Once saved always saved?
I’ve heard the phrase ‘back slide’ so often, in relation to people who once claimed to be Christians but reverted back to their old ways. There are even alter-calls that deal with this particular state: “If you’ve backslidden, raise your hand and we’ll pray for you to recommit your life to God.”
The question that I’ve been asking myself is: were these so-called “back sliders” ever truly Christian? What does it mean to be a Christian? Does it mean that you said The Sinners Prayer? Does it mean that you were sorry for your sins and confessed them to God? Does it mean that you believed in God?
I prayed The Sinner’s Prayer when I was five-years- old because I was scared of the concept of hell. It was a plea to God out of fear. But, even then, I doubted my own salvation. I used to pray The Sinner’s Prayer every night before I went to bed because after the first time I didn’t feel any different. My mother finally said to me, “Nicky, you only have to pray that prayer once and you’re saved.” This gave me all the relief in the world because it meant that being a Christian was a bargain you made with God. Once the bargain was made, you never had to think of Him again. I was able to go to church and I was able to say the right things, without ever thinking about God’s role in my life. I thought <i>being</i> a Christian meant being <i>good</i>. So I was a “goody goody,” a “teacher’s pet,” a “mummy’s girl.” I had to have everything just right and I had to do everything myself. I was full of pride—the WORST kind of sin: the sin that was Satan’s, a once glorious angel, downfall.
When I was thirteen-years-old, I was confronted with the difference between myself and other Christians when I joined my church’s youth group. I’d become a nasty, hard-hearted person. I tried to be funny by putting other people down. I picked friends that I considered to be “popular.” I was obsessed with looking good and wearing the right clothes and having the attention of different boys. I stood with my arms crossed during the singing at church and wrote notes to my friends during the sermon. The Christians that I encountered in the youth group knew Jesus. They actually spoke with Him (not just at dinnertime) and they sang the songs at church to Him. Then, one night I was standing in the middle of the crowd before the stage at church, where all the young kids were singing and raising their hands (in a symbol of surrender to God), and I had a sudden and unexplainable desire to know God more intimately. It was like one moment I was one person and then next I had a completely different way of seeing things. Once I was blind, but then I saw… So, I prayed in my head, in the midst of all those people, and agreed with God about my poor state and need of Him.
There were many struggles from that point on. Like a marriage, I was getting used to living life with someone and surrendering my own desires. I’ve rebelled. I’ve resisted. I’ve hurt myself and grieved the Holy Spirit. But one thing never changes: I never stop hearing the voice of the Lord. He never gives up on me.
So what does it mean to be saved? What does it mean to be a Christian?
This is what I know: you may not be a Christian, but you might be saved. You may not live for Jesus now, but you might one day. God doesn’t exist within time the way we do. When He died on the cross, those who were chosen to be saved were saved on that day. They were given new life the moment Jesus was resurrected.
The bible tells us that we will be surprised by who doesn’t make it into heaven. In Matthew 7:21-23 we read, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…Many will say to me on that day, ‘…did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’ ” In other words, not everyone who prays the sinner’s prayer and goes to church will be saved. The person can outwardly do amazing things for God, they might give all their money to the church, sing on the stage, preach a sermon, experience supernatural events… But, in the end, what counts is a heart that desires God. When God asks something of you, do you say no? Do you refuse to forgive? Do you refuse to serve? When you face trials, do you blame God?
‘Saved’ is not a choice, it is a reality. I really don’t see as how we have much “choice” in the matter, but thank God for that! The bible tells us that God not only promises to never leave us, but He promises to never allow us to leave Him. We are compared with sheep who in their ignorance might stray from the flock, but the loving shepherd will bring them back (John 10:27:28).
The question isn’t ‘how can a person be saved?’, nor is it ‘can they lose that salvation?’. The question is, do you want to be saved? If you want Jesus, then you have your answer.
