Once Saved, Always Saved?

Sometimes Christian denominations have different ways of talking about or describing salvation, so I will only talk about my thoughts. I was baptized Lutheran as a baby, and later as an adult in a Messianic Jewish congregation, and have also attended services at other churches, including Wesleyan, Episcopalian, Catholic, Methodist, and a few more. Non-denominational churches are a good fit for me. Though there is something in each that I love, that's Jesus. One kind of church I have not been to, but want to, is Orthodox. I have a photo of a Russian Orthodox church on my fridge. It's blue, white, and gold and surrounded by snow. I have a similar picture I post on my blog. 

To me, to be saved means changed, transformed, once was that, now is this, freed, forgiven, doesn't even smell like smoke. There was a definite Before and After when I got saved. I went forward at a church. I was that and now I am this. I struggle to find words to describe the purity I felt wash over me. Jesus is real. A real being. Meeting Him changed me internally.

Like many things in life, maybe it can best be expressed by Star Trek. In episode 23 of season 3, the original 1960's series, "All Our Yesterdays," Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to a planet whose sun is about to go supernova. They soon discover the inhabitants have safely escaped into the past. They meet a caretaker who wants to transform them with a machine called the Atavachron so they, too, can escape. But before any transforming can take place, Kirk goes one way and Spock and Bones go another. In the distant past of the planet's history, they discover that the people they meet have been transformed and cannot be changed back, and without transformation it is deadly for our heroes to stay where they are. With only seconds remaining they...well, I'll let you watch it.

The point is, once changed they cannot change back. I feel like that. It was a transformation for me. I am not the same. There is no back.

I think someone can reject the things of God or just simply not be interested in Him anymore, even no longer believe. But God is faithful. Even when we're not. Didn't He call us before we knew Him? 

Psalm 139:7-10

Where shall I go from your Spirit? 
Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! 
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning and 
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

even there your hand shall lead me, 
and your right hand shall hold me.

John 6:39

And this is the will of him who sent me, 
that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, 
but raise them up at the last day.

John 18:7-9

So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” 
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 
 Jesus answered, 
“I told you that I am he. 
So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 
 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: 
“Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Romans 8:38

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor demons, 

neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God 

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But this one is my favorite:

John 10:28

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, 
and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

I know, I know. 
Old, bearded, wise men of the ages have argued this. They studied. They read.  
Maybe they would disagree with ordinary me.  
They thought deep, important thoughts. 


But what do you think? 
 

John 14:6

Jesus answered, 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me."

To Live

Forgive.