One Bible Verse Debunks 'Once Saved, Always Saved'

"Once saved, always saved" is a common quip used in Christian discussion concerning salvation. Karlo Broussard, Catholic Answers Apologist, discusses the Catholic Church's teaching on eternal security. Karlo focuses on one biblical passage from Galatians that has rich meaning.

This clip was taken from Catholic Answers Live:

[janetr]

He who perseveres to the end will be saved

[ArmenChakmakian]

Protestants: I’m saved. Are you saved?

Catholics: Working on it.

[robbybalogh]

Trent Horn using this verse in his debate against James White was basically the nail in the coffin for the “once saved always saved” position.

[howling-xm]

I’ve been a Calvinist my whole life and have never seen this verse through these eyes. I want to here the reformers arguments on this. Thank you Catholic answers

[chrishorton]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this. Many of us laity get blindsided by clever arguments that can be difficult to navigate. This clear, precise, and definitive answer is so helpful.

[GFsardi]

The verb translated 'fallen' is ekpipto has a wide range of meanings, but usually means to fall from something or to lose understanding of something. The Galatians have lost their understanding of grace, not of Christ, salvation, or justification. A believer cannot be unjustified (cf. Rom 8:30), but a believer can indeed live in contradiction to God's principles of salvation and sanctification by grace.

At the heart of Paul's argument is the contrast between grace and Law. These are opposites and do not mix; they are mutually exclusive. One to be justified either trusts in the grace of Christ, or in the Law. Adherence to one system repudiates the other. It is only through faith in God's provision that both positional (3:24) and practical (5:5) justification are obtained, not through the works of the Law.

If salvation can be lost, then it’s by works, simple as that.

[nancyvandergucht]

As a european catholic, I am happy and proud to be one ! Praise and thanks to God :Father, Son and Holy Spirit . Amen .🙏🙏💕

[timboslice]

I heard this in James white vs Trent horn as well. Let me say first That debate put me over the fence for catholicism, I was confirmed this easter.
I had followed JW for about 10 years at that point and only heard him touch on the "described and prescribed" commandments in scripture. I was studying with a colleague of his named John Samson... I had him explain it to me.

His best explanation was that you can't tell which are prescribed or described until you accept the 5 points theology and then it becomes clear. I'm like so it's clear to you.... I've accepted the 5 points, why don't I get it? He said I dont know Tim, you must spend more time studying to gain this knowledge I believe." I actually accepted that. Thinking "i guess every denomination has a contradiction or two. I put it on the back burner and let it slide. I had already lost faith in calvinism by the time i watched the debate and was already digging into the REAL catholic position. Anyway just thought id share... the bible said it over and over again.

Me not believing it, kept the sin going in my life. I figured sins didnt put you in hell and works didnt get you to heaven. I had faith and works to show it but whenever id stop thinking of the lord and thinking of myself. Id say why not... sins already paid for. Not like anybody really stops sinning. I took the filthy rags argument, sola fide, romans 7, john 6 as assurance of salvation through sin. Almost like the sins are a daily reminder of why we need a savior, to remember to always be evangelizing because someone else is out there sinning without faith and thats what made the difference.

Man was i wrong. Anyway my sins are down to a fraction of what they were as a calvinist. Works have amplified and i spend much less time thinking about myself. Not perfect not even close, i still barely get through confession every week. Its hard bearing your soul and exposing yourself like that in a holy place. Amazing how absolution feels and being in line with so many fine people for the eucharist.

[bartleon]

Philippians 2: 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Matthew 5: 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

John 15: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples.

1 John 3: 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

1 John 2: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Luke 13: 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’

Matthew 22: 14 For many are [a]called, but few are chosen.”

[jflores]

I tried to tell people that if you are saved but you sin again, and keep sinning, how are you still saved? I usually get "oh, thats Catholic belief" they use the old testament, i tell them Jesus Christ is the new Covenant, the guy who saved you, said to go home, to sin no more, to be a fruitful branch or be be thrown into the fire, that the gate is narrow, to strive to enter it, that he is way to his father. "Nah, that's Catholic belief, his blood qlready washed away my sins" what about the new one after that, and after that? You have to repent.

[hellopeople]

1 Peter 1:3-4 “He has given us new birth into a living hope through His resurrection from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.”

[anthonymulroy]

Eternal life means exactly what it says
It would not be eternal live if it can be taken back. John 3:16 1 John 5:13 John 3:36 John 3:18 Romans 8:38-39. Titus 1:2 Romans 4:5 John 11:25 let God be true and Everyman a lier .

[kevinmccue]

Jesus said; “he that believes on me HAS PASSED FROM DEATH INTO LIFE.” Those who are “quickened” to LIFE Eph 2:1 never are returned to death

[Blurjum.]

Re the importance of works, I often think of the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 5. When our Lord tells of the fate of the goats, they respond:

"44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"
Did not "do" He says.
Note: These are not people who do not accept Jesus as Lord - these are people who recognize and they address Him as such - and they are therefore, confused by His words.

And Our Lord's words in the parable are mirrored in James:

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, ” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

It's summed up later on, and quite bluntly:

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Which led Luther to denigrate the Letter of James, because it contradicted his innovation.

[jwldtnl]

how many sins till you lose salvation? is it a certain sin or any sin? if you repent after you sin can you get your salvation back? how many times can you lose it til you lose it forever? what do we do to earn it back? or can we earn it back? help!! this is so confusing!

[e.g.]

Thank you so very much. This is very new for me. I have many protestant coworkers that are always attacking we with this argument. Your explanation is completely different from others. Thank you.❤

[brianbannon]

2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30

[MakeADisciple]

I tried hard to be very brief but this is extremely important, so please be patient and read. Our salvation is that important.

[GranMaese]

You just hit the nail on the head. Great explanation.

[derargent]

Mark 13:13 always made me feel weary of the saved, always saved idea