Scriptures supporting eternal security, or “once saved, always saved,” emphasize that salvation is a permanent gift from God, guaranteed by Christ’s finished work, the seal of the Holy Spirit, and God’s power rather than human effort.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life….”.
- Jesus states that whoever believes has eternal life and has passed from death to life, avoiding judgment.
John 6:37-40 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means[certainly not] cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” .
- Jesus assures that all the Father gives Him will come to Him, and He will lose none of them.
John 10:27-29 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
- Jesus promises that His sheep will never perish and no one can snatch them out of His or the Father’s hand.
Romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
- The clear implication: ALL whom God called will be justified … and ALL whom God justified will be glorified.
- We are in the Church because we have been justified, so we in the Church will be glorified.
Romans 8:38-39 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Paul declares that nothing in all creation — neither life, death, nor powers — can separate believers from the love of God in Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee[down payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Believers are sealed … in Christ … with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance until they possess it.
- Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Philippians 1:3-6 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; .
- Who has begun the good work?
- Who will complete it (the good work)?
- Paul is confident that He (God) who began a good work (of salvation) in believers will bring it to completion.
Hebrews 7:23-25 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save [h]to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
- Jesus is able to save completely (not for part of the journey, but for all of the journey home) those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance [b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Believers are kept (guarded) through faith for salvation ready to be revealed.
- But notice how they are kept … by the power of God … through faith.
- It is God’s Work: Salvation depends on God’s grace and power, not human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 9:16).
- The Nature of Eternal Life: If it can be lost, it was not “eternal” to begin with.
- The Seal of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the security deposit/guarantee of final salvation (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).