Once saved, always saved? 

QUESTION

Is it true what they say: "Once saved, always saved?" I have not been living as a Christian should.

M from USA

ANSWER

M:

You ask a very good question. It has at least three parts. First, is the doctrine, "once saved always saved" a true Bible teaching. The answer is yes. Jesus said, "and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). You are correct, you cannot save yourself, but once saved, always saved.

Second, there is the issue of your struggle with sin. Don't feel alone, we all struggle with sin. Paul wrote, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another" (Galatians 5:17). We still have our old sinful nature that we will not shed until we go to heaven. We also have a new nature when webecome a Christian, and the Holy Spirit comes to live within us.

However, when we do sin, it carries with it negative consequences. The particular sin you mention has the danger of AIDS, and other disease. Sometimes it leads us into a lifestyle that becomes violent and unpleasant. 

For the Christian, it carries guilt - and that is what you are feeling by your question. Sin is bad for us, and it causes the fellowship between us and God to become unpleasant. 

Third, if you are a born again Christian (and you say you are, and certainly you say the correct words), then you are saved during those times. You can never lose your salvation once you have gained it. 

To help you further, I recommend you read three articles in this website. Go the the table of contents, and under the heading, Spiritual life" select and read about salvation, sin, and assurance of salvation. 

Digest those studies, and keep reading at least one article per week for a few weeks. Keep praying to God, and also read a chapter of the Bible a day, starting with Romans. Get an easy translation to understand. Let the Holy Spirit work in your life. 

God bless you M, and stay in touch. 

Dr. Newman