Why "Once Saved, Always Saved" Is Sloppy Theology
Romans 11:17-24
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
The Roman church to which Paul is writing was made up of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, and most likely the Gentile Christians were in the majority. Throughout this whole long, complicated section, filled with Old Testament allusions and quotations, Paul has been examining and answering four related questions:
Why did so many of the Jews refuse to accept Jesus as Messiah?
In light of Jewish rejection of Jesus and Gentile acceptance of Jesus, has God replaced the Jews with the Gentiles as His chosen people?
Is there any hope that the Jews who previously rejected Jesus as Messiah might one day turn back and believe?
In light of all of the above, what is God up to?
Paul here is directly addressing the Gentile Romans Christians, and he tells them not to get puffed up and think they are any better than the unbelieving Jews, just because God has graciously “grafted” them into His covenant people.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you [Romans 11:17–18].
The image is of an olive tree in an orchard, with the olive grower grafting in wild branches into the cultivated tree. The life comes from the root; Paul wants the Gentiles to remember that they are the ones being adopted in as God’s people, and not the other way around.
And then Paul hits the final note of his argument, which is breathtaking in its implications:
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in” [Romans 11:19].
He imagines a prideful Roman Gentile Christian saying, “Well, yes, I’ve been adopted in, but that’s only because the Jews were disobedient, hard-hearted, and unbelieving.”
Paul’s response:
20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear [Romans 11:20].
He tells the Gentiles, “Don’t gloat over your salvation, but stand in awe and reverence before God, who has permitted you to be saved through faith.”
And then he hits the Gentiles with a bracing reminder:
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you [Romans 11:21].
In other words, don’t you dare think that your current status as being part of God’s people mean that you can live as an unbeliever or allow your heart to become coarsened toward God, because if unbelieving Jews aren’t saved, neither are unbelieving Gentiles—stay faithful and persevere to the end!
He goes on:
22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree [Romans 11:22–24].
This is both a powerful warning and a word of encouragement to American Christians. There is lots of sloppy theological sentiment that is bandied about these days, and Paul’s words apply a necessary correction:
The phrase “once saved, always saved” is helpful when it offers comfort to Christians who find themselves backslidden or having engaged in sinful practices and who sincerely mourn their sins and repent. Jesus never refuses anyone who cries out for mercy—you cannot “lose” your salvation accidentally, the way you might accidently drop your car keys.
On the other hand, the phrase “once saved, always saved” plainly is not what the New Testament teaches, if by that glib phrase we imply “Once you are baptized, it is impossible to reject God and walk away from His grace.” Look at the plain sense of what Paul says here:
22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off [Romans 11:22].
What Paul is saying to the Gentile Christians is, “Don’t think you can make the same mistake that the unbelieving Jews have made—they presume upon God’s kindness just because of their former status, even though they are presently rejecting His grace.”
This passage is a warning to us as well. We must continue to faithfully respond to God’s grace toward us or face the consequences.
But this passage is also an encouragement:
23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree [Romans 11:23–24].
There is hope for everyone—until the very end, God is graciously offering everyone the opportunity to repent and receive His mercy. So, even unbelieving Jews, if they were to turn back to God and accept Jesus as Messiah, would be be brought back into God’s grace. After all, if God can graft in “wild” branches, who knows what he might do with the “natural branches”, i.e., with unbelieving Jews at some point in the future?
Pray today for spiritual awakening among the Jewish people.