The Heresy of "Once Saved, Always Saved" (OSAS)
The Orthodox Response
The Heresy of "Once Saved, Always Saved" (OSAS)
and the Orthodox Response
The doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" (OSAS) teaches that once a person is justified or "saved" by faith in Christ, their salvation is irrevocable, regardless of their actions, sins, or choices afterward. While this concept may offer comfort, it stands in opposition to the Orthodox Christian understanding of salvation, which is dynamic and requires ongoing cooperation with God.
Orthodoxy holds that salvation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. Salvation is a process of transformation, achieved through synergy (cooperation) between divine grace and human free will. The Orthodox Church teaches that humans, created in the image of God, retain the gift of free will and must actively choose to cooperate with God's grace throughout their lives. This is affirmed in Scripture, such as Philippians 2:12, which urges believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
OSAS denies the ongoing role of human will and undermines the need for vigilance, repentance, and holiness. Scripture repeatedly warns against spiritual complacency and presumption. Christ Himself teaches, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13), and St. Paul urges believers to "take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). The apostle also warns of the possibility of falling away from the faith, stating, "It is impossible for those who were once enlightened... if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The Orthodox Church emphasizes the necessity of perseverance in faith, continual repentance, and striving for holiness. The sacraments, particularly Confession and the Eucharist, restore and renew the believer's communion with God, and even those who fall away can be restored through repentance. As St. Augustine said, "He who created you without you will not save you without you," highlighting that salvation requires active cooperation with God's grace.
OSAS promotes a false sense of security, encouraging spiritual complacency and neglect of moral and spiritual duties. The Orthodox Church teaches that salvation is not guaranteed by an initial act of faith but is contingent upon continued faith, repentance, and good works. As St. John Chrysostom writes, "No one is secure unless he keeps the seal of his salvation to the very end."
At the end, the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" contradicts the biblical and patristic understanding of salvation as a lifelong process involving cooperation with God's grace. The Orthodox Church teaches that salvation is dynamic, requiring perseverance, vigilance, and continual growth in holiness. True salvation is not a one-time guarantee but a journey toward union with God in love and holiness, as the Scriptures and Church Fathers have always taught.
Fr. Borjan Vitanov - Holy Resurrection of Christ