Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/once-saved-always-saved/ 

This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org

The idea of “faithful faith” is a distinguishing mark of RENEW.org and historic Restoration Movement theology. Article 5 (Faithful Faith) of Renew’s Faith Statement for Leaders reads:

“We believe that people are saved by grace through faith. The gospel of Jesus’ kingdom calls people to both salvation and discipleship—no exceptions, no excuses. Faith is more than mere intellectual agreement or emotional warmth toward God. It is living and active; faith is surrendering our self-rule to the rule of God through Jesus in the power of the Spirit. We surrender by trusting and following Jesus as both Savior and Lord in all things. Faith includes allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness to him.”

Someone unfamiliar with the debate may read that and ask, “As opposed to what?”

The answer is this: as opposed to a theology that proposes that Christians can live their lives with no outward indication that they are actually followers of King Jesus. That is to say, a disciple of Jesus will continue to grow in maturity into the image of Jesus throughout their lives. A “Christian” who never grows into the image of Jesus needs to ask themselves whether they have truly committed themselves to Jesus and His kingdom.

On the extreme other side of the theological fence are those that believe that salvation comes through a belief that doesn’t require faithful allegiance to King Jesus and His kingdom, and/or that they do not need to continue in faithful allegiance to remain in His kingdom.

The terms “perseverance of the saints,” “eternal security,” and “once saved, always saved” have become synonymous with the theological idea that Christians cannot apostatize and thus will be saved in the end no matter what. And while these three terms have come to be synonyms, they are originally three distinct concepts.

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