Are those who say, "once saved is always saved" correct?

QUESTION:

Salvation is about grace, but to say that, "once saved is always saved" denies Scripture and Christ's own words along with the words of St. Paul. Is this correct?

ANSWER:

I agree with you 100% that the verses you reference speak of the ability to lose salvation. But the key is that this is salvation that was offered to Israel. Their salvation is based on faith in their Messiah as well as in their works. This is why it is mentioned over and over that they had to endure to the end, they had to pick up their cross and follow the example of their Messiah, they had to "not love their lives unto death", (Rev.12:11).

The doctrine pertaining to our salvation is different from that of Israel. Our salvation (as members of the Body of Christ) does not depend on our performance. It is the perfect work of Christ that is imputed to us, so we are not judged by our works but by Christ's works.

The following is an extract authored by Art Licursi in his article entitled:

Our Salvation is Secured 'Once and for All time'!

Today, during this "the dispensation of the Grace of God," the Bible says that God accepts all those who are "in the beloved," in His Son. "To the praise of the glory of his (God's) grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6)

How do we get into Christ? We simply trust in the Lord Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the one time, all-sufficient, payment for all our sins.

Paul's "gospel of grace" is "Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day for our justification." (1Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation from sins and judgment, unto justification, that is right standing before God. This is instantaneous the moment one believes, not a lifelong process.

If a true believer in Christ could lose his salvation, it would mean GOD has rejected His Son's sacrifice for our sins! Jesus was raised from the dead "by the glory of the Father" (Rom 6:4), proving His sacrifice was accepted by the Father… thus we are "accepted IN the beloved" (Eph. 1:6).

The grace believer's salvation is forever secure and they are "sealed with the Spirit." (Rom. 5:1-2, 8:29-39, 6-8; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30; Phili. 1:6; 2Tim. 1:12).

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, Ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit Of Promise," (Ephesians 1:13)

"our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it be fashioned like unto his glorious body (Philip. 3:20-21).

"For we KNOW that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (our body) were dissolved (decayed), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, ETERNAL in the heavens." (2Cor. 5:1)

Note that the Corinthians believers were the least spiritual and the most immature believers in Scripture but they were secure "in Christ." The Apostle Paul wrote that God would confirm (preserve) them unto the end so that they would be blameless at the rapture (cf. 1 Cor. 1:7-8). Then verse 9 says "God is faithful." Believers in Christ may make mistakes, but "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1Jn 1:7), from all our past, present and future sins, because "we have (possess) redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." We have already been forgiven of all trespasses and sins for "Christ's sake" (Eph. 4:32). Our salvation is not gained or enhanced by our efforts, so our salvation cannot be maintained by our efforts (cf. Rom. 11:6; Gal. 3:3; Col. 2:6-7).

Upon our salvation, we are "sealed with the Holy Spirit" unto the Rapture (cf. Eph. 1:13, 4:30). God does not want you as a believer in Christ doubt your salvation. Our salvation by grace does not depend on our performance or even our faithfulness. The salvation we enjoy today as believers is solely dependent upon what Christ has already done for us at Calvary's cross!

How can we as sinful people, such as we who still sometimes sin, be Raptured to heaven?

When a person believes the grace gospel, the blood of Christ and His righteousness is imputed (applied or counted) to them – to their sin-debt account (cf. Romans 4:1-5). When a believer sins today, God does not see the sin, He only sees "the blood of Christ" shed on their behalf (cf. 2Cor. 5:21).