But What About “Once Saved, Always Saved”?

Protestants who hold to “Once Saved, Always Saved” may insist salavation is guarenteed for believers, referencing John 10:27-28:

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand."

The language is similar to Paul’s in Romans 8:39 when he says that nothing in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Both of these passages assert the same fact that no one is capable of removing you from the grace of God. No one, that is, except you!

These verses do not mean that we are incapable of severing our relationship with God.  Further reading in John, and we’ll see why.

Because five chapters later in John 15:6, Christ tells the apostles at the Last Supper to remain in his love.  If we keep His commandments, we will remain in his love. But he who does not remain in his love is “cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned”.

Jesus told the apostles to remain in his love, because just as we enter freely into a relationship with Christ, we are free to leave him.  And Paul warns believers in his letter to the Galatians about sins of the flesh:

…I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Gal 5:21b)

Keep in mind, Paul’s warning is to believers that they can lose their salvation by persisting in sin. The Protestant belief in OSAS may be used as an excuse to live in sin which is actually separating them from God.

This “Obstinacy in Sin” is the firm will to continue in error even after receiving the light and help of the Holy Spirit. Lacking any cooperation with this grace, there is no real transformation. This is when a person creates his own criteria for ethical judgment, or simply doesn’t adopt any ethics at all, and in this way separates himself from God’s will.  Furhermore, the concept of Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) leads to the sin of “Presumption of Salvation” as only God can judge and save.

As a result, OSAS believers may remain obstinate in sin, refusing the call for “good works”, and therefore rejecting the will of God in their lives. All the while, insisting on God's forgiveness with no repentence. This heart posture could result in "Final Impenitence", and therefore the loss of God’s mercy in the end.  We should all heed to Paul call for us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12-13) while taking security in knowing that there are “no limits to the mercy of God.” (CCC 1864) for those who are repentent.