Once Saved… Always Saved?

It’s a phrase that brings comfort and assurance — and rightly so. As Baptists, we believe in the security of the believer — that those who are truly saved are kept by the power and grace of God.

But here’s the tension: How do we know that our faith is real? Can we be sure of it?

What if someone claims to be saved …but shows no evidence of change? No desire to obey God? No love for others?

Are they truly saved?

What does the phrase 'Once Saved... Always Saved' mean in the context of this sermon?

James Confronts the Question

That’s the very issue James tackles in our passage today. Let’s turn to James 2:14–19.

Here, James challenges us with a hard but necessary truth:  Not all faith is saving faith.

James invites us to wrestle with a few questions:

Is my faith real?

Is my faith alive?

And if it’s real and alive… does it show up in how I live?

Faith That Works

As we walk through this passage today, my prayer is that we’ll see:

True faith — saving faith — is always accompanied by action.

This message isn’t meant to muddy the waters. We’re not here to debunk “once saved, always saved.” And James isn’t contradicting salvation by grace through faith.

He’s simply saying:

Genuine, saving faith will always produce good works.

James 2:14–19 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Real Faith vs. Counterfeit Faith

So if James is right — and he is —

then we must ask:

What kind of faith do I have?

How can I tell the difference between real, living faith and dead, useless faith?

That’s exactly what James breaks down for us today.

Faith Without Works Is Useless (James 2:14)

James begins this section with a powerful and probing question:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”

The implied answer is no — that kind of faith cannot save.

A Verbal Profession Does Not Guarantee Salvation

It’s entirely possible for someone to say they believe in Jesus …and yet not be truly saved.

James warns that a claim to faith without transformation is empty.

Real faith is proven by fruit, not just words.

True Faith Is More Than Intellectual Agreement

Faith is not just believing the right facts about Jesus.

It’s not merely head knowledge — it’s heart surrender.

Real faith takes root deep inside and shows up in how we live, love, and obey.

Simply put

“Faith without works is dead.”

God Requires a Faith That Transforms Behavior

James is telling them and us that God isn’t looking for lip service — He wants life change.

A faith that never changes us is not saving faith at all.

Saving faith transforms:

How we treat people

How we give

How we serve

How we Obey

Genuine Faith Produces Compassionate Action (James 2:15-17)

Now James wants us to see what real faith looks - Because here is the thing church (eyes up here) if our faith doesn’t move us to do something when we see someone in need, then maybe it’s not living faith at all.

Starting in Verse 15 James paints a vivid picture to drive that point home — a scene of someone hungry and cold, and another person responding with empty words.

Faith must respond to the needs of others

Are you ready for this next statement - eyes up here - If our faith doesn’t move us to help those in need, it’s not living faith.

Because as James says True faith sees the suffering of others and takes action.

Words without deeds are empty and ineffective

Telling someone to 'go in peace' without meeting their physical needs is not love. It’s a hollow gesture. And James says that kind of faith is dead.

A living faith is visible in love and mercy

Real faith shows up in real compassion. It moves us to serve, to give, to sacrifice for others—just as Christ did for us.

At this point, you might imagine someone objecting: 'Well, I have faith, and you have works.”

Faith and Works Cannot Be Separated (James 2:18)

Anticipating this question James responds by insisting that faith and works are inseparable.

Faith is proven by what it produces

James says, 'Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' In other words, the only way to see someone’s faith is through their actions.

Obedience is the evidence of belief

So while Obedience doesn’t earn salvation, it does prove that salvation has already taken place. Works are the fruit that grow from the root of faith.

Our lives should reflect the faith we claim

Eyes up here - If we claim to follow Jesus, our lives should begin to look like His.

Our faith should be visible in how we treat others, how we resist sin, and how we pursue righteousness.

But just in case we think that belief alone is enough, James gives one more example to drive the point home.

Mere Belief Is Not Saving Faith (James 2:19)

James makes a shocking statement: 'You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!'

Even demons believe in God and tremble

Did you catch that - James is saying that even the Demons have perfect theology. They know who God is. They even fear Him. But they do not love Him, trust Him, or obey Him. Their belief is not saving faith.

Saving faith includes trust, love, and obedience

Because - True faith is not just belief about God; it is trust in God. It is a relational faith that leads to loving obedience.

True faith leads to a changed heart and life

What’s Next - What do we do with this?

Church If our faith hasn’t changed us, it hasn’t saved us.

Because Saving faith always results in a transformed life—a life that reflects the grace we’ve received.

As we come to the close of this message, let’s go back to where we started: that familiar phrase, 'Once saved, always saved.' It’s a powerful truth—one rooted in the security we have in Christ.

But James has challenged us to ask a deeper question: Are we truly saved? Is our faith the kind that saves? Not all faith is saving faith. Some faith is dead, empty, and deceiving. It talks but doesn’t walk. It believes but doesn’t obey. It claims Christ but doesn’t reflect Him. And James lovingly, but firmly, calls us to examine ourselves. So let me ask you: Is your faith real? Is it alive? Is it producing fruit? When people look at your life, do they see the evidence of Christ in you—His compassion, His obedience, His love? This is not a call to try harder or earn your salvation. It’s a call to respond to the grace of God with genuine trust and surrender. Saving faith is not perfect, but it is living. It moves. It grows. It loves. It obeys. If you’re here today and you realize that your faith has been more talk than transformation, more words than works—there is grace for you. Jesus invites you to come to Him, not with empty profession, but with a heart ready to trust, to follow, to be changed. Come to the altar. Lay down your pride, your pretense, your empty religion. Ask God to give you a new heart and a living faith. A faith that saves and a faith that shows. And for those of you who know you're His—let this be a call to live out your faith boldly. Let the world see in your actions what you believe in your heart. Let your faith be alive. Because once truly saved—yes, always saved. But let’s make sure that the faith we claim is the faith that saves. Respond to Him today.

Questions for Reflection

How does James distinguish between real faith and counterfeit faith in the sermo

According to the sermon, what evidence should a believer’s life demonstrate to prove their faith?

How can you personally identify whether your faith is alive and producing good works?

What steps could you take to ensure your faith translates into action in your daily life?

If you were confronted with someone in need, how would your faith motivate you to help them?

What practical changes can you make to ensure that your faith is evident through your actions?