This question is especially directed to the new Christian, though it can rear it’s head for us all at various times in our lives. You do remember that the devil does NOT want you saved… or if you insist, that you are ineffective as a Christian. The question: were we really and truly saved? Did we say/do the ‘right’ thing(s)? Or have we missed it? Perhaps. unthinkingly, we committed the unpardonable sin (Mark 3:28-29)? Actually you can’t accidently commit the unpardonable sin – it is always a conscious act.
Bottom line really is: Is there evidence in our lives that we did accept the Lordship of Jesus, that our lives changed? I think for some, the answer is a resounding – Yes, absolutely! However there are those who look at themselves and wonder. And it is the lack of evidence that trips us up. And sometimes this is an issue of not seeing the forest for the trees. Remember: first – salvation is never something we are good enough for, or earn, or can accomplish through our own behavior. Salvation is a gift:
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” (Romans10:13, AMP)
“Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].” (Hebrews 7:25, AMP)
“And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, …
we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], .…
But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).” (Ephesians 2:1,3a,4 AMP)
I could stop with these 3 scriptures as evidence for you, but there is sooo much more. God doesn’t stop with who we were, what we did, and how we did it… He has much more for us. If you don’t see the evidences in your life… then you may have stopped on your path. It’s time to start your journey… or continue it.
As for ‘once saved always saved’, there are arguments on both sides of this issue.
“For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have [a]tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come, and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6: 4-6, AMP)
I believe that you are fully saved UNLESS you consciously deny and turn from the Lord. Denying, however, is not complete (in my thinking) because even Peter did this when we was fearful… and then regretted it deeply. Denying, is a continuous act – walking away from your gift of salvation and repudiating the Lordship of Jesus. Then, I believe, we see the fulfillment of the scripture. Remember, the Lord does not force people to accept Him.
Granted this is only a beginning discussion on salvation but it is a foundation from which we can build who we are and our relationship with the Lord. The journey is fantastic (did not say, easy) and it is wonderful because it really and truly never ends… we are always discovering and growing.
