Once Saved Always Saved?
No, John 10:28 does not mean that you can never lose your salvation. In John 10:28, Jesus is talking about "his sheep" that God gave to him, and these sheep follow Jesus (verses 25-29; Hebrews 2:10-13; Matthew 23:8-9; John 6:44; John 5:20-27). We must continue in the faith, and this means that it is possible for us to choose not to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22; James 2:17-26). If someone stops following Jesus, how then are they his sheep (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:45-49; John 15:10)? They would have left the flock of their own accord, and have become a lost sheep (Psalms 119:176; Luke 15:4-7). If John 10:28 did mean that it was not possible for us to lose our salvation then there would be no more need for repentance (1 John 1; 2 Corinthians 12:19-21). If we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:9-10; Romans 3:24-26; John 3:16; Hebrews 7:24-28; Hebrews 9:14). Please see also 1 John 1:3-10.
Romans 6:1-16,23 (KJV)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
No, John 10:28 does not mean that you can never lose your salvation. In John 10:28, Jesus is talking about "his sheep" that God gave to him, and these sheep follow Jesus (verses 25-29; Hebrews 2:10-13; Matthew 23:8-9; John 6:44; John 5:20-27). We must continue in the faith, and this means that it is possible for us to choose not to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22; James 2:17-26). If someone stops following Jesus, how then are they his sheep (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:45-49; John 15:10)? They would have left the flock of their own accord, and have become a lost sheep (Psalms 119:176; Luke 15:4-7). If John 10:28 did mean that it was not possible for us to lose our salvation then there would be no more need for repentance (1 John 1; 2 Corinthians 12:19-21). If we sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:9-10; Romans 3:24-26; John 3:16; Hebrews 7:24-28; Hebrews 9:14). Please see also 1 John 1:3-10.
Romans 6:1-16,23 (KJV)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
