Continual Salvation

Once a person has Believed on God and his Word, Repented of his sins, Been Baptized in Jesus name by full immersion in water, and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, then he has completed the initial process of entering the “kingdom of God.” Upon completing these steps a person is completely freed from the bondage of sin. Faith caused us to Repent, Repentance broke the power and control of sin in our lives, baptism in Jesus’ name washed our sins away, the Holy Ghost has brought our dormant spirits back to life and given us power to overcome sin in our daily life. The person is considered “saved,” and is now ready to meet Jesus in the air at the Rapture of the church (Romans 8:11) and is considered a “child of God (Galations 4:7),” a “new creature in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17),” and a “babe in Christ (Hebrews 5:13).”

The process of salvation is not over, however, for the believer must maintain this spiritual status. Despite having the legal effect of our sins removed, we still must live in this evil world and overcome the temptations to sin or disobey God’s Word.

Once a person has “become saved” by Believing on the Lord Jesus, Repenting, Being Baptized in the name of Jesus, and receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, are they scripturally guaranteed that they will make it to heaven?

No, just because a person has “become saved” does not mean that they are eternally saved. Until a person has died or goes in the Rapture they must live in a very evil, sinful world. Whether a person lives a life of submission to God’s Word or not determines whether or not the person stays saved.

What are some scriptures that teach that a person must guard against returning to sin after the initial process of salvation?

2 Pet 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

If a person having escaped the “pollutions of the world” of sin by following the Biblical plan of initial salvation, falls again into the sinful lifestyle, then they will become worse than they were before they came to God! Just because a person has Believed, Repented, Been Baptized and Filled with the Holy Ghost, does not mean that person is guaranteed of making it to heaven! A person then must choose whether or not to learn and obey the rest of God’s Word in order to maintain this “saved” state. Many people teach today that once a person has “been saved” that nothing he can do or say will ever cause him to miss out on heaven. This is teaching is referred to by Bible scholars as “unconditional eternal security.” The Bible does NOT teach a doctrine of “unconditional eternal security,” and instead teaches that it is very possible to turn around and return to living under the bondage of sin:

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Paul was writing to the church in Galatia who had fulfilled the Biblical process for initial salvation! Some had turned back to sinful living.

Rev 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

A person that “overcometh” will inherit the eternal things of God, not a person that returns to his sin. John goes on to give a short list of sins that will not enter into heaven.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Still speaking about the New Jerusalem, John writes that nothing the defileth (sin) or worketh abomination (sin that God particularly hates) or liars will be able to enter into heaven. To preach that a person will enter into Heaven without having his sins washed away at baptism is to preach a lie!

So is lying the only sin that will keep us out of heaven?

No, many other places in scripture give lists of sin and things that will hold a person back from entering into eternal salvation.

1 Cor 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

If a person can return to sin after being delivered from sin, then it is possible for a formerly saved person not to inherit the kingdom of God, this is why we do not teach a doctrine of “unconditional eternal security.” Other lists of sins that will not make it into heaven are found in Mark 7:20-23, Galations 5:19-21, and Proverbs 6:16-19.

If we are saved “by grace” then how can we “fall out of grace?”

Many people who teach an “easy believism salvation” that all a person must do to be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus, maintain that there is no way that they can be lost once they have believed. We have already thoroughly discussed why a person must do more than “just believe or say ‘I accept the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart’” to be saved. What about other scriptures that prove that a person can turn once again to a life of sin?

Rom 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Just because we have been saved by the Grace of God (when God gives us something that we do not deserve) does not mean that it is okay to sin! Some people still today use grace as a license to sin, but we cannot continue sinning. Paul goes on to explain why later in the chapter:

Rom 6:12-17 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Verse 16 says that if we yield to sin, then we again become servants of sin. Paul was talking to people that had believed on Jesus, Repented of their sins, Been Baptized in Jesus name, and received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. If the church in Rome were having problems with returning to the slavery of sin, shouldn’t we also need teaching on it? We are to be Sons of God not Servants of Sin.

How does the story of the prodigal son illustrate a backslider’s state?

The parable of the Prodigal son who leaves home and then comes to himself in the hog pen to return to his daddy’s house is a beautiful illustration of a person that comes to God, “gets saved” and thus becomes a “son of God,” and then chooses to go into a “far country” the world and a lifestyle of sin. The person is still a “son of God” but cannot receive the blessings and benefits of the Father while he is not under the Father’s authority. So are people who return to their former life of sin.

