Beth-El Baptist Church

06/03/2007

Greg Tomlinson

 

Can a Christian lose his salvation?

 

In today’s realm of Christian’s, there is much controversy surrounding the issue of what is called “eternal security”, “once saved always saved” or the idea that a Christian can “lose” his salvation. This is an important issue that is associated with the hope that a believer has the right to have.

 

1.      What do we know about salvation itself that can help to understand?

Psalm 80:3, 7, 19                                  Jeremiah 17:14

Matthew 10:22; 24:13                     Mark 13:13

John 1:12-13; 10:8-14                    Acts 2:21; 16:30-31

Romans 8:1                              Romans 5:6-10

1 Corinthians 3:13-15

 

Salvation is the work of God and not the work of men. It comes upon man when he believes and confesses Jesus. Notice though that the belief is to be of the heart and not of the head. It is a spiritual relationship and not an emotional feeling. The salvation of man is the result of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for sinners.

 

2.      Why would people believe that someone could lose their salvation?

Galatians 5:1-4,13                             2 Peter 2:1-4, 10-15

James 5:12, 19-20                                 1Corinthians 8:11-12; 9:27

Colossians 1:21-23                  Hebrews 3:12; 6:4-6

 

Several passages speak of the Christian falling away, being cast away, fallen from grace, perishing, moved away, once enlightened, and the like. These verses are used by some to demonstrate that people who were once believers and yet they no longer follow after Jesus Christ must have lost their salvation. The basic answer to these questions will be given later.

 

3.      Why would people believe that someone could not lose their salvation?

Hebrews 13:5                                                                 John 10:27-30

Romans 4:4; 8:38-39; 11:6                       Matthew 7:21-23

 

In order for someone to lose their salvation there are several things that must happen. God must forsake or leave his people, the person must be able to escape from the protective hands of God, the person must be able to be separated from the love of God, there must be something that a person must do in order to maintain their salvation which means that salvation ultimately is a work and not by grace, and that Jesus once intimately knew someone and he no longer does. The difficulty with these ideas is that scripture contradicts them ALL.

 

4.      What can we know about someone who used to proclaim faith in Christ, demonstrated a fruitful life, but later professes to no longer have faith in Christ?

1 Corinthians 4:2-4                      1 John 2:19

2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5 13:5                 Matthew 7:15-16; 13:3-8, 18-23

Revelation 2:9; 3:9                   Mark 13:13

Hebrews 3:19                                   Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-9

Titus 3:5

 

In these cases, the person never actually believed in their heart. They may have believed in their mind but they did not believe in the depth of the soul. They fell away because they never were Christians. The true child of God does not depart when trouble comes but he clings tighter to Jesus. He does not depart because of the teachings of men, whether theologians, scientists, teachers, or politicians. He shall endure to the end.

 

Summary

True salvation that comes from Jesus Christ indwelling a person is not a salvation that can be lost because it is based upon the promises of the Father and they were paid for by Son and assured by the indwelling Holy Spirit as a down payment for salvation. The salvation that can be lost is a salvation that was never given but was “acquired” by “earning” it. Therefore a salvation that is by works and not grace can be lost while a salvation that is by grace and not works is a gift that cannot and will not be lost.