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Can a person LOSE Salvation?
Q. Once you are saved, are you always saved? How can you lose your salvation?
(Submitted by: Chris)
A. Most certainly, once you are saved you are always saved. The question is: When are you saved? I am afraid that, as we look at what God is saying, in the Bible, the truth that transpires is much different from the mainstream Protestant belief. The common error is two fold: 1) That the Law is done away. 2) That once converted you are saved.
Even before sorting through the Scriptures, the simple logical question would be: How can you fail? Of course, having the faith of Jesus Christ, according to the prevailing doctrine, is what saves an individual. When all is said and done, a person who has "received Jesus" is saved, as long as they have faith. This is what is generally believed in the Christian religious world.
What does the Bible say? Is the Law done away?
" Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. . . . For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:17-18, 20)
If one has any doubts on the relationship between keeping God's commandments and salvation, then read the following:
" . . . but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. " (Matt. 19:17)
It is quite transparent and clear. If one does not keep His commandments will not have eternal life.
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This is a very big subject indeed, and many more Scriptures can be added to those already quoted. I am not going to make a long and broad exposition here, but just consolidate the facts to prove the subject. Some people quote Scriptures that are supposed to do away with God's Law. This is one of them: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; " (Col. 2:13-14) The ten commandments were not nailed to the cross otherwise Paul would contradict Jesus. What was then nailed to the cross? It was the handwriting of requirements that was against us. In other words, the various rituals that were part of the Mosaic law with the many ordinances. Would God say that His Laws (10 commandments) are against us, as written in verse 14? Can they be against us when they entail the love of God and neighbor? ( Matt. 22:37-40). Of course it takes faith also to be saved. It is concomitant with keeping the commandments. They are intrinsically part of one another. Keeping the commandments is also part of the works that God requires His followers to do ( James 2:14-17). When is a believer saved? Once a Christian has repented and turned his life around he is on his way to salvation. He has, yet, his lifetime journey to 'travel', before he can attain it! He has to produce the fruits of overcoming - " . . . He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." (Rev. 2:11). He has to endure - " . . . but he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matt. 24:13). Some, sadly, will not endure but will turn away from God. Can they be "once saved, always saved" in this life? The 6th chapter of Hebrews gives a sobering warning: " For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost . . . If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame." (Heb. 6:4-6) A specially chosen vessel such as apostle Paul was not saved yet, as he lived. He makes that plain in I Cor. 9:27 : " But I discipline my body and bring it unto subjection, lest, when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified. " (1Cor. 9:27) When the Apostle Paul came to the end of his life, when martyrdom was imminent, he knew then that salvation was awaiting him. We can read the moving account of this in II Tim. 4:6-7: " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day . . . " (2Tim. 4:6-7) There is an appointed time for salvation, or to use Paul's words, " . . . the Lord . . . will give me on that day." When is that day? At Christ's second coming: I Cor. 15:51-53 " . . . we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. " (1Cor. 15:51-53) That is the time when God's people, those who are alive when these events take place, and those who have previously died in Christ, will be saved. The time of salvation for the rest of mankind will be at another age, and that is another subject. Other Recommended Bible Study Materials: Answer Given By: Adriano Borean |
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