“once saved, always saved,” and “eternal security” often easily gain a reverential status normally reserved only for biblical texts and become symbols of “evangelical orthodoxy.” Indeed, it comes as a shock to some when they discover that their symbols are not actually biblical terms. The Bible does teach that salvation does not depend merely upon human effort. God is the author of salvation (2 Cor. 5:18–19; John 3:16). God justifies or treats as acceptable sinners who receive Christ in faith (Rom.