Not all Christians believe as I do – in “once saved, always saved”. I have written a book on it – not to convince people but to assure those who want to believe it but are afraid it’s not true. I can tell you: it’s true.
I have not always believed in once saved, always saved. I was brought up in a church that not only believed the opposite. They even taught that the doctrine of eternal security was “born in hell”. (Never mind that they sang “Amazing Grace” all the time, overlooking the fact that John Newton the Calvinist believed in once saved, always saved!). What changed me: a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ driving in my car on October 31, 1955. I was a student at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University) and pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Palmer, Tennessee. The person of Jesus appeared before me as if before my very eyes although I know now it was a vision. But he was more real to me than anything around me. An hour or so later I entered into a rest of soul that I did not know was possible in this present life. Such peace. Joy. Assurance. Assurance? YES. I was given what I would absolutely call an infallible assurance of my salvation. I knew then (57 years ago) I could never be lost. People around me said, “You will change your mind about that”. I knew then I wouldn’t and I never did.
Why am I telling this to you? Two reasons: (1) Hebrews 11 – which I have been focusing on for a while – describes people who were not only saved but came into their inheritance. (2) All the Scriptures people use to refute eternal security refer not to losing one’s salvation but losing one’s inheritance. Every single one of them. Do not be discouraged when you read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:4 or Hebrews 6:4-6 and think you can be lost and go to Hell after being truly saved. Not one of these refer to salvation but inheritance.
You will not be totally free to pursue God’s best for you as long as you think you could lose your salvation. “Christ has set us free” (Gal.5:1).
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Believing God available at a discount for this month.
