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Can the
Believer Lose His 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.
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