“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NASB)

It is asserted by the proponents of the “Once Saved, Always Saved” doctrine that 1 John 5:13, among other scriptures, proves this belief to be Scriptural. One of the main fallacies of reasoning is “over-simplification.” While every scripture in the “inspired” word of God, from Genesis through Revelation, is true (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17), the scriptures must be “accurately” handled (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB). As is very typical of all false doctrines, 1 John 5:13 is taken out of context, and used in a way that John never intended, to prove the “Once Saved, Always Saved” doctrine.

John’s referencing statement, “These things I have written to you” refers to John’s entire letter. Up to this point in his letter, John has written 96 out of 105 verses, and verse 13 begins John’s conclusion and summary of the letter. John, in this letter, makes at least eighteen statements of conditions that must be met so that a Christian “may know that [he/she] has eternal life”. John’s statement at 1 John 5:13 assumes the Christian has met all of God’s standards to be in the right relationship with the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ, and will continue to meet God’s standards. Therefore, the Christian can be content in his assurance of God’s love and ultimate reward for him/her.

1. “If we are living in the light, as God is in the light”—1:7 NLT
2. “If we confess our sins to him”—1:9 NLT
3. “If we obey his commandments”—2:3 NLT; 3:24; 5:3
4. “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did”—2:6 NLT
5. “Do not love the world”—2:15
6. “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father”—2:24 NIV
7. “Remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full and not shrink back from him in shame”—1 John 2:28 NLT
8. “Will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure”—3:3 NLT
9. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness”—3:4 ESV
10. “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning”—3:6 ESV
11. “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous”—3:7 ESV
12. “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil” (3:8 ESV). “No one who is born of God makes a practice of sinning” (3:9 ESV). 
13. “Love one another”—3:11
14. “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer”—3:15 NIV
15. “Whoever knows God listens to us” [the Apostles]—4:6 NLT
16. “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God”—4:15 NLT
17. “Must also love their fellow believers”—4:21 NLT
18. “Win this battle with the world . . . believe that Jesus is the Son of God”—5:5 NLT

Notice that we must “remain in fellowship with Christ” (1 John 2:28 NLT). “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). This means that, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not lie out the truth” (1 John 1:6 NIV).

So, “Once Saved, Always Saved,” is not taught in 1 John. As a matter of fact, it is not taught or supported anywhere else in the Bible, either. See other articles on this site under this Category.