This is day 20 of a video series called 21 Days of Once Saved Always Saved Salvation Assurance. It’s January 2022 and, in honor of the new year, my church in Marietta GA has asked us to dedicate 21 days to the Lord to draw closer to Him.  Over these 21 days, I’m going through 1 passage of Scripture a day that proclaims our salvation assurance in Christ and shows how salvation can never be lost or forfeited but is held securely in place for us by our heavenly Father so we can have confidence that we are eternally saved.

Today’s passage is two-for: Two verses instead of one because they are so related: Galatians 3:18 and 1 John 2:25:

“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3:18 KJV)

“And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:25 KJV)

Eternal life is God’s own promise. God’s way of salvation has forever been by grace through faith. In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave Abraham a promise that through him, all the nations of the world would be blessed. God was, of course, speaking of Christ, that through Christ, a descendent of Abraham, God’s blessing of salvation would come to all nations.  The Jews at the time of Christ, however, thought that the subsequent law of Moses changed all that, that God’s blessing, their inheritance, now came through obedience to the law. But both Paul and John in these two verses say no: Our inheritance, our salvation, is still based on the promise of God, not on any obedience to the law. 

These two verses share two amazing truths concerning our inheritance, our salvation: That our salvation is a gift of God and that it is based on the promise of God. First, salvation is a gift that is given freely through faith in Christ. Since it is a gift, there’s nothing we do to earn it. There’s nothing we do to get it and nothing we do to keep it. Salvation is a gift that is given freely of God through faith in Christ.

Second, this gift of salvation is based solely on God’s own promise to give it, which means that we can’t mess it up with anything we do or don’t do. It’s not based on our obedience to any laws or commandments. It’s based solely on the promise of God. That means we can’t ruin it because it’s not based on us. It’s based on the promise of God to give eternal life to everyone who believes in Jesus. Grace through faith, eternal life: that’s the gift, that’s the promise. Because we can’t mess it up, that means Once Saved, Always Saved.

So, let’s break these verses down, starting with Paul’s statement to the Galatian church, and we’ll begin with some background on the central problem that was going on in that church, starting in Galatians chapter 1. 

The Problem With The Galatian Church

Paul wrote:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of  Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7 KJV)

Some people had come into the Galatian church with heretical teaching which Paul describes as “another gospel.” It wasn’t the true Gospel, that we are saved by faith in Christ alone. Paul tells the Galatians that:

They were called into the true Gospel – “the grace of Christ” but some were now following “another gospel” which is NOT the true Gospel

So, what was this other gospel? We see it clearly in chapter 4, where Paul says:

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of (for) you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Galatians 4:9-11 KJV)

Right here, we see the central problem that Paul is addressing in his letter.

The Problem: Some thought that their salvation depended on them obeying laws and commandments, instead of believing and resting in the true Gospel – “the grace of Christ.” Paul says they had placed themselves in BONDAGE to laws.

The true Gospel is that salvation is by God’s grace, or unmerited favor, by faith in Christ alone, believing that Christ died for your sins, was buried and then rose again on the third day. Eternal life comes by God’s grace. It is a free gift of God, based on His promise, not on anything we do. But instead of trusting in that, Paul said some believers had placed themselves again in bondage to the law, thinking that, in addition to believing in Christ, they had to observe special days and months and times and years. In other words, they thought that, to keep their salvation, it wasn’t enough just to believe in Christ. They also had to obey laws and commandments, special requirements, whatever those requirements were, or they would not be saved. They had put themselves into bondage, thinking that their obedience was required for them to be saved.  

Paul’s Reply To The Galatian Church

So, Paul replied to the church:

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you… This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3 KJV)

They started by believing salvation was by faith in Christ, of the Spirit, but then became confused (Paul called them foolish, twice), thinking they had to obey laws and commandments to keep their salvation (in other words, they would be saved by their own flesh, their own obedience). 

But Paul corrected them, saying that salvation is NOT dependent on our obedience to any laws, requirements or commandments. 

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:24-26 KJV)

Paul said that the purpose of the law was to bring us to Christ. It was our schoolmaster to lead us to Jesus. How did the law do that? By convicting us of sin. The law was given to show us that we are law breakers, that we all stand guilty of sin before a perfectly holy God. The law showed us that we deserve God’s punishment, not eternal life. The law showed us that we cannot save ourselves, but we need a Savior, Who is Christ. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, show us our need for Christ, so that we might be justified not by obeying laws, but by faith. And now, after the cross, after God’s plan of salvation by grace through faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. We are no longer under any law or any kind of commandments that we have to do to be saved or to stay saved. We are saved entirely by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone.  

