There are too many instances in the Bible where men strayed from God, but were truly saved, to say that to stray means they were not really saved. 

  • King Solomon who was known for his wisdom allowed his foreign wives to lead him astray, worshiping their idols and neglecting his devotion to God.
  • Samson, who despite being gifted with incredible strength fell into the trap of lust and deception, revealing the source of his strength to Delilah, which led to his downfall and capture by the Philistines.
  • King David, who the Lord said was a man after His own heart, allowed his lust to cause him to sleep with Bathsheba, who was married to Uriah.  He then had Uriah killed to cover up his sin.
  • Peter, a faithful disciple of the Lord denied the Lord because of his fear of men.

These are just a few of the fallible men who followed the Lord and strayed from doing his will.  We could mention Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Mark, etc.  Thankfully, we have a wonderful savior who will work in our hearts to restore us to Himself if we stray.  Let’s consider the words of the Lord to Peter before he denied the Lord.  “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32). (NKJV).  Notice how the Lord prayed for Peter even before he strayed.  1 John 2:1 tells us, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”  An advocate is one who pleads our cause with the Father.  The Lord Jesus pleads for us on the ground of justice, or righteousness, as well as mercy. Although He can say nothing good ABOUT us, He can say much FOR us. It is this righteous One, the Lord Jesus Christ, who stands up for us.  He is the propitiation, or atoning sacrifice for our sins in verse 2.  It is apparent that every true believer has the Lord Jesus as our advocate.  We are told to sin not, yet if we do sin, the Lord’s advocacy work has already begun to restore us to Himself.

Now, let’s consider 1 John 2:19 which says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”  There are those who profess Christ as their savior, but in time, leave that profession behind.  These were not truly saved, and they ‘strayed’ from their profession after a while.  The Lord addresses these false professors in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 

It is those who “doeth the will of my Father” that are truly saved.  What is the will of the Father in this instance? We read in John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that YE BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM HE HATH SENT.”  The only way we can be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God sent to die for our sins that we might be saved…that we might have eternal life.  It is possible we might stray, but the Lord will work to restore us to Himself.  He will not give up on us.  He will not take our eternal life away.  The Lord assures us in John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  (CC)  (686.2)