What is the difference between eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints?

[JLB]

If even one man or woman receives eternal life and then forfeits it through sin or apostasy, will they not perish? And by doing so, do they not make Jesus’ words a lie?

Of course not.

Maybe you could share the scripture you are referring to so we can examine it to see what you mean.



Eternal life is knowing Him.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3

We who are in Christ are joined to Him as one spirit with Him.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

Being in Christ, joined to Him being one spirit with Him is being one spirit with the Spirit of life in Christ:
The Spirit of eternal life.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2


Those who are in Christ in which they are joined to Him, are joined to the Spirit of life in Christ.


Do you understand this and agree?


IOW’s we have eternal life because we are joined to His life spiritually even though our bodies will die.

 

[Phoebe]

Of course not.

Maybe you could share the scripture you are referring to so we can examine it to see what you mean.



Eternal life is knowing Him.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3

We who are in Christ are joined to Him as one spirit with Him.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

Being in Christ, joined to Him being one spirit with Him is being one spirit with the Spirit of life in Christ:
The Spirit of eternal life.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2


Those who are in Christ in which they are joined to Him, are joined to the Spirit of life in Christ.


Do you understand this and agree?


IOW’s we have eternal life because we are joined to His life spiritually even though our bodies will die.

I did share the scripture, read the post.

 

[civic]

Here is a question no one has considered.

God hates divorce but allowed it because of the hardness of man’s heart.

Jesus is the bridegroom and husband we are His bride.

Would Jesus ever divorce His bride/ wife ?

Jesus would never sign any divorce papers or allow a divorce. He forgives , restores and Hus bride is without spot or wrinkle

 

[Phoebe]

The problem is that JESUS stated that salvation is a life-long process of obedience to Him.

Your mixing salvation and sanctification together when they are two different things.

Salvation is a one-time gift given to us by God.​

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Sanctification is a lifelong process.​

Our salvation is a one-time event. Our sanctification, on the other hand, is a moment-by-moment process that does not end until we leave this earth.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

From the moment we receive God’s gift of salvation, He begins to work in our lives through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus.

 

[Bassnah]

Your mixing salvation and sanctification together when they are two different things.

Salvation is a one-time gift given to us by God.​

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Sanctification is a lifelong process.​

Our salvation is a one-time event. Our sanctification, on the other hand, is a moment-by-moment process that does not end until we leave this earth.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

From the moment we receive God’s gift of salvation, He begins to work in our lives through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus.

Many believe in a mixed gospel of grace plus works. Salvation doesn't depend on works, but solely on God's gift of grace.

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We are not saved by doing good works, we’re saved by trusting in what Christ has already done on the cross. That’s the heart of the gospel.

But real saving faith is never just an empty claim. If someone truly believes, their life will begin to reflect that. Not perfectly, but genuinely. God gives that person a new heart, new desires, and the Holy Spirit begins to produce good fruit such as love, obedience, and holiness.

So when someone says they’re a Christian but lives in rebellion, mistreats others, and shows no evidence of change, we have reason to question whether their faith is real. As James says, faith without works is dead. But the point is this: works don’t save you, faith does. But saving faith will always result in works.

Good works are the fruit of Salvation, NOT the root.

 

[360watt]

The three different terms (eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints) are often used interchangeably. However, there are subtle differences between them even though they basically mean the same thing – that a person cannot lose his salvation. Critics of eternal security in Christ often assert various challenges to the position, including misrepresentations and incomplete representation of the position. Nevertheless, though I cannot find any “official” definition for each of the three terms, by looking through theological dictionaries, various websites, writings, etc., I’ve come up with the following information.

1. Eternal Security is the teaching that all who are Christians and are truly regenerated are eternally secure in their salvation and will never fall away because their salvation is dependent on Christ’s faithfulness and work. It was Jesus who completely redeemed them of all their sins and their actions, and goodness does not maintain their salvation. It is God who secures the believer. But, this does not mean those thus saved will not fall into sin. Instead, though they may backslide, they will never fully turn from God and fall out of the state of his grace. Furthermore, it means God will work in the conviction and discipline of the believer who backslides.
2. Perseverance of the Saints is often equated with eternal security. It means that once a person is truly born again, God will work through the person so that the person will persevere throughout his life and not lose his salvation. It emphasizes God’s work and ability to perfect the Christian (Philippians 1:6) and that Christians are sealed permanently with Him (Ephesians 1:13-14).
3. Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) is the position that no matter what a person does he will remain saved. He is always saved once he is saved. This position also includes the reality of regeneration since anyone who is truly saved is also truly regenerated. Regeneration produces in the person a desire to serve God and avoid sin (Romans 7:18-25). However, like eternal security, those who adhere to once saved always saved acknowledge that Christians can backslide.

