings of assurance. It comes from our “faith” in God’s Word and our confidence in His keeping His promises to us. Paul writes to the Romans in 15:4, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” John declared, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). There are many assurances in the Bible with affirmations that our salvation, once truly received by faith in Christ, can never be lost and we can be confident of that in this life.

God does not wish that we live life always trying to prove ourselves as worthy. God wants us to live as members of His eternal family, once a true child, always a true child. Once we’re truly His, “no one can pluck us out of his hands.” Some who argue against this, see this as offering license for believers to continue in a life of sin. But to me, this is as absurd as saying that because we have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance, we will chew on razor blades or guzzle hydrochloric acid.