The following is a first draft, subject to further review and revision.

The concept of eternal security has been debated throughout history. Origen (circa AD 225) strongly opposed it, though many of his writings are ambiguous. The debate centers on how people become "saved" and whether salvation is permanent. The Bible is clear that salvation is attained by God's grace through our faith.

Ephesians 2:8,9: For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

While sinless perfection may be impossible to any falible human, genuine followers of Jesus Christ will almost always "sin less" in their daily living once they become "born again."

2 Corinthuans 5:17: If anyone is "in Christ," then they become a new creature/creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things become new.

James 2:18: I will show thee my faith by my works.

There is, however, disagreement about the extent and consistency of the evidence of faith in terms of anyone's good works or fruit.

The Calvinist doctrine argues that God will make sure that those who are "of the elect" will persevere in maintaining Christian works all the way to the end of their life. This is called "perseverance of the saints" (the "P" of their doctrinal acrostic TULIP).

Some even claim that a Christian reaches maximum spiritual maturity just before death. Terms like "backslidden" or "carnal" are considered not among of the elect. They hold to a "lordship salvation" opinion.

Arminians, on the other hand, stresses that all humans have "free will" and therefore, no one can be certain of their salvation unless they persevere in faith and good works, else they are at risk to lose their salvation. This is called "conditional perseverance." Those who hold to this belief/opinion argue that anyone can lose their salvation if they succumb to continued unrepented sin. Pentecostal believers, charismatic believers, and Roman Catholics follow this line of thinking. Catholics argue that one must remain faithful in performing the sacraments throughout one's life, and without doing so, one can never be 100% certain of attaining salvation. Many clergy and believers of variant persuasions have argued that certain "works" must be continually performed, else one who neglects or forsakes their duties as a Christian can or certainly will lose their salvation.

Calvinists argue that a non-performer never was a true believer. Arminianists argue that a non-performer can lose what one once had attained.

The Bible declares:

The above "perseverance," whether due to God or due to the will of man, involves works for salvation. The Bible teaches that our heavenly inheritance is permanent; that we are not only saved by grace apart from works, but we are "kept" by God apart from works as well. This opinion is referred to as "preservation of the saints."

1 Peter 1:4,5: ... inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for all who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jude 24-25: Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless, be glory and majesty.

Some claim that the Bible teaches "eternal security" entirely apart from works, that one is eternally secure entirely because of Christ's work and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. This view is often explained as "Once saved, always saved" or OSAS. However this expression "Once saved, always saved" is not found in the Bible. It is, rather, a man-made doctrine.

Ephesians 1:13: In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

To say that someone has gone too deeply into sin and thereby has lost salvation puts us on a slippery slope of "works" salvation. The Bible never condones the notion that, "Since one is eternally secure, it doesn't matter if one sins." cf. Romans 6:1,2.

We are "cleansed" and all our sins are washed away at the moment genuine salvation occurs, God nevertheless requires us to continue to follow Him and maintain fellowship with Him throughout our life; continually endeavoring to avoid being overtaken by sin, and confessing, repenting, and seeking forgiveness for any sin that may overtake us.

John 13:10: Jesus said, "Those who are bathed do not need more than to wash the feet, but they are completely clean."

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Samuel 16:7: outward appearance -vs- the heart.

1 Corinthians 3:1,15: Some who are carnal may have been "born again" but would have their works burned up. The Bible does refer to a "sin unto death," which indicates that it is possible for a Christian to commit a sin so grievous that God might chastens the sinner with physical death -- delivered "Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved." 5:5.

1 John 5:16: If anyone sees another sin a sin that is not unto death, they should ask and He will give life to those who do not commit sin that leads to death. Yet there is a sin that is to death and I do not say that you shall pray for this.

1 Corinthians 11:29,30: Those who eat and drink unworthily, eat and drink damnation to themselves, not discerning the Lord's body.

John 10:28: Jesus said, I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of my hand.

So, can a Christian forsake their salvation? God says that he will complete the good work that He has begun in us. He forgives all our sins, past, present, and future. And he then imputes Christ's righteousness to us.

Philippians 1:6: He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21: God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Romans 4:5-6 To those who do not work, but believe in Him who justifies the ungodly, their faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also described the blessedness of those to whom God credits righteousness without works,

Psalms 103:12, God removes sin from us as far as the East is from the West.

John 5:24: Those who hear my Word and believe in Him who sent me have eternal life and will not come into condemnation, but are passed from death to life.

Hebrews 6:4-6: It is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they themselves crucify the Son of God all over again and put Him to an open shame.

In other words, it is not possible for anyone to go back and forth between eternal life and eternal death.

Some suggest that there appears to be a contradiction between 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 3:9.

1 John 1:8 reads: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 3:9 reads: Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for His seed remains in them. They cannot sin, because they are born of God.

The first states that we are liars if we say that we do not sin.

The second states that a genuine Christian will not willfully persist in sin.

Every human has two opposing or conflicting natures within them: a sinful human nature that is in conflict with a new (born again) spirit nature that earnestly endeavors to not sin.

Colossians 3:9,10 ... you have put off the old self with its self centered deeds. You have put on the new quality of character that is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created the new person that you now are.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

The Bible does not state that anyone can lose their salvation or that one can only be saved on the condition that one persevere in Christian works until death (Arminianism). Neither does it state that God will make certain that "the elect" persevere until death (Calvinism).

On the other hand, the Bible also does not describe a salvation that can be taken lightly and allow a Christian to persist sin with impunity.

What the Bible does declare is that anyone who sincerely believes and accepts Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, has all their sins forgiven and God will "preserve" them until the end. Therefore, everone who accepts God's invitation to join His family and earnestly desires and endeavors to follow Him throughout their life can rest assured in His forgiveness and in the "eternal security" that He alone provides.