The debate over how many times someone can be “born again”, or potentially lose their salvation, has long been a contentious issue within Christianity.
Many believers and ministers strongly reject the “once saved, always saved” concept, viewing it as a dangerous doctrine that encourages reckless living and makes a jest of the faith we have received.
The key questions at the heart of this debate are: Can you be saved more than once?
Is it possible for a person to be born again after death?
Setting aside personal biases and preconceived notions, this Bible expository will carefully examine the scriptural evidence to seek biblical answers.
As we say in the Riches of Christ, “When the Word of God is revealed, all preconceived ideas will melt like hot potatoes.”
So, let’s approach this topic with open minds, hold the Bible in our hands, and explore God’s plan of salvation together.
The goal is to let the scriptures speak for themselves, regardless of what we may have been previously taught or what we believe.
WHEN SHOULD YOU REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST?
The scene is familiar in many local churches: A powerful sermon concludes, and the preacher asks, “Who wants to rededicate their life to Christ?”
Many hands rise, and people stream to the altar. Weeks later, another minister comes, makes the same altar call, and often the same individuals come forward to rededicate their lives once again.
This pattern troubled me for years. I found myself among those repeatedly coming forward, but something didn’t sit right.
Why was I constantly rededicating my life? What was missing? Deep down, I knew there had to be a gap in my understanding.
Then one day, while studying Scripture, I discovered a transformative verse that changed my perspective on this cycle of perpetual rededication. The verse Jude 1 vs 24 – 25 says:
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Read it slowly, question: Who is able to keep you from falling?
Question: Who is going to present you faultless before God’s presence?
Answer: Of Course, it is God not you. From that day I stopped going to the altar to “rededicate my life to Christ”.
Once you are in Christ, you are a new creation and complete in him. We haven’t received a parched new spirit but are born again, born anew, a new creation that has never existed before.
Another scripture verse that gave me peace in my heart was 1 Peter 1 vs 5:
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”.
Which means I am kept by the Power of God and not my strength or physical ability. Paul says in Philippians 2 vs 12 and 13…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
As a believer, know this in Confidence, God is at work in You! Hallelujah!!
Therefore, no scripture supports “rededicating your life to Christ”, instead we are encouraged to go after knowledge via the Word for only when we see Christ in the Scriptures, we come to fully know ourselves.
CAN YOU BE SAVED MORE THAN ONCE?
According to the scriptures, we can only be saved once. Romans 6 vs 9 – 11 says:
Verse 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Verse 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Verse 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
From the Bible text above, you can see that a person is saved once because Jesus died and resurrected once never to die again.
We are therefore to reckon ourselves as resurrected with Christ never to die again.
As long as Jesus is alive, we are forever alive with him. This is the security of our salvation.
The Loss of salvation after you are saved is never an option or a possibility for the man who is born again.
We are born again only once. We don’t get born again, die, get born again, die, get born again in multiple cycles.
That cannot be possible naturally and it’s not possible spiritually as well.
In an attempt to encourage the good conduct of believers, people often use the threat of losing salvation. That’s a false message.
The apostles taught good conduct without using the loss of salvation as a threat. Good conduct is a fruit of spiritual growth.
When believers’ minds are renewed by getting them to come to the understanding of their identity in Christ, they will produce good conduct.
When you believed the gospel, you got saved. You don’t need another altar call to get saved.
You are saved once and forever. When you realize you are doing something wrong, all you need is to renew your mind and do what is right without thinking that you are not yet born again.
Jesus saves once and forever. You have life eternal.
Think about the believers in 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 that Apostle Paul rebuked for sleeping even with their father’s wife, how did he handle the matter?
Did he tell them they had lost their salvation? Of course not, instead he pointed them to who they were in Christ, using the words “know ye not” throughout the book of Corinthians.
Are you aware that we have carnal Christians? People who are still controlled by their flesh? So, how do we help them? Is it by telling them they have lost their salvation or to get born again?
Of course not, for now you know it is not Biblical. For we have all obtained eternal salvation or redemption according to Hebrews 9 vs 12:
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Other scriptures below that show that salvation is eternal and secured are:
Hebrews 7 vs 25:
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
John 10 vs 27 – 29:
Verse 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Verse 28: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Verse 29: My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
I know you have other questions in your heart, like the meaning of Hebrews 6 vs 4 – 6, join me in the next Bible lesson as we carefully look into this popular misinterpretation.
God Bless you!
My passion lies in reaching out to young adults in communities and schools, witnessing the transformative power of faith in their lives.
This blog extends my ministry, sharing insights, encouraging believers, and exploring Christ's teachings in daily life.
Welcome, Brother James.
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