A common doctrine believed among many is that of “once saved forever saved”. This simply means that once you believe in Jesus’ and confess Him as Lord, you can never lose salvation. Your place in heaven is secured forever, and there is nothing you can do that will ever land you in hell or the lake of fire. But what does the Bible actually say?
First of all, there is no text of Scripture which says that nothing or no act of sin can send a believer to hell. Rather, Jesus said the direct opposite: “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 will enter” (Matthew 7:21). The word translated “everyone” is the Greek word “pas”, and it indeed means everyone; referring to “all” or “every kind of”; this includes believers in Jesus and non-believers alike. You can believe in Jesus and call on the name of the Lord and be saved (cf. Romans 10:13). But if all you do afterwards is to neglect God’s will and follow after the devil and sin, you exclude yourself from entering heaven (cf. Matthew 7:21). Jesus affirmed that His statement wasn’t just applicable to those living in His day but to all the living, even unto the end of the age. To illustrate this truth, Jesus gave us a peek into what will happen at the end of this world and on the judgment day, where we will receive our due reward for the things done in the body, whether good or bad (cf. Acts 17:31, John 5:22-23, Romans 2:25-26, 2 Cor 5:10): “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 will enter. “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’ (Matthew 7:21-23). Interestingly, Jesus did not deny the veracity of their claims that they had prophesied and cast out demons in His name. Neither did He say that they were to depart into the lake of fire (cf. Matthew 25:41) because they had the audacity to lie in His presence. Rather it was because they made a practice of sin, and this was given to us as proof that you can call Him Lord and not do His will, and receive the lake of fire as your reward (cf. Mathew 24:41, Mathew 7:21-23). It’s an account of this that Jesus calls us not to just hear His words but to put them into practice (read Matthew 7:24-27).
Paul reiterated this same truth Jesus taught in his letter to the church in Galatia: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). It is worthy of note that this double warning wasn’t written to unbelievers but to the church. The Greek word translated kingdom is “basileia”, which does not only mean royal power, kingship, or dominion but also the territory (or place) subject to the rule of a king. It also refers to the reign of Christ, and this definitely includes the reign of Christ when He returns to reign over the earth in the Millennium and beyond (cf. Revelation 11:15, Revelation 20:4-6). The word translated “inherit” is the Greek word “kleronomeo”, which also means to become an heir as well as to become partaker of”. Thus, in Galatians 5:19-21, the Scriptures admonish the church that to make a practice of the deeds of the flesh is also to deny yourself the blessing of partaking of the actual place or territory where God rules, called heaven (Isaiah 66:1 2 Corinthians 12:2) as well as of the reign of Christ and the Father in the Millennium and beyond (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation chapters 21 &22). This explicitly talks about being excluded from heaven, the Millennium, and the new earth, and thereby having a place in hell and the lake of fire. It is a direct repetition of what Jesus had already taught: “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 will enter” (Matthew 7:21).
Dr. Kwadwo Omari
October 19, 2022
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.