Once Saved Always Saved?
Summed up - some people believe that once the gift of Salvation has been accepted, that it cannot be undone. Others believe that the gift can be given back. Using that simple analogy, these things seem possible. But are they? If so, which one is true?
Of course, this is another of the "hot topics" in modern Christianity.
On one end, you have the concept that Salvation is perfect, and that God does not do things "halfway." On the other side of the coin, you have the concept that people can reject God (which is true), but also do so after having accepted Him.
This link has a lot of good arguments, pro and con. It even has links - pro and con. The author takes the point of view that salvation can be rejected - which is true. The question, though, is whether salvation can be rejected after it is first rejected.
The link, and the subsequent links, provide more scripture on the topic than I could ever hope to link here.
The basic idea gets down to this: what is salvation? It is the atonement of sin. Essentially - it is God forgiving you. God forgives you for sins - past present and future. If it were not true, then it would be necessary to be saved again and again as future sins were committed.
God's forgiveness is unlimited - if we ask it and accept it. There is not a sin that He will not forgive. On that topic, there is not a sin that is greater or worse than another. "For the wages of sin is death." The Bible never indicates one sin as being more deserving of death than another.
Now, unlike Calvinists, who believe falsely that God chose specific people to be saved ahead of time, I firmly believe we must accept the Gift through our own free will. Some say you can "give that gift back" - but it is not that kind of gift. It is not a tangible gift. It is a gift of eternal forgiveness. Still, the question remains: what if the person later rejects God?
Some feel that because the gift is eternal forgiveness, it cannot by definition be given back. God agrees to forgive every sin you might commit when you simply ask Him to. That includes future sin - even the sin of rejecting Him.
Scripture is not clear on whether one remains saved after first accepting Christ, then later rejecting Him. So no conclusion can be had on this topic.
Therefore, I conclude, in the absence of scripture to the contrary, that God's plan of Salvation is perfect, and will forgive and atone for any sin - past, present, and future.
That said, I am not about to reject God to test this hypothesis! :)
Of course, this is another of the "hot topics" in modern Christianity.
On one end, you have the concept that Salvation is perfect, and that God does not do things "halfway." On the other side of the coin, you have the concept that people can reject God (which is true), but also do so after having accepted Him.
This link has a lot of good arguments, pro and con. It even has links - pro and con. The author takes the point of view that salvation can be rejected - which is true. The question, though, is whether salvation can be rejected after it is first rejected.
The link, and the subsequent links, provide more scripture on the topic than I could ever hope to link here.
The basic idea gets down to this: what is salvation? It is the atonement of sin. Essentially - it is God forgiving you. God forgives you for sins - past present and future. If it were not true, then it would be necessary to be saved again and again as future sins were committed.
God's forgiveness is unlimited - if we ask it and accept it. There is not a sin that He will not forgive. On that topic, there is not a sin that is greater or worse than another. "For the wages of sin is death." The Bible never indicates one sin as being more deserving of death than another.
Now, unlike Calvinists, who believe falsely that God chose specific people to be saved ahead of time, I firmly believe we must accept the Gift through our own free will. Some say you can "give that gift back" - but it is not that kind of gift. It is not a tangible gift. It is a gift of eternal forgiveness. Still, the question remains: what if the person later rejects God?
Some feel that because the gift is eternal forgiveness, it cannot by definition be given back. God agrees to forgive every sin you might commit when you simply ask Him to. That includes future sin - even the sin of rejecting Him.
Scripture is not clear on whether one remains saved after first accepting Christ, then later rejecting Him. So no conclusion can be had on this topic.
Therefore, I conclude, in the absence of scripture to the contrary, that God's plan of Salvation is perfect, and will forgive and atone for any sin - past, present, and future.
That said, I am not about to reject God to test this hypothesis! :)
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