Once Saved Always Saved

I received a question regarding salvation, and specifically questioning the Billy Graham type of calling for someone to come forward and profess their faith and receive salvation on the spot. To me, this is a challenging question and requires some soul-searching and Bible searching to answer. The best I can do here is to cite some Bible examples of salvation. The questioner cited the conversion of Simon in Acts 8. The scripture says that Simon "believed," but then we read where Simon sinned trying to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money. So was Simon saved and then fell away, or was he never really saved in the first place. I have an opinion, but can't be sure because we aren't told the answer in the text. I think all we can do is look elsewhere in the Bible.

There are some people who profess Christianity that believe once a person is saved, he cannot be lost. But the New Testament presents the theme clearly that a Christian must beware of not falling back into sin. Probably a thousand verses could be found, but I will offer one. In Hebrews, in writing to a group of Christian believers, Hebrews 3:12-14 says, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is call 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end..." If a saved Christian couldn't sin and fall away there would not be all of the warnings about such.

The questioner seems correct in saying that "heart of God actions have to follow these initial first steps. " But the New Testament does give us examples of the early Christians taking those first steps. For example, in Acts 8 we see the Ethiopian eunuch nobleman being taught "Jesus." That is all that we are told that he was taught; but following that, he asks to be baptized. The preacher says, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." In this example we see the obedience in baptism but also are witnessing an appeal to the heart. So then the question: is he saved at this point? From the text, the answer seems clear that he is. Will he always be saved? That depends on his keeping his heart right, seeking the Lord.

Back to Simon; Was Simon's heart right when he "believed?" I don't know, and we aren't told. It turned sour rather quickly, but you will have to judge that one. But I agree with the questioner that the key to real salvation is not just the first steps but the desire of the heart following those first steps. Have a good week! May God Bless You!