Trying to obey laws and commandments only shows that we are sinners in need of Christ. Our justification doesn’t come from obedience but faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under laws and commandments for salvation.

This whole idea among many in the church today that you have to obey Christ’s commandments, or you can lose your salvation, is the exact same problem that Paul was writing to the Galatians about.  

We are NOT saved, nor do we keep ourselves saved, by obeying laws or commandments. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ ALONE!

It is a gift of God, based on His promise, not of works or anything we do. It is based not on our obedience but on the promise of God. We are saved forever by faith in Christ alone. 

If you believe you have to do ANYTHING other than believe in Christ to get saved or to stay saved, 
YOU ARE FOLLOWING ANOTHER GOSPEL, 
not the true Gospel of Christ

If that’s you, then you are just like the Galatians that Paul called “foolish, bewitched.” They were saying, “Yes, I believe in Christ, but I also have to do these other things if I want to be saved. Otherwise, God could still send me to hell.” What other things do you believe are required for your salvation, other than faith in Christ?

• Baptism?
• Following the Ten Commandments?
• Following Christ’s commandments?
• Ridding yourself of all sin, overcoming sin in your life?
• Honoring the Sabbath?
• Confessing sin?
• Tithing?
• The list goes on and on.

In addition to faith in Christ, what have you put yourself in bondage to, thinking you have to do this, or God may not save you? If that’s you, you are not really trusting in Christ to save you. You’re trusting in yourself, your obedience. You really don’t believe the Gospel.

Let me approach this question a different way:

Does This Describe Your Christian Life?

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

Do you find that the Christian life is easy, and that Christ’s burden is light? Are you able to rest in Him with total certainty that He’s going to fulfill His promise and save you?

Or, Like Some Galatians, Are You In Bondage To “Another Gospel?”

Maybe you are thinking: “If I don’t rid my life of sin, confess all sin, and obey every one of Christ’s commands, God will send me to hell.” Does that sound like you? Paul says you are in bondage and the Christian life that you are living is not what Jesus describes here. That’s because you, just like these Galatians, are following another gospel that sounds so good, so right, because it places the burden on you to do your part, but it is a lie. Jesus said His burden is light.

We are saved for all eternity by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Nothing we do contributes to it. Nothing we do sustains is. It’s not up to us. Eternal salvation is based on the promise of God, and it is a gift that comes through faith in Christ alone. Once we place our faith in Christ, nothing we do or fail to do can mess it up.

But what if we sin? Can’t sin cause us to lose our salvation?

NO, Absolutely NOT!

Sin Cannot Cause You To Lose Your Salvation

Sin has forever been dealt with on the cross. But what about those really scary warnings? Let’s look.

” Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

God’s Word is clear and undeniable: Absolutely no one with any of these sins on their record will inherit the Kingdom of God. God is perfectly holy and He will not allow ANY sin in His perfect presence. But Paul goes on:

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

When we place our faith in Christ, believing that He paid for our sins, died and was buried, and then rose from the dead, at that very moment, all of our sins (past, present, and future) are immediately nailed to the cross, as it says in Colossians 2:13-14. Our record is forever wiped clean. We are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit.

Notice that these are all in the present tense. It doesn’t say: You WERE washed, you WERE sanctified, you WERE justified. No. It says:  You ARE washed, you ARE sanctified, and you ARE justified. This present tense means that it is something that is happening, not in the past, but always in the present and is ongoing. We are continually being washed, sanctified and justified, for all eternity, because of Christ. Even though, as believers, we still walk in the flesh sometimes and do these very sins that are listed here, our official record before God’s throne remains clean because of Christ and we are continually being washed, sanctified and justified in God’s sight. As believers in Christ, we stand forever in God’s perfect righteousness, not our own. I covered this topic of imputed righteousness in day 12 of this series if you want to go back to that.

So, Paul concludes with this:

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

If all things are now lawful to Paul, then no sin can condemn him. Why is that? Because, through God’s grace through faith in Christ, he is continually being washed, sanctified and justified. It is a gift of God by His grace that is based on God’s promise and comes through faith, not obedience. So, sin can never cause a saved believer to lose salvation. Sin has already been dealt with forever on the cross.

Paul says the same thing in Galatians 5:

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13 KJV)

We have been called unto liberty, which means sin can no longer condemn us or cause us to be sent to hell. But Paul says we are not to use that liberty as an occasion for the flesh. Even though we have liberty as far as salvation is concerned, we should walk in holiness before God as far as our discipleship is concerned.

This again comes down to:

Salvation vs Discipleship

Salvation and discipleship are not the same.

Salvation is based on Faith.

• A gift of God through faith in Christ.
• It cannot be earned.
• Not of works.
• Requires only believing in Jesus.
• Based on faith alone.
• Can never be lost or forfeited.