Critics of eternal security often cite various verses in an attempt to show that a Christian can lose his salvation. The logic is that a Christian can turn his back on God and stop believing, or do enough bad things to disqualify him from being saved. These verses are addressed in the CARM section dealing with eternal security. Furthermore, these same critics often state that if a person believes he cannot lose his salvation, then it is a license to sin. This is not the position of those who hold to eternal security. We are regenerated; and because of regeneration from God, we war against our sin (Romans 7:18-25). We do not consider it a license to sin because we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). Furthermore, anyone who claims to be a Christian and purposely uses God’s grace in order to sin is demonstrating that he is not regenerate because he is acting in a manner that contradicts regeneration (1 John 2:4).

Matt Slick

Yeah..so what usually comes with Perseverance of the Saints.. (which I think should be preservation of the saved).. is backloading works into salvation.

This means that it is only the continuously faithful..or the pre-chosen..that actually are once saved always saved.

It's saying a saved person WILL do good works. Not that they may if they rely on Jesus who has indwelt them with His Spirit.

So this is where people sometimes think OSAS is Calvinism.

But true OSAS doctrine doesn't say a saved person is guaranteed to be faithful (endure to the end) .. but that if they have been saved..they are forever secure and their behaviour isn't attached to their justification.

'He who endures to the end will be saved'..this verse isn't about justification, but deliverance from trials.

 

[JLB]

I did share the scripture, read the post.

I was asking you to share the scripture that said our salvation was “eternally secure”?

The scripture you quoted doesn’t contain the phrase “eternally secure.”


The scripture you used was John 10:28.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.


There is nothing here that mentions eternally secure, especially since the context which states the condition by which a person receives eternal life.

Notice the word “and” that I emphasized.

And is a conjunction word that ties one thought together with another.

Here is the complete statement.


My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28


Hearing and obeying His voice so that we follow Him and stay with Him is the prerequisite to being given eternal life, and the protection from being snatched out of His hand.


Jesus gives an example of one of His sheep who chose to wander away from Him, in which he became lost.

• Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7


Notice that His sheep no longer followed Him and ended up becoming lost.


I think you will agree that the lost need salvation.


So we see that because we are His sheep, doesn’t mean we are automatically eternally secure.


We must learn to obey Him.


Eternal salvation is promised to those who obey Him; who hear His voice and follow Him.


And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
Hebrews 5:9

 

[GodsGrace]

Your mixing salvation and sanctification together when they are two different things.

Salvation is a one-time gift given to us by God.​

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Sanctification is a lifelong process.​

Our salvation is a one-time event. Our sanctification, on the other hand, is a moment-by-moment process that does not end until we leave this earth.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

From the moment we receive God’s gift of salvation, He begins to work in our lives through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus.

Of course you're right.
Sanctification is a life-long process.

So, let's say that life-long process is interrupted because you've decided to go back to your former sinful life...
or you've decided that God doesn't really exist....

are you still saved if there is no sanctification?

Philippians 1:6 sounds wonderful, as do all the verses YOU would post.

But, if Philippians 1:6 meant what you THINK it means...
then it would make Calvinists be correct in their theology.

It would take away our freedom to leave God if we so choose.

If someone wants to depart from the faith....
fall from the faith....
Not continue in the faith...

he is perfectly free to do so.

At the cost of his salvation.

Jesus said to be careful before we decide to follow Him.
Why be careful??
Why count the cost?



Luke 14:28-35
28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 "Otherwise *, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 "So then, none * of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
35 "It is useless * either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 

[JLB]

Jesus said to be careful before we decide to follow Him.
Why be careful??
Why count the cost?

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

• For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

 

[GodsGrace]

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

• For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Of course!

But some will say those in 2 Peter 2:20-22 were never saved !

When the NT scripture can be changed to mean whatever one wishes it to mean....
it loses all value and becomes useless for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

 

[JLB]

But some will say those in 2 Peter 2:20-22 were never saved !

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it,

Unmistakable.


Maybe someone could explain how to “know” the way of righteousness if not by being born again;
being in Christ?


Is there another way?