This argument has left so many Christians ill-informed about salvation, fearful and worried over where they will end up after their departure from this earth.
Some not having a proper understanding of the subject have been caught up in the endless circle of answering altar calls over and over in order to retain or renew their salvation so they won’t end up losing it totally due to their wrong actions, words and thoughts.
To find out the possibility of a Christian losing his salvation, we need to first understand what salvation is and how it came about, else we will be drawing up conclusions that have no strong footing in the scriptures.
What is Salvation according to the Bible and how is one saved?
Salvation in the scriptures is gotten from the Greek word SOTERIA. In this context it has to do with man’s complete deliverance or rescue from sin and it’s penalty which is spiritual death and eternal separation from God’s presence.
It involves God coming through for man in order to bring him closer to himself in a loving relationship by imparting into him eternal life, which is the God-kind of life.
Having being rendered powerless and helpless by sin, man’s only way of avoiding the utter destruction that was coming ahead of him was going to be via a saviour. Someone whom sin and death has no power over, someone whom God has raised by Himself for the whole world to be saved through Him.
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:32-33 & 38-39.
ALL who BELIEVE in Him are JUSTIFIED from all things. Not by the works of the Law but by Faith. They are seen by God as if they had never sinned before when they believe in God’s grace to save them.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
So a man receives salvation by faith, not works else salvation is no longer a gift but a reward or wage. The scriptures we have seen clearly explains this.
When a man believes in the Saviour Jesus, he (the man) by faith receives the Life of God in his spirit and is said to be born again, that is, saved from sin and its eternal consequences.
He has received God’s biggest gift to man which is Salvation in His Son through faith.
So can a Christian lose this God’s gift of Salvation for any reason after he has received it by faith and perish with those who never accepted the Gospel in the first place?
The bible answers this for us. Let’s see together the book of John Chapter 3, from verse 14.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16
Twice it is stated clearly in the above verses that whosoever believes in him SHALL NOT PERISH.
The “perish” there has to do with “complete destruction from the presence of God”, the fate of all those who did not believe and receive the gift of Salvation that God has given the world through His Son.
Jesus further explains this in chapter 10 of the same book of John, verse 27 to 29.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE: and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER’S HAND” John 10:27-29 (Emphasis mine)
No man (including the believer himself) is able to pluck the one God has already saved out of his hand.
So in God’s hand, the man who has believed in Jesus for Salvation is safe, fully kept by God Himself unto the last day.
Now will there be times when he act, say and think wrong thoughts? Yes, many times.
But will these wrongs or sins cost him his salvation or separate him from God? The scriptures never said that.
In fact, Paul the apostle was so sure of the inseparable eternal union the believer has with God through Christ that he wrote.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (Emphasis mine)
The reason he was this sure that not even things present and that which is to come (sins) would be able to separate the believer from the love of God is simply because God is not counting the sins of the believer against him. Salvation took care of that.
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
God does not impute or count ours sins against us anymore. As a matter of fact, He keeps the believer secured in His love and will present him before the world “faultless” on the last day, as though he had never sinned in his entire life.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25
God is able to keep you from falling as a believer, you don’t have to be restless with the thought of keeping your salvation or losing it. As a matter of fact, you are not the one “keeping” your salvation, Salvation is what is keeping. And He will keep you till the end.
So can a Christian lose his Salvation? It is as impossible as it is for God to lie!
He saves and keeps us saved, forever! Glory to His name!
Encourage someone today by sharing this beautiful truth with him or her.
You are much loved!
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