Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 8/19/2006

Question
How do Baptists justify "once saved, always saved"? How is that Biblical to say a few magic words and then consider yourself saved no matter what you do the rest of your life?

Answer
Hi Hank

Thank you so much for this question.  I see that you did not like my response in the Protestant category, so I will try to do better here.  I am sorry that I was not able to help you.

1.  The first thing we need to understand is that works cannot pay for sin.  The only way to pay for sin is death.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death...

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  Keeping the law then cannot do anything to help someone merit heaven.

Romans 3:21-28
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;   26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 4:1-8


What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

WOW look at that verse!  If we could be righteous by keeping God's law, then Jesus died for nothing.

3.  Salvation then comes by FAITH, not a perfectly worded prayer.


Romans 5:1-2


Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

4.  Prayer simply expresses the faith that accesses God's grace that was purchased through Jesus' Blood.

Romans 10:13-14
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

5.  Since it was faith that saved us, it cannot not be works that keeps us saved.

Galatians 3:1-3

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So in conclusion, the reason why we believe that one cannot lose his salvation by his actions is because we do not believe that one merits salvation in the first place by his actions.  

If you not buy into the first premise that salvation comes by faith alone, then it would make sense that you would not believe that one one is saved he is always saved.  Even if you disagree, I hope that this has helped you understand the premise from our point of view.

In Christ
Pastor Don