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What does the Bible say about eternal salvation?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that eternal salvation is God’s gracious gift in Christ, securely given to all who truly believe, and preserved by his faithful power. Jesus promises that his sheep have eternal life and will never perish, because no one can snatch them from his or the Father’s hand (John 10:28-29). Whoever hears and believes has passed from death to life (John 5:24), and Christ will lose none of those the Father gives him but raise them up on the last day (John 6:37-40). Believers may therefore know they have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13), for there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and nothing can separate them from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 2 Timothy 4:18 8 votes

    And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

  • Jude 1:1 7 votes

    Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

  • John 10:28-29 6 votes

    I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

  • Jude 1:24-25 6 votes

    Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

  • 1 John 5:11-13 5 votes

    The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

  • Romans 11:29 5 votes

    For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

  • Romans 8:38-39 4 votes

    For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • John 5:24 3 votes

    “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

  • John 6:37-40 3 votes

    All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

  • Romans 8:1 3 votes

    There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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