Can you lose your salvation?
Posted: August 6, 2009 Filed under: Series, Theology | Tags: Christ, Christianity, faith, Jesus, salvation 20 Comments »
Can a person lose their salvation? I do not believe that Scripture teaches that you can. First, a few things need to be understood before answering this question.
What is sanctification?
Salvation (or justification – made sinless in the eyes of God) is soley obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification is derived from the Latin word santus facere which literally means “to set apart or make holy”. After you are justified through faith, you are sanctified by the Holy Spirit within you.
If you can’t lose your salvation, isn’t it just a license to sin?
By definition, yes. By Biblical logic, absolutely not. Paul says in Romans 6, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Anyone who would take this doctrine as a free pass to sin without restraint is not repentant (to turn away from and confess a sin). Will we sin? Of course. Is there a limit to His forgiveness? Of course not. Did He die for my sins past, present, and future? Of course. Would a truly saved person continue to live in (habitually commit) the same sin? Of course not. Sanctification brings about repentance; they go together. If you’re not repentant, you should seriously consider where your salvation stands. This is precisely why Jesus and His disciples preached that repentance was so important. Salvation is much harder to obtain than many think (for proof of this read: Matthew 7:13-25).
A bit of Scriptural defense (with my logic below):
Jeremiah 32:38-40 – They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.
Jeremiah speaks of the New Covenant that will be established later by Christ. God (through the Holy Spirit) will bring about a level of fear in our hearts for the commands of God. This is key to the argument that repentance is a sign of true salvation.
1 John 3:9 – No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
It is essential to understand the Greek translation in this verse. “Cannot” is from the Greek word dunamai meaning ”destruction of ability” (to live a life characterized by sin). “Remains” is the Greek word meno meaning ”permanent dwelling”. Therefore, you can and will sin as a human, but you cannot enter to a level of habitual, God-ignoring sin if you are saved because the Holy Spirit permanently lives in you. Also see Romans 8:9-10, just to name another.
Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
You see here that Christ saves us completely because it is His nature (He lives to) intercede for us.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
He doesn’t need us to intercede with good works, only He can save. God prepared the ones who would accept Christ to be like Christ, and this sanctification process brings about a specific way of living.
Philippians 1:3-6 – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
As new creations and partners with Him, God will complete the work that He has sealed in us through our faith in Christ. This goes back to the idea in the previously listed verse that Christ will save us completely.
1 John 5:4 – For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
If you are born of God (saved), you will overcome the world (i.e. the sinful patterns of the world). Often Paul says phrases like, “if you overcome” and this is often used as defense that you can lose your salvation. Paul is actually saying that if you don’t overcome, you haven’t been truly born of God.
Conclusion
The Bible states that we should “work out salvation with fear and trembling”. There is not a realistic level of comfort that we should ever have with our salvation. That process of sanctification is a really sloppy road. You are almost assured to have ups and downs. These ups and downs are very different than habitual downs. The Good News: God sent Christ to die for those who would put their faith in Him, and the Holy Spirit seals our faith and begins a good work in us that He will complete.
this is so good, that finally that someone has made the point that our salvation is about faith in christ and has nothing to do with the law, because the law IS ABOUT WORKS.
the essence of faith.
(1) it invites christ to live in each believer.
(2)it enables an intimacy with christ , so that he can say, he knows us.
Great Question. Consider the following:
John 10:27-29 – life is eternal, never perishing sheep
Romans 8:29-30 – indicates those called, ultimately glorified, an unbroken chain
(also see Ephesians1:3-14)
Ephesians 1:7-12 – Sealed by His blood
Not to mention John 6. Jesus says here that He loses NONE. This question truly depends on your theology of Salvation. God centered or Man centered. In a God centered Salvation, He seals, He keeps, He delivers, He glorifies. In a Man centered Salvation, we fall, and can’t get up again. I trust in a God Centered Salvation.
OORAH.
Matt Parker
scripture says that none come to the son unless drawn by the father.
who is to say who is drawn by the father.
what i never understood is why believers concern themseves about who is saved, and who isnt. christ said only to make disciples.
can faith be inspired thru fear or regulation?
am i misunderstanding romans 10: 5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”[a] 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’[b]” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7″or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’[c]” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
Actually Matt, I would say that the question depends not on your theology of salvation, but rather on what the Bible has to say about salvation. Our theology should come from the BIble, not the Bible should come from our theology.
