One of the most commonly presented arguments given in defense
of the teaching of "once saved always saved" goes like this:
This argument has both truth and error mixed into it. Certainly, at the point of salvation,
one receives eternal life, but does this necessitate or guarantee the possession of that life
eternally?
Please note that the crux of this argument centers around the possession of eternal life,
and not if eternal life is anything other than eternal! While eternal life will always be eternal, the
possession of such is something altogether different. This is easily proven by noting that eternal
life was eternal even before a saved person ever possessed it. Does it not follow then, that eternal
life will still remain eternal, even if one doesn't continue to possess it, which is clearly a possibility
from 1 Jn. 3:15?
In conclusion, the common argument cited above is easily refuted when one realizes the
controversy regarding the believer's security revolves around the possession of eternal life -- not
if eternal life is anything other than eternal!
When one gets saved, he receives eternal life. If that life could be lost, it wouldn't be
eternal! Therefore, once a person is saved, he is always saved.
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life
abiding [remaining] in him (New King James).
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