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Sometimes a sermon raises questions. We welcome that. This space exists to continue the conversation — offering thoughtful, biblical responses to questions from our church family as we grow together in understanding and faith.

Does Psalm 23:6 support the “once saved, always saved” doctrine? And is that doctrine biblical?

Thanks for such an important question. Psalm 23:6 says: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

At first glance, that final phrase: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”, can sound like a statement of absolute, guaranteed security. Some Christians connect that kind of language to what is often called “once saved, always saved.”

What is “once saved, always saved”?

The phrase usually refers to the belief that once a person is truly saved, they can never lose their salvation under any circumstances.

At Hillside, we believe strongly in the security of the believer; that God is faithful, that His grace is powerful, and that He does not abandon His children. Salvation is not fragile, and it is not sustained by human perfection.

At the same time, Scripture also consistently calls believers to continue in faith:
Jesus speaks about abiding in Him (John 15).
Paul speaks about continuing in the faith (Colossians 1:23).
Hebrews contains many warnings about drifting and falling away.

So rather than framing it as “once saved, always saved” versus “you can lose it at any moment,” we would say this: Salvation is secure in Christ. But it is relational, not mechanical.

The Shepherd holds us, and we are called to keep trusting the Shepherd.

So, does Psalm 23:6 teach that?

Psalm 23 is a psalm of trust. David is expressing deep confidence in the Shepherd who guides, provides, protects, and remains present even in the valley. Verse 6 is not written as a theological formula about salvation mechanics; it is a declaration of relational confidence in the faithful character of God.

David is saying, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I trust that His covenant love will pursue me all the way home.”

Psalm 23 absolutely supports confidence in God’s preserving grace. It celebrates the steadfast love of a God who pursues His people “all the days” and brings them into His house “forever.”

What it does not do is remove the relational dimension of faith.

The comfort of Psalm 23 is found in a Shepherd, not in a formula. And the good news of the gospel is this: God’s goodness and love are not passive. They pursue us. They sustain us. They lead us home.

Our confidence rests not in our grip on Him, but in His faithful grip on us.

Is “once saved, always saved” biblical?

Christians who love Jesus and take Scripture seriously have different views on this doctrine.

Some traditions emphasize what is called “perseverance of the saints,” meaning that a person who is truly saved will inevitably continue in faith to the end. In that view, if someone appears to fall away or backslide, it is understood that they were never truly a follower of Jesus in the first place.

We affirm something different: that salvation is secure in Christ, and that God is faithful to sustain His people. While also recognizing that Scripture calls believers to continue trusting, abiding, and walking with Him.

The Bible gives strong assurance of God’s preserving grace. It also gives real warnings about drifting or turning away.

Rather than flattening those into a slogan, we hold both truths together: God is faithful to keep His people, and faith is something we continue in.