Ch. 55 Why A Christian Cannot Lose Their Salvation
If a person believes a Christian can lose their salvation then that person does not know what salvation truly means. I believe the Bible teaches that if a person is a true born-again believer, then they cannot lose their salvation.
Please read this Bible passage carefully:
Ephesians 1:1314
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvationhaving also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of His glory.
If a person can lose their salvation then God must have lied when He said we were sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God must have lied when He said we were sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit.
If a person thinks they can lose their salvation if they do not keep the Ten Commandments, then they are not truly trusting in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. They are trying to insert themselves in their own salvation. They do not truly believe Ephesians 2:89:
Ephesians 2:89
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God would have to revoke His
gift which is something which He says is
irrevocable.
Romans 8:3839
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If a person can lose their salvation, then Romans 8:3839 would have
to be false.
Jude 2425
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
If a person can lose their salvation, then Jude 2425 would have
to be false.
Here is a complete article written by R.C. Sproul called
Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?
which addresses this question quite well.
Source:
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/can-christian-lose-their-salvation/
We may live in a culture that believes everyone will be saved, that we are justified by death and all you need to do to go to heaven is die, but Gods Word certainly doesnt give us the luxury of believing that. Any quick and honest reading of the New Testament shows that the Apostles were convinced that nobody can go to heaven unless they believe in Christ alone for their salvation (John 14:6; Rom. 10:910). [Quoted earlier in the Chapter titled How To Get Into Heaven]
Historically, evangelical Christians have largely agreed on this point. Where they have differed has been on the matter of the security of salvation. People who would otherwise agree that only those who trust in Jesus will be saved have disagreed on whether anyone who truly believes in Christ can lose his salvation.
Theologically speaking, what we are talking about here is the concept of apostasy. This term comes from a Greek word that means to stand away from. When we talk about those who have become apostate or have committed apostasy, were talking about those who have fallen from the faith or at least from the profession of faith in Christ that they once made.
Many believers have held that yes, true Christians can lose their salvation because there are several New Testament texts that seem to indicate that this can happen. Im thinking, for example, of Pauls words in 1 Timothy 1:1820:
1 Timothy 1:1820
18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Here, in the midst of instructions and admonitions related to Timothys life and ministry, Paul warns Timothy to keep the faith and to keep a good conscience, and to be reminded of those who didnt. The Apostle refers to those who made shipwreck of their faith, men whom he handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. This second point is a reference to Pauls excommunication of these men, and the whole passage combines a sober warning with concrete examples of those who fell away grievously from their Christian profession.
There is no question that professing believers can fall and fall radically. We think of men like Peter, for example, who denied Christ. But the fact that he was restored shows that not every professing believer who falls has fallen past the point of no return. At this point, we should distinguish a serious and radical fall from a total and final fall. Reformed theologians have noted that the Bible is full of examples of true believers who fall into gross sin and even protracted periods of impenitence. So, Christians do fall and they fall radically. What could be more serious than Peter's public denial of Jesus Christ?
But the question is, are these people who are guilty of a real fall irretrievably fallen and eternally lost, or is this fall a temporary condition that will, in the final analysis, be remedied by their restoration? In the case of a person such as Peter, we see that his fall was remedied by his repentance. However, what about those who fall away finally? Were they ever truly believers in the first place?
Our answer to this question has to be no. 1 John 2:19 speaks of the false teachers who went out from the church as never having truly been part of the church. John describes the apostasy of people who had made a profession of faith but who never really were converted. Moreover, we know that God glorifies all whom He justifies (Rom. 8:2930). If a person has true saving faith and is justified, God will preserve that person.
1 John 2:19 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, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
Romans 8:2930
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
In the meantime, however, if the person who has fallen is still alive, how do we know if he is a full apostate? One thing none of us can do is read the heart of other people. When I see a person who has made a profession of faith and later repudiates it, I dont know whether he is a truly regenerate person whos in the midst of a serious, radical fall but who will at some point in the future certainly be restored; or whether he is a person who was never really converted, whose profession of faith was false from the start.
This question of whether a person can lose his salvation is not an abstract question. It touches us at the very core of our Christian lives, not only with regard to our concerns for our own perseverance, but also with regard to our concern for our family and friends, particularly those who seemed, for all outward appearances, to have made a genuine profession of faith. We thought their profession was credible, we embraced them as brothers or sisters, only to find out that they repudiated that faith.
What do you do, practically, in a situation like that? First, you pray, and then, you wait. We don't know the final outcome of the situation, and Im sure there are going to be surprises when we get to heaven. Were going to be surprised to see people there who we didnt think would be, and were going to be surprised that we don't see people there who we were sure would be there, because we simply dont know the internal status of a human heart or of a human soul. Only God can see that soul, change that soul, and preserve that soul.
End of quote written by R. C. Sproul
Protected by the power of God
1 Peter 1:19
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
If a person can lose their salvation, then 1 Peter 1:5 would have to be false.
I believe that, because of Gods immutability and the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit in a born again believer, all true believers in Jesus Christ, once saved, shall be saved forever, for all eternity.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God must have lied when He said He gives us eternal life when we believe in Him; in other words, eternal life does not mean eternal life.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
If a person can lose their salvation, then John 5:24 would have to be false.
John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
If a person can lose their salvation, then John 10:28 would have to be false.
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
John 14:1617
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this passage would have to be false.
John 17:11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God would have to destroy His new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 5:1719
17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
19 For as through the one mans disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God would have to take away His gift of righteousness.
2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
1 Peter 1:1819
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
If a person can lose their salvation, then God would have to revoke His purchase of them but He used the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
If a person can lose their salvation, then this verse would have to be false.
Predestined to glory not only salvation.
True born again believers are predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son and we are also predestined for glory.
Romans 8:2930 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Impossible to renew them again to repentance
Some people point to Hebrews 6:6 and say it means you can lose salvation. The problem with that interpretation is that the verse is talking about a person who has heard the gospel and that salvation is by grace and not by works and then that person returns to the Law for their justification. It is not talking about a true born again believer who is trusting in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. It is Impossible to renew them again to repentance because they never repented in the first place; they never truly trusted in the work of Jesus Christ alone for their salvation, their eternal life. They have fallen away from salvation by grace alone; they are returning to the Law to be justified.
Hebrews 6:6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
If a person believes they are a Christian and believe they can lose their salvation based on their actions are trying to insert themselves into salvation. I believe the Bible teaches that salvation is wholly the work of God - - the theological word for this is monergism. I do not see how a person can read Romans 8:2930, quoted above, and still believe they can insert themselves into the miracle of salvation. Perhaps they are not truly depending on grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation? Perhaps they want to be able to do good works or never do any evil works after professing Christianity, to be able to be saved.