The Wesleyan view says that by the law of common sense (if you will) a man cannot freely choose something that God chose for him before he had the chance to freely choose. Wesleyans believe that the Bible, in its entirety, does not portray a God who is unmoved by all human interaction, but rather, in relating with us he does allow man the freedom to follow God freely. Man in no way works out his salvation strictly on his own, that’s absurd. That is a misunderstanding. Who would ever say that they are the ones who became the New Covenant and died for their own sins, and the world’s? THat’s just about how serious this misunderstanding is. If one were to claim that they, themselves were the authors of their own salavtion would basically be claiming to be Christ crucified and risen again. No true believer would ever say that.
I will finish my reply when I have time. I have a class coming in in a couple of minutes.
God bless you,
Daniel Prince
So, someone please tell me how, in Arminian theology, one can be the master of their own fate, in contrast, I beleive, to the fact that God is in control of this, and then be eternally secure. It is incongruous at best.
I know this is “post jumping” but for one to be Arminian and Eternally secure begs many questions … the least of which is the test of logic. To obtain is to keep. To keep is to potentially lose. To be given is to recieve and when kept by God, it can only then be secure.
I don’t even know what that means. I am exhausted. Will post when my brain is coherent again.
Matt
i dont know about mastering ones own fate. but my understanding is that every good thing comes from heaven………………even our faith. but each is has the free will to take or not take the good thing, to make it part of himself.
revelation………….when jesus knocks on the door…………..we still have to open the door and invite him in.
If we didn’t do anything to deserve salvation, how could we do anything to lose it? This doesn’t depend on us but God. Our minds can not conceive how God thinks. His ways are truly much higher than ours.
TW
Daniel,
I couldn’t agree more. This question DOES depend on what the Bible says … However, in our “infinite human wisdom” (I am doing quotation marks in the air with my fingers) we have two diametrically opposed views of what the Bible Says, so, it then does depend on your theology … The Bible doesn’t change, we just either get it right, or we don’t, or somewhere in the middle. Having said that ….
I have some questions and statements for discussion by the group.
First of all, the idea that God can’t or wont ask us to choose something that we can’t do must be addressed. Let us remember that the command to choose was given PRE FALL in the commandment not to eat of the tree. A choice for obedience or disobedience was made.. a choice for God, or rejection of God. Before the fall, all power to choose was in our hands. Then that pesky fruit. After death … after the fall … our ability to choose is intact, the problem with us is our inclinations are now, in spiritual terms, to choose what is in our own best interest. “our thoughts are only evil continually”. Thus the language in Romans .. no one seeks after God, nor indeed can he … ( I paraphrase)
The dead can’t because the desire for Him died in the Garden. Thus the rebirth, regeneration if you absolutely must use a calvanistic term, THEN the ability to choose is augmented, restored if you will, with the inclination to seek God … and once done, we WILL Seek HIM.
Go back through John 6 with this light in mind and see what you get.
Don’t forget, I spent 29 of my 34 years an ardent Arminian. At least be open to the idea that it may not be accurate. So long as the Bible teaches on or the other, I’m OK with that! Sola Scripture!!!
I guess that was more of a statement, not a question. I forgot the questions while I was writing. I will return ….
Matt
what ever is asked will be about the the three commandments of love……………if it is not, it is not being asked.
in other words it will be about loving god, self , and neighbor as well as about loving one another in the same way that christ loved us……. in a unified way that unites them all.
there is the argument that the first commandment supersedes everything.
not according to 1john20. one cannot love god who they have not seen if they do not love their brother who they have seen. the first and second are linked together…………..one does the first as one does the second as well. and it will also be done in being a servant either to self or to another or possibly both.
but the new covenant is without regulation, so nothing will be asked out of regulation, but instead because it is of the spirit of the one who lives in each believer …………christ.
Brandon,
I stumbled onto your blog today and have enjoyed reading your thoughts as well as the thread on salvation. I thought I would chime in briefly on your comments regarding the interchangeability of “salvation” and “sanctification”.
