Truth About Losing Your Salvation
Can the Believer Lose Their Salvation?
This question often comes up in discussions among Christians and there is a healthy debate on whether or not it is possible to lose your salvation. The question and the answer are important because they can affect your relationship with God. For example, if someone believes that he can lose his salvation then he might fall into the error of trying to keep his salvation by what he does. This is a serious error (Gal. 3:1-3). On the other hand, if he believed he could not lose his salvation then, he might fall into the error of sinning willfully because he believes it can’t be lost no matter how much he sins. This also is very wrong (Rom. 6:1-2,11-12). The proper understanding of salvation is that works play no part in it (Rom. 4:5), that it is a free gift (Rom. 6:23), and that it is received by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Once we are saved we are to live a holy life (1 Thess. 4:7).
Fortunately whether you believe you can or cannot lose your salvation does not affect your salvation. That is, your salvation is dependent upon accepting Jesus as Savior, trusting in His sin sacrifice, and looking to no one and nothing else. Your salvation isn’t dependent upon whether or not you think it is possible to lose your salvation.
The important point is that you have studied the Word of God and are convinced in your own mind of what you believe (Rom. 14:5). You are the one who has to answer to God (Rom. 3:19). You are the one who needs to study to show yourself approved (2 Tim. 2:15).
There are on the surface good verses for both sides of the argument. There are verses that seem to suggest that it is possible to lose your salvation: 2 Pet. 2:1; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:26; 6:4_6; Ps. 69:28, and there are also verses that seem to say you cannot lose your salvation: John 10:27_28; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 7:21_23; 1 John 2:19; Rom. 8:38_39. But if there are verses used to support both sides, then is there a contradiction in the Word of God? Of course not. There can be no contradiction in the inspired Word of God, only in our uninspired misunderstanding.
It is my opinion, and I stress opinion, that it is not possible to lose one’s salvation. I base this on scriptures that seem to have a more “eternal” perspective on them. For example, on the day of judgment when some seek salvation based upon their works Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21-23). They were never known, that is, they were never saved although they appeared, from the human perspective, to be saved. Jesus says that His sheep will “never perish but have eternal life” (John 10:28). How can eternal life be eternal if it can be lost particularly when Jesus said that they will never perish. If they will never perish, then they can’t lose their salvation. Also, Paul says that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). I see these “divine perspective” type verses as giving us glimpses into the viewpoint of God. I see the other verses as being stated from a human perspective, that they appeared to be saved and then appeared to lose it (Gal. 5:4; Heb. 6:4-6). However, 1 John 2:19 says in dealing with antichrists, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us,” (NASB). I see this verse saying two things: First, that if it appears that false teachers leave because they are not regenerated to begin with. In other words, if someone had salvation and then lost it, it was because they never were saved in the first place. Second, it says that if someone is saved, they will remain in the faith.
Nevertheless, there are different positions on this issue. One position states that it is possible to lose your salvation, but only if you want to. In other words, having been set free from sin, the person is then able by an act of will to deny the Lord and desire not to be a part of Him any longer.
Another position states that it is possible to lose your salvation if you sin too much. Then you need to go and confess your sin and get saved again. This has obvious problems because it could lead to someone trusting in his works and God’s grace to be saved.
Another position states that it is not possible at all to lose your salvation, that because Jesus has redeemed you and you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) you cannot, then, turn your back on God. Since attaining salvation did not depend on anything you did, keeping it does not depend on anything you do, then also, losing it can’t occur because of anything you do.
Unfortunately, this topic has caused far too much friction in the church today. My hope is that people who disagree, can learn to live harmoniously with their eyes on Jesus
CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS & RESEARCH MINISTRY |
www.carm.org | HOME PAGE |
drugs and crime and treatment…
Buy_generic drugs…
blood pregnancy test jacksonville fl…
Buy_generic meds…
swollen ankles headache pregnancy…
Buy_generic drugs…
permanent removal of adult acne scars…
Buy_generic meds…
oral cancer hospital…
Buy_generic meds…
joke male birth control…
Buy_generic meds…
enhancement drugs…
Buy_no prescription…
prozac daily strength…
Buy_generic pills…
drug test company…
Buy_without prescription…
acne in cats…
Buy_it now…
social etiologies for patients with schizophrenia…
Buy_it now…
nursing times alzheimer mavis ford…
Buy_it now…
diseaeses contracted from sand fleas…
Buy_now it…
pet ct scan results accuracy cancer…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
pictures of herpes blisters…
Buy_generic pills…
epson salt and lemon juice diet…
Buy_generic pills…
l91 energizer e2 lithium aa cells…
Buy_generic drugs…
how to buy glucose meter…
Buy_generic meds…
skin cancer foundation australia…
Buy_generic drugs…
reversing alcohol induced neuropathy…
Buy_generic meds…
natural cures for premature ejaculation…
Buy_generic drugs…
canine medi cam rx…
Buy_generic drugs…
canadian paediatric diabetes association…
Buy_now…
discovery of zinc in human health…
Buy_now…
depression medcine xr…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
social interaction anxiety…
Buy_without prescription…
school age adhd self absorbed…
Buy_now it…
diet generator reviews…
Buy_it now…
psychiatric care model…
Buy_generic meds…
at home diet programs…
Buy_generic pills…
maple syrup and lemon juice diet…
Buy_it now…
most successful diet ever…
Buy_generic pills…
meal plan for hypertension…
Buy_generic drugs…
how can i lower my cholesterol…
Buy_generic drugs…
sleep apnea side effect of lexapro…
Buy_generic pills…
scabies in dogs help…
Buy_generic drugs…
foods with triglycerides in them…
Buy_generic drugs…
advisory group on hepatitis uk…
Buy_no prescription…
regulations for dementia units…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
flat warts and probiotics…
Buy_generic drugs…
medicare drugs covered…
Buy_generic meds…
state of arizona ontiveros drug…
Buy_now it…
lexapro versus prozac differences…
Buy_without prescription…
diet secrets for models…
Buy_now it…
sample ncp for diabetes…
Buy_without prescription…
what year was advil introduced…
Buy_now it…
.…
Buy rock US Charts…
benadryl dogs…
Buy_generic drugs…
..…
Buygeneric meds…
.…
Buygeneric drugs…