Grace That Keeps, Warnings That Guard

Others, equally sincere, point to warnings such as Hebrews 3:12, “See to it… that none of you has an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Both groups quote Scripture. Both groups love Jesus. And both groups can become deeply unsettled if the other side pushes too hard against their convictions. But maybe we’ve missed something more important than the debate itself: why God allows this tension in Scripture at all.

Some people need the absolute security passages to walk with God in confidence. Their background, wounds, and spiritual experiences make them flourish under reassurance: “He who began a good work in you will complete it” (Phil. 1:6). It frees them from fear, crippling shame, and the lie that one failure will push God away. Others, however, need the warning passages — not because God is waiting to reject them, but because without a sober reminder, they drift, get careless, or treat grace as permission to live unchanged. Paul himself wrote both kinds of words: he declared, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Rom. 8:38–39) AND “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). The same apostle — two different tones — because God shepherds different hearts in different ways.

The real tragedy is not that Christians see this differently — the tragedy is how often we weaponize Scripture against each other. Some cling so tightly to security that they fear every warning text, and others cling so tightly to warnings that they fear every comfort. But the center of Christian life is not a system — it’s a Savior. Eternal life is not found in a doctrine but in a Person: “This is eternal life, that they know You… ” (John 17:3). A person who knows Him will be transformed. A person who walks with Him will be convicted, corrected, strengthened, and kept by Him. The security is not in never stumbling — the security is in who catches you when you stumble.

The misuse of both doctrines has hurt people. Some who claim “once saved, always saved” use it as an excuse to live unchanged, forgetting Jesus’ words: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16). On the other side, some who fear “losing salvation” live tormented, constantly questioning if God still loves them, forgetting His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Neither fear nor lawlessness produces maturity. Only relationship does. Only abiding does: “Remain in Me, and I in you” (John 15:4). When you walk closely with Christ, the arguments lose their fire. When your security is rooted in Him, not in your performance, the warnings become guardrails instead of threats, and the promises become anchors instead of arguments.

Maybe that’s why God left both sets of verses in His Word. He knows His children better than we know ourselves. Some need sturdy assurance. Some need strong reminders. Some need both at different seasons. What we all need is humility — humility to admit that none of us grasp the fullness of salvation’s mystery, humility to respect believers who interpret Scripture differently, and humility to keep the main thing the main thing: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). True security is not found in winning a debate — it’s found in knowing Him, loving Him, walking with Him, and being changed by Him.

At the end of the day, people don’t fall away because they misinterpreted a doctrine — people fall away when they drift from relationship. And people are kept — not by their grip on God, but by God’s grip on them. Jesus didn’t say, “My sheep never struggle.” He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). The assurance is not in never wandering — it’s in always returning, always hearing His voice calling you back, always finding His arms open.

So whether someone believes salvation is eternally sealed or believes a person can walk away, both must agree on this: stay close to Jesus. Rest in Him. Walk with Him. Listen to Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. Let Him finish what He started. And refuse to break fellowship with other believers over mysteries God never required you to solve.

Some truths are not meant to win arguments — they’re meant to shape hearts. And a heart shaped by Christ will always choose love over division, humility over certainty, and relationship over debate.