” Salvation is soley obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification is derived from the Latin word santus facere which literally means “to set apart or make holy”. My view is that “salvation” and “sanctification” can be used interchangeably because salvation is the process of sanctification, not a one time event. ”
Are you saying you believe salvation comes as a process, something that occurs over time, rather than something granted upon a genuine confession of faith? I apologize as I have not had time to read all the discussions on this thread if you have clarified already.
~Mike
HELPPPPP?????
me to understand.I am a fairly new christian.I went to a non denominational church and the message was about losing your salvation. he used all sorts of scripture{some of what i see up here.}He also said if we were grafted into the vine how do we have the audacity to think he wouldnt remove us.He also mentioned if i was in sin ie…lied lust etc and i died without confessing that sin i would not be in heaven.I asked him to clarify and he came back at me saying i was trying overrule Gods word by saying that once or twice is okay.The thing I understood it to be like adoption.(which i am}. If i wrong my father he would correct me but never think of disowning me.If this is God where is the good news.If this is how it is its no different than what the world has to offer. Its who you now to get in then work like hel just to stat ther. please help me understand better.
Scott,
Never fear, we have all been there before … most of us anyway. I just call you to Ephesians 2:8-9. The very faith that we excercise to believe in Christ, to receive His gift of Salvation comes from Him. “Not of works” so we can’t boast or brag that we somehow had something to do with it. That would make us very arrogant and look down on those who were not saved.
Also, you have gone past “snorkel depth” for a new beleiver and have entered the “scuba zone”. Pretty deep stuff for a new brother. Ask yourself this, “Do I believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do I beleive He came, died, was buried, and rose again for the Salvation of Man?” If you beleive this and you have placed your faith that you now have in Him, then according to Romans 10:9,10 and 13, you are a child of God.
Paul the apostle says to , “work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” I think by this he means that none of us really understand it all, 1 John 5:11-13 says, “these things are written that you may KNOW!” that you have eternal life. Great verse, man.
Don’t sweat your friend at that church. He needs a great big heeping bowl of Grace! Trust Jesus. He will work this one out through you in due time. Keep reading, studying, asking…but most of all …
Keep on believing! Keep on Loving! and giving yourself to Him daily.
Amen.
Love you man … don’t know you, but you are my brother and I love you in the name of Christ. Welcome to the family, Dude.
Matt
very well said, i love the simplicity.
Good little devotional on Sanctification by Jerry Bridges ….
Desperately Dependent
Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:25
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Read it online at the Bible Gateway: (NIV) (NASB) (KJV) (The Message)
Progressive sanctification is not a partnership with the Spirit in the sense that we each—the believer and the Holy Spirit—do our respective tasks. Rather, we work as he enables us to work. His work lies behind all our work and makes our work possible.
The Holy Spirit can and does work within us apart from any conscious response on our part. We see this in the initial act of sanctification when he creates within us a new heart and a new disposition toward God and his will. He’s not dependent on us to do this.
But we’re dependent on him to do our work; we cannot do anything apart from him. In the process of sanctification there are certain things only the Spirit can do, and certain things he has given us to do. For example, only he can create in our hearts the desire to obey God, but he does not obey for us. We must do that, but we can do so only as he enables us.
So we must depend on the Spirit to do within us what only he can do. And we must equally depend on him to enable us to do what he has given us to do. Whether his work or our work, we’re dependent on him.
We aren’t just dependent on him; we’re desperately dependent. Because we so often equate Christ-like character with ordinary morality, we fail to realize how impossible it is for us to attain any degree of conformity to Christ by ourselves. But if we take seriously the many Christ-like character traits we’re to put on, we see how impossible it is to grow in Christ-likeness apart from the sanctifying influence and power of the Spirit.
Great article Brandon!
I may be quoting you in my Facebook Bible study group here http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=59251703456&topic=13654
God Bless.
there is so much of ourselves that was created by christ that we have difficulty accepting that is unique and special to ourselves. there is so much that we call sin that is not sin.
that fact is that our focus on sin compared to love is 70/ 30 when in esence it should be the other way around and even down to 20/80.
because it is in loving ourselves thru the heart of christ, the one who lives in us, that we will achieve true self affirmation.
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