Once Saved Always Saved

nce saved always saved? Have you ever wondered if a Christian will go to hell if he or she murdered someone or committed suicide? Have you ever read a verse in the Bible that seems to suggest that a Christian can lose his or her salvation? What happens if you live an immoral life after you claim to be a Christian? There are verses in the Bible that say Christians must endure to the end. What does that mean? Lord willing, the following discussion will help to answer some of these questions and comfort those children of God who fear they are no longer Christians. For the people who think they are Christians but are ignoring the truth and are producing bad fruit, this is a serious lesson.

Many Are False. Every year, farmers around the world plant seed in order to grow food for their families and others. An experienced farmer knows that he must properly prepare the land in order to have a good crop. If the soil is hard, has many rocks or weeds, the seed will never grow to maturity. The farmer’s success depends on his careful preparation of the soil. This is a truth we understand well.

The same is also true in the spiritual realm. In Matthew 13:1-30, Jesus tells us what happens when the Word of God or statements in the Bible are presented to people. In the parable, Jesus uses "seed" to symbolize the Word of God and He describes four kinds of soils or four kinds of people (Matt. 13:19).

The first kind of person is like hard soil. After seed falls on it, the seed dies. This person’s heart is so hard that he or she does not accept or understand the statements of the Word of God.

The second person is like rocky soil. The person appears to be a Christian; he/she is looks real, but he/she is not a mature plant (a Christian). Persecution and suffering from family, neighbors or civil authorities will later reveal that they are not real. Jesus told His disciples to expect suffering (John 15:20). Suffering, persecution and trials are part of the Christian life (James 1:2-4). This is a reason many are unwilling to step out and trust Christ.

The third person represents soil with thorns. This person never follows God, that is, becomes a Christian, because of the concerns of this life and his or her pursuit of wealth and material goods. For this person the concerns for becoming successful, securing money, or obtaining acceptance are only a few examples of the hindrances Jesus is talking about.

. . . the good soil . . . is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. (NASB) Matt. 13:23

Here the Word of God is received and the person grows to a full plant and produces fruit. Some Christians will have more fruit in their lives than others. This soil produces a real Christian.

From this parable it is clear that a Christian is one who produces at least some fruit. Jesus says the first three kinds of soil are false Christians. Now some will disagree with this conclusion because they believe the last three types of soil represent Christians and the second and third soils are Christians who lose their salvation. But this conclusion misunderstands Jesus’ term of “producing of fruit.”

Fruit Is The Mark. Jesus uses the term “fruit” in a number of passages throughout the gospels (Matt. 3:8-10; 7:16-19; 12:33; 21:19, 42-43; Luke 3:8-9; 6:43-46; 13:6-9; John 15:1-8; 15:16). This was a favorite word for our Lord. He consistently uses “fruit” to refer to true Christians because true Christians produce fruit; false Christians do not.

And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (NASB) Matt. 3:10

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (NASB) Matt. 7:16-23

Jesus’ message is clear. Good fruit is spiritual fruit. Bad fruit means there is no spiritual life. Later in Matthew 13:1-30, Jesus simply uses the presence or absence of “fruit” as a mark of a true Christian (Luke 8:15). Jesus is saying that a person who is a true Christian will have fruit or good fruit which is spiritual life.