Discipleship is based on Works.

• Follows salvation. It’s not a part of it.
• Is about becoming like Jesus.
• Taking up your cross daily
• Obeying Him
• Doing good works
• Walking in holiness.
• Based on works (can earn rewards)
• Rewards can be lost.

The problem with the Galatians and today with Lordship Salvationists is that they have mixed discipleship and salvation together, thinking it’s all part of salvation. When you do that, the true Gospel of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone gets lost and becomes a gospel of works, where salvation is no longer dependent on faith alone but on works, on obedience. It becomes “another gospel” that is not the Gospel at all. Obedience is important, but that’s discipleship and has nothing to do with salvation.

But what about unbelief? 
Can’t we lose our salvation if we stop believing?

IMPOSSIBLE!

We’ve looked at this in a number of lessons in this series. When we are saved, God does not eradicate our free will. Instead, God works alongside us to keep us from falling.

God Has Many “Means” That He Uses To Keep Us From Falling

• Warnings in His Word (that’s why those warnings are there)
• The sealing of the Holy Spirit inside a believer
• The work of the Holy Spirit to lead & teach us
• Warnings & encouragement from believers
• Teachings in the Word and in the church
• The Body of Christ working in your life
• God’s chastisement and discipline
• Allowing consequences of sin to happen
• Allowing sickness or disease
• Angels working in our lives
• Intercessory prayer
• Lifting God’s protection, allowing spiritual oppression into our lives
• Early death – “There is a sin unto death:” 1 John 5:16

God is a good Father Who knows how to keep us in the faith. The strongest of these means for keeping us from falling into unbelief is the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

• The sealing of the Holy Spirit inside a believer
• The work of the Holy Spirit to lead & teach us

It is God Who Is Able To Keep You From Falling

Jesus said:

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16 KJV)

The very moment we place our faith in Christ and are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. He indwells us and seals us. From that moment on, Jesus said that He abides with us forever, never to leave us. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit for a reason. He said:

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me:” (John 15:26 KJV)

The Holy Spirit is there inside us to testify about Jesus. And He is there inside us forever. Think about that. When a saved believer begins to drift into unbelief, the Holy Spirit is still right there inside, testifying of Christ. There is absolutely no way that that saved believer will end up being deceived and becoming an unbeliever. The Holy Spirit will continually help that believer see the truth about Christ so that the believer stays in the faith and doesn’t fall away into unbelief.

Or, as Jude put it:

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 KJV)

It is God Who keeps us from falling. 
We don’t keep ourselves from falling. 
Instead, we REST in Him.

God has taken the responsibility onto Himself to keep us from falling and He uses all the means I listed and more to do it. 

There is no such thing in the New Testament 
as a saved believer who falls back into unbelief.

It is impossible.

Once Saved, Always Saved!

Salvation can never be lost through sin or by forfeited by unbelief.

So, we see that:

Eternal Life Is God’s Promise

“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3:18 KJV)

“And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:25 KJV)

The real question is this:

Have you received this promise for yourself?

Are you sure you are saved? Or have you been like the Galatians, following another gospel, one of works and your own obedience instead of faith in Christ alone?

Being saved comes down to this:

Salvation = God’s Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Nothing more. Nothing less. There are no other requirements to be saved than to believe in Jesus. The question is: do you believe this? Or are you like those who are not trusting in the finished work of Christ but are trying to prove yourself worthy through your own obedience. Well, you’re not worthy! You never will be. None of us are. It is Christ who is worthy. We stand in His obedience by faith, not our own. We stand in His righteousness by faith, not our own. He makes us worthy. He makes us righteous.

Once you believe in Him, you are born again, and you are forever a child of God. Our Father is a good Father Who will never abandon you but will preserve you in the faith and never let you go. 

If you are not certain about your salvation, time is getting very late. Don’t take the chance of missing out on God. Prophetically, the current “Age of Grace” where God is giving people time to turn to Him for forgiveness is almost over. When it ends, it will be too late. God’s judgment is coming. Those who are not saved will be separated from God for all eternity. Don’t take chances with God. Don’t play with Him. Take Him seriously.

If you are not 100% sure you are saved, don’t put it off any longer. 

Making Sure You Are Saved Is As Easy As ABC

Admit to God that you have sinned.

Believe that Jesus, God’s Son, died to pay for
your sins 100%, was buried and rose from the dead.

Call upon Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you.

If you make that decision to call upon Him, God gives you this assurance:

“For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 KJV)

If you are still not sure, I’ll include a link to a video I did called, “What is the Gospel (in 6 Words)?”

Thank you for watching.