Gal 4:4-6 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

When we identify with Christ’s work on the Cross by dying to our sins in Repentance, being buried with him in baptism, and brought back to life in receiving the Holy Ghost, we become sons of God. The scriptures are the guidelines to living in our “Father’s house.” If we choose to disobey our Father’s commandments and take whatever benefits we have received and leave to live a life of sin, then we are still a son, but are also servants of sin and no longer dwell in our Father’s house. If a person were to die or miss the Rapture in such a state of sin, then they WILL NOT make it to heaven because anything that worketh sin cannot enter! The Prodigal Son story is a beautiful story proving that God will take us back, but we must be willing to admit that we were wrong, ask forgiveness, and leave the state of sin in which we were living.

Are there examples of individuals in the scriptures that disprove a doctrine of eternal security?

Yes, and they are too numerous to give a comprehensive list here. Here are a few examples:

1. Jesus teaching His disciples.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them . . . 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

In Verse 35 Jesus called His twelve disciples to him and began to teach them. Part of the teaching was the importance of them ridding their lives of anything that would cause them to go to hell. Jesus disciples had already believed on Him and were following Him. Everyone of them besides Judas would one day receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, so why did Jesus warn them of the dangers of hell? Because even today, we can return to a life of sin after the initial process of salvation.

John 15:6-7 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Abide in the Greek is the word “meno” meaning “to stay,” or “to remain.”

2. Demas, Paul’s Companion Preacher and Missionary

Phile 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

In writing in an earlier letter, Paul had referred to Demas as a fellow labourer (also see Colossians 4:14). In the second letter to Timothy, which was one of Paul’s last letters to write, Paul makes mention that Demas had fallen “having loved this present world.” If Demas could have the same salvational experience as Paul and yet return to sin’s trap, then obviously we, today, should guard against doing so.

3. Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-10

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the original Apostolic church in Jerusalem who lied to Peter about how much money they had given to the church. They were dramatically struck dead by the Holy Ghost. How were they eternally saved?

4. The individuals mentioned in the Book of Jude.

The entire book of Jude warns about some men that have “crept in unawares” and are perverting the Gospel of Christ the “common salvation.” Jude, after describing these people that are in the church, continues on by identifying their spirits as being similar to various evil men in the Old Testament and then outlines their eternal fate of punishment.

5. Numerous examples in the Old Testament.

These include Cain, Lot’s family, Samson, Saul, David, and Solomon. Also many kings of Israel and Judah started their reign serving the Lord and fell later in life.

Why is this information on initial salvation and what exactly a person must do to line up with the Word of God so important to learn?

Because we are commanded and expected to understand these basic doctrines so that we can grow spiritually.

Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The church people that the writer of Hebrews was addressing should have been teaching other people the basic Biblical truths, but were not maturing to the point of moving beyond the “milk of the Word.” When they should have been teaching other people the basics, they still needed somebody to teach them. We must progress beyond the basics of God’s Word, because if we do not learn them, then we are not able to fulfill our purpose which is to teach others the basic truths of the Bible. The writer of Hebrews goes on to list the basic doctrines that we should master:

Heb 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The writer of Hebrews states that we should “go on unto perfection.” Perfection means spiritual maturity. We should not have to constantly go over foundational, basic Bible truths. We should learn them to a point that we know them thoroughly. That is why we are taking a stand in this series. These are the basics, the foundation of what the Bible stands for, and until a person is convinced of these basic truths, they will be unable to grow spiritually and move on to the deeper things of God.

The basic doctrines that we MUST know are repentance, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms (plural: the baptism of water, and the baptism of the Spirit), laying on of hands (spiritual authority), rapture of the church and resurrection of the dead (endtime events), eternal judgment (our eternal fate).

It is not enough for the Pastor or ministry to know these areas, because for us to become mature Christians and able to teach others, we must completely understand these different areas of scripture. If a person does not understand these basic, foundational areas of the scripture, then he will be unable to accurately understand other scriptural truths and will not make it to eternal salvation.

Luke 6:47-49 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The Book of Hebrews has given us the truths in the Bible that are to be our foundation. If we build on a firm foundation, Jesus promised us stability when the storms of life come. If we do not build upon the right foundation, then we will fall. To be stable spiritually, we must completely understand these basic doctrines and begin to teach them to others, for that is the purpose of Christianity!