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“Once Saved, Always Saved” is not a teaching handed down by the Apostles nor by the earliest Christians. This doctrine only began to appear many centuries later . . in the 1500s, and became more popular in modern times among some Evangelical groups.

The first Christians never believed that a person could accept Christ once and then be eternally guaranteed salvation regardless of whether they later fall into grave sin, deny the faith, or abandon Christ altogether. Instead, the Apostles constantly taught perseverance, repentance, holiness, obedience, and remaining faithful until the end.

Jesus Himself said: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”— Matthew 24:13 If salvation could never be lost, why would Christ command believers to endure until the end?

Many who defend “Once Saved, Always Saved” often use verses such as John 10:28-29 where Jesus says no one can snatch His sheep from His hand, Romans 8:38-39 about nothing separating us from the love of God, and Hebrews 10:14 which says Christ perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

But these verses do not teach that a Christian cannot freely walk away from God. John 10 says Christ’s sheep are those who HEAR His voice and CONTINUE FOLLOWING Him. Romans 8 speaks about external powers not separating us from God, but it does not remove human free will.

Hebrews 10:14 itself says “those who are being sanctified,” showing an ongoing life of faithfulness. Ironically, the very same Book of Hebrews strongly refutes the “Once Saved, Always Saved” doctrine:

“For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” — Hebrews 10:26

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit… and then have fallen away…” — Hebrews 6:4-6

How can someone “fall away” if it were impossible to lose salvation?

The Bible repeatedly warns believers:

• “Take heed lest you fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

• “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch.” (John 15:6)

• “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Even St. Paul himself said: “I discipline my body… lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” — 1 Corinthians 9:27 The early Christians understood salvation as a living relationship with God, not a one-time declaration [saying the magic words] . . .

P.S. I excerpted the preceding words from a post by a practicing Catholic — but one who obviously uses the Bible as her authority. I hope she isn't offended if we give the words more exposure.

PPS: Born again is another misunderstood subject. We will be born again at the resurrection. We start out as babes in Christ, on the milk of the word, but we have to get into the meat of it too. We are the branches; stay connected to the vine. If it were impossible to fall away, there wouldn't be such things as prodigals or Laodiceans. Grace isn't cheap. "Add to your faith virtue." — 2 Corinthians 1:5