I received the following letter in February of 2007 from one of my web visitors...
"I have a question that I really have had troubles with. Is it really true that once I'm saved, I will always be saved? I have followed all of the necessary steps for salvation, and I do believe that I am saved. But I have something that's been bothering me. I worry that if I sin after being saved that somehow either separates me from God's eternal love, or proves I was never really saved. For instance, sinning even if I know it's wrong and hate that I do it. Let's say my Mom asks me to take the trash out because she's going out. I don't do it and when she comes home I say I forgot. Even if I know it's wrong and God wants me to do it, but I still don't do it. Not with the intention that "Ah, it's okay, God will forgive me" but with the complete opposite. I feel as if I'm doing something terrible, but I can't bring myself to do what is right. Does this mean I've become separated or proved that I was never saved to begin with? This is really bothering me, and I really need an answer. You definitely know a lot more about the Bible than I do, so I thought you could help me.
Thanks!
-Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the e-mail. I apologize for the delay in responding... lots of e-mails.
Don't confuse Salvation with Christian Living, they are not the same. Lot in the Old Testament was a sinful man, yet God called him just in 2nd Peter 2:7. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, because of the blood that He shed to take away our sins (1st Peter 1:18,19), God sees us through Christ. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 states...
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
So He who knew no sin (Jesus) became as sin, so we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God. Our salvation is of God, not ourselves. When the Bible speaks of "working out your own salvation," notice carefully that it says YOUR, not Gods. Eternal salvation is of God, and we have no part in it except to believe upon Jesus as the Christ. Dr. Jack Hyles has written an excellent book on this issue titled SALVATION IS MORE THAN BEING SAVED. Here's a link to the free online book...
Also, here's a book which exposes the HERESY that God chooses some people to salvation and not others...
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/BTP/Dr_Max_Younce/Salvation/toc.htm
I don't know if you saw my book on Salvation, but here's the link...
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/salvation_webpages/00-introduction.htm
As far as sinning, there is NO such thing as a Christian that doesn't sin. Your words reminded me of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:19...
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."
The Apostle Paul had the same problem Jerry, so we're in good company. All we can do is beg God to help us do right, and stay close to the Word of God daily, as we pass through this sin cursed world (1st John 5:19). Something that helps me is to realize that nothing in this life will matter 100 years from now. Did you ever stop to realize that all 6.3 billion people on this earth will be dead in 125 years? It's a sobering thought that helps me keep focused as a Christian. Only what we do for the Gospel's sake and our Lord will matter then, and that we died in the Lord of course (Revelation 14:13).
Kindest regards,
David J. Stewart
