Once Saved, but not Always Saved

There is a grave misconception in the Body of Christ that once you become saved you cannot lose your salvation. This, my brothers and sisters is incorrect. 

The old saying, "once saved, always saved" is not biblical. You can, in fact, lose your salvation; meaning that you can be saved at one time, but then lose your salvation and go to Hell. This is significant, because there are more than a few professing believers in the church that, unbeknownst to themselves, are headed straight to Hell. Why? Because even though at one time they may have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, somewhere during the course of their relationship with Christ, they got off track and subsequently forfeited their relationship with God and their eternal salvation as well. 

This is not a popular teaching, but a necessary one; because, as stated earlier, there are several people going to church that are sincere about their faith in Christ, but there's only one problem, they're sincerely wrong. Yes saints, you can accept Christ and then lose your salvation and go to Hell.

How does this happen? Well let's look at Scripture. In Hebrews chapter 6 it says, "it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.".

This scripture is loaded, because it talks about the possibility of someone having the Holy Ghost (which is the seal of salvation, Ephesians 1), falling away, and not being able to be renewed again unto repentance. The reference to being renewed "again" implies that they were already renewed once. Repentance is the first step towards salvation (Acts 2, Acts 20). The reference to being "renewed again unto repentance", suggests that they had already repented towards God once, but they're not in position to repent again. This scripture shows how you can be saved and thus LOSE YOUR SALVATION.

What is the basis of one losing their salvation? Jesus says in the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of Mark, that the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is the denial of the leadership of the Holy Spirit for your life. God has mercy and grace for your sins, even the habitual ones that you commit over and over again (Romans 7). But what He doesn't have tolerance for is rebellion and defiance (1Samuel 15). 

God knows we're subject to make mistakes and go against His Divine Will. That's why He sent His Son to die for our sins (John 3). But God also sent His Holy Spirit to convict us of sin (John 16). When you no longer allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of those things in your life that go against the Divine Will of God, you stand in danger of judgment and consequently, the possibility of losing your salvation; or to put it bluntly, going to Hell. 

There are several believers that, for whatever reason, have allowed Satan to deceive them into thinking that what God said was wrong, is alright for them. This is outright rebellion to God. If you stumble "490 times" and go to the Lord and confess your sin, His Grace and Mercy is sufficient (Matthew 18). But once you start saying, "I'm going to continue to think this way, I'm going to continue to behave this way" regardless of what the Word and the Holy Spirit say? You're headed to Hell!

As I prepare to close, a woman of God shared a story with me about a preacher friend that they knew that recently passed away. Before the preacher passed, he had been persistently promiscuous with various members of his church. The woman of God gave him a prophetic warning that, if he didn't "mend his ways," he would be going to Hell. This was a man of God, a pastor, someone who believed in the Lord, but his salvation was in jeopardy because of his refusal to receive the conviction of the Holy Spirit in this area of his life. 

Saints, don't let this be your commentary in regards to relationship with Christ. Let the Holy Spirit convict you and renew you so that you may be conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8). For remember, Once Saved, but not Always Saved.