If you reject Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS), you may not truly understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture defines the Gospel as the offer of eternal life through faith alone in Christ alone—a life that, once received, can never be lost.
When someone insists that salvation can be forfeited or must be maintained through works, they're not preaching the Gospel of grace (Acts 20:24). They're proclaiming a gospel of performance. But Paul warned in Galatians 1:6–9 that any gospel that adds to the finished work of Christ is "another gospel" and under God’s curse.
Jesus makes it crystal clear in John 6:40:
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The will of the Father is to believe in the Son—not to work for salvation, persevere to the end, or prove anything. Those who do the will of the Father (believe) are eternally secure (John 10:28).
Matthew 7:21–23 is often used to scare believers into doubting their salvation. But let’s look carefully:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father...
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
These people appeal to their works, not Christ’s finished work. But Jesus never knew them. He doesn’t say, “I used to know you but you fell away.” He says, “I never knew you.”
That’s critical.
Why? Because they trusted in their performance, not in the cross.
In context, Jesus had just warned in verses 15–20:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves…”
These false prophets are known by their fruit—and in the context, the fruit is their teaching, not their lifestyle. This harmonizes with Matthew 16:12, where Jesus warns of “the doctrine of the Pharisees.”
False teachers preach a gospel of law, of self-effort, of striving—not the true Gospel of grace. This is the same spirit behind denying OSAS: it undermines trust in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10–14).
Matthew 12 reveals more about these self-righteous, unbelieving teachers. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Satan’s power. Jesus responds:
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven…” (v. 31)
This is not about saying a bad word—it’s about persistently rejecting the Spirit’s witness of Christ (see John 15:26).
Then He says:
Not by your works. Not by your perseverance. But by your words about Christ—whether or not you believed.
Here’s why “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23) can’t apply to a true believer:
Galatians 4:9 – “But now… are known of God.”
2 Timothy 2:19 – “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”
John 10:14 – “I… know my sheep…”
If Jesus ever knew you, He still does. He doesn’t forget His sheep. His knowledge is not partial or temporary.
Romans 8:29 – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…”
Not chosen for salvation. Chosen BECAUSE they believe. He chooses you WHEN you believe, but He foreknows you will one day believe and THEN seals and adopts you. His promise is from the beginning. Calvinism makes this beautiful promise an ugly thing by declaring God chooses and loves some but hates and rejects the rest. NO!! God offers salvation through belief in His Son to ALL. But He does know who will choose Him one day. As a believer you are foreknown.
If you deny eternal security, you’re denying the sufficiency of Jesus’ blood. You’re suggesting He gives eternal life that’s not eternal. That’s not the Gospel—that’s bondage.
And if you trust in your works—even religious ones—you could be among those to whom Jesus will say, “I never knew you.”
Instead, believe the true Gospel:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” —John 5:2