How to Explain to a Protestant Believer the Error of the Idea of “Once Saved Always Saved”

The error seen by Orthodox Christians in the idea of “once saved, always saved” is best explained by emphasizing the necessity of synergy (cooperation) between human free will and God’s grace in the process of salvation. Here are some key points:

1. Synergy: Orthodoxy teaches that salvation is a dynamic process involving both God’s grace and human cooperation. Salvation is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey. While God’s grace initiates and sustains salvation, humans must respond with faith, repentance, and ongoing commitment to God’s commandments.

2. Free Will: Orthodox theology emphasizes that humans have free will and must continually choose to follow Christ. The idea of “once saved, always saved” undermines the importance of free will and the possibility of falling away from faith through sin or apostasy.

3. Theosis (Deification): Salvation in Orthodoxy is often understood as theosis, the process of becoming more like God. This process requires continuous spiritual effort, participation in the sacraments, prayer, and repentance. It is a transformative journey that cannot be fully accomplished in a single moment.

4. Scriptural Basis: Orthodox Christians would point to various Scripture passages that indicate the need for perseverance and the possibility of falling from grace. For example:

•Philippians 2:12: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

•Hebrews 3:12-14: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

•Matthew 24:13: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

5. Church Fathers: The teachings of the early Church Fathers emphasize the ongoing nature of salvation and the need for continual faithfulness and repentance. They teach that Christians must remain vigilant and steadfast in their faith throughout their lives.

6. Sacramental Life: In Orthodoxy, the sacraments (especially Confession and the Eucharist) are essential means by which believers receive God’s grace and are strengthened in their spiritual journey. Regular participation in these sacraments is necessary to maintain and grow in one’s relationship with God.

By presenting these points, an Orthodox Christian can suggest that the Protestant doctrine of “once saved, always saved” oversimplifies the complex and ongoing nature of salvation as understood in the Orthodox tradition.

A Protestant defending the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” (also known as eternal security) might present the following points:

1. Scriptural Assurance: Protestants often cite specific Bible verses that they believe clearly support the idea of eternal security. Key passages include:

• John 10:28-29: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

• Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Ephesians 1:13-14: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

2. Nature of Salvation: Many Protestants believe that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned or lost by human actions. They emphasize that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross fully atones for all sins—past, present, and future. Once a person is truly saved, their salvation is secure because it is based on Christ’s perfect work, not on their own efforts.

3. New Creation: Protestants may argue that when a person is saved, they become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is seen as a fundamental change that ensures the believer’s eternal security.

4. God’s Faithfulness: They would assert that God is faithful to keep His promises. If God promises eternal life to those who believe in Jesus, then He will be faithful to preserve them. This assurance is based on God’s unchanging nature and His commitment to His covenant.

5. Understanding of Perseverance: Some Protestants differentiate between those who genuinely possess faith and those who only profess faith. They believe that those who are truly saved will persevere in their faith until the end because of the work of the Holy Spirit within them. Those who fall away may not have been truly saved to begin with (1 John 2:19).

6. Context of Warnings: While acknowledging the numerous warnings in the New Testament about falling away, Protestants might interpret these as hypothetical or as means to encourage believers to examine themselves and strive to live faithfully, rather than as indications that salvation can be lost.

By presenting these points, a Protestant would argue that the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is well-supported by Scripture and is consistent with the nature of God’s grace and promises.