Can a Christian lose Salvation

1. "Can a Christian lose Salvation?"–24th
August 2017
“They went out fromus, but they didnot really belongto us. For ifthey hadbelongedto us, they
wouldhave remainedwith us; but their goingshowedthat none of them belongedto us.”(1John
2:19).
A “Christian”isnota personwho off andon says a prayerwhenfacedwithtrouble orsimplyclaims or
beenraisedina Christianfamily.Whileeachof these thingscanbe a part of the Christianexperience,
theyare notwhat makes one a Christian.A Christianisapersonwhohas beensavedby absolute trustin
JesusChristas the onlySavior,repents fromlivingasinful lifeandchange hisorher waysand become a
God fearingpersonalitywho receives the indwellingof the Holy Spiritisone whoisa Christian.All of us
are sinnersone wayorthe otherand therefore we needtobe savedfrometernal destruction.He sent
His sonto saveshumanity.We can understandthiswhenwe read John3:16, “ForGodso lovedthe
world thathe gave hisone and onlySon, that whoever believesin himshall not perishbut have
eternal life.” We are savedthroughGods grace as we can learnfrom Ephesians2:8–9, “Forit is by grace
you have been saved,through faith—andthisisnotfrom yourselves,it is the gift ofGod— 9
notby
works, so that noone can boast.”
Withthisdefinitioninmind, we referbacktothe question:Cana Christianlose salvation? Thisis a
cruciallyimportantquestion.Perhapsthe bestwaytoansweritisto examine whatthe Bible saysoccurs
at salvationandto studywhatlosingsalvationwouldentail.Salvationisthe overridingthemeof the
entire Bible.Butsince itisa multidimensional themewithawide range of meaning,simple definitions
are impossible.The biblicalwritersspeakof salvationasarealitywithat once spiritual andphysical,
individualandcommunal,objectiveandsubjective,eternalandhistorical dimensions.Since the biblical
writersviewsalvationasa historical reality,the temporal dimensionsof past,present,andfuture
furtherintensifyanddeepenthe concept.Salvationisaprocesswitha beginningandanend.The Bible
constantlyspeaksaboutsalvationin the contextof some verysimple andconcrete relationships
betweenhumansandGod.
Whenone becomesa true Christian,we change fromsintodevelopastrongrelationshipwithGod.He
or she becomesa newcreation aswe can learnfrom 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, ifanyone is in
Christ,the new creationhas come: The oldhas gone,the new ishere!” We needtobear inmindthat a
true Christianisnot simplyan“improved”versionof a sinful personbutanentirelynew creature to
whomGod isthe priority. He or she thenbelongstoChristand is “inChrist.”
Whena Christian issavedhe or she is redeemed. The Greekwordusedforredeemedis“lytrōsis”and
has a literal meaningof “aransoming,deliverance”or“a rescue”and that isexactlywhatJesushas
done…by givingHisownlife over2,000 yearsago at Calvary. We can learnfrom 1 Peter 1:18–19 “For
you knowthat it was not with perishablethingssuchas silver or goldthat you were redeemed from
the empty way of lifehanded downto you from yourforefathers, but withthe preciousbloodof Christ,
a lambwithout blemishor defect.” The word redeemed referstoa purchase beingmade,aprice being
paid.We were purchasedatthe cost of Christ’sdeath.Fora Christiantolose salvation,GodHimself
wouldhave torevoke Hispurchase of the individual forwhomHe paidwiththe preciousbloodof Christ.

2. Whena Christianissavedhe or she is justified throughfaithasstatedin Romans5:1, “Therefore, since
we have been justifiedthroughfaith,we have peace with Godthroughour Lord Jesus Christ.” To
justify throughfaith istobe declaredrighteous throughourfaithinChrist.All those whoreceiveJesusas
Saviorare “declaredrighteous”byGod. Therefore fora Christiantolose salvation,Godwouldhave togo
back on HisWord and “un-declare”whatHe hadpreviouslydeclared.Those absolvedof guiltwould
have to be triedagainand foundguilty.Godwouldhave toreverse the sentence handeddownfromthe
divine bench.
The bible teachesusthata Christianispromisedeternal life. Assatedabove in John3:16, “whoever
believes inhim shall notperish but have eternal life” Eternal life isthe promise of spendingforeverin
heavenwithGod. Inthe above verse God promises,“Believe andyouwill have eternal life.” Therefore
for a Christiantolose salvation, eternallifewouldhave to be redefined.The Christianispromisedtolive
foreverwithGod.The believerismarkedbyGodand sealedbythe Spirit asstatedin Ephesians 1:13–14
“Andyou alsowere includedinChristwhen you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your
salvation.Whenyoubelieved,you were marked in himwith a seal, the promisedHoly Spirit, 14
whois
a depositguaranteeingour inheritanceuntil the redemptionof those whoare God’spossession—to
the praise of hisglory.” At the momentof faith,the new Christianismarkedandsealedwiththe Spirit,
whowas promisedasa depositto guaranteethe heavenlyinheritance.The endresultisthatGod’sglory
ispraised.Fora Christiantolose salvation,Godwouldhave toerase the mark,withdraw the Spirit,
cancel the deposit,breakHispromise,revokethe guarantee.
Whenwe read above,we canunderstandthata Christiancannotlose salvation.Most,if notall,of what
the Bible sayshappenstous whenwe receive Christ,would be invalidatedif salvationcouldbe lost.
Salvationisthe giftof God, andGod’s giftsare “irrevocable”aswe can learnfrom Romans11:29, “ …for
God’sgiftsandhis call are irrevocable.” A Christiancannotbe un-newlycreated.The redeemedcannot
be un-purchased.Eternal lifecannotbe temporary.Godcannotrenege onHisWord. Scripture saysthat
God cannot lie aswe can read in Titus 1:2, “…inthe hope ofeternal life, whichGod,who doesnot lie,
promisedbefore the beginningoftime…”
Two commonobjectionstothe belief thataChristiancannotlose salvationconcernthese experiential
issues:a) Whatabout Christianswho live in a sinful,unrepentantlifestyle? b) Whatabout Christians
who rejectthe faith and denyChrist? The problemwiththese objectionsisthe assumptionthat
everyone whocallshimselfa“Christian”hasactuallybeenbornagain.The Bible declaresthata‘true
Christian’will notlive astate of continual,unrepentantsin asclearlystatedin 1 John3:6, “Noone who
livesin him keeps on sinning. Noonewho continues to sin haseither seen himor knownhim.” The
Bible alsosaysthat anyone whodepartsthe faithisdemonstratingthathe wasnevertrulyaChristian as
statedin 1 John2:19, “They wentoutfromus, but theydidnotreallybelongtous.For if theyhad
belongedtous,theywouldhave remainedwithus;buttheirgoingshowedthatnone of thembelonged
to us.” He or she mayhave beenreligious, ormayhave put ona goodshow,but wasneverbornagain
by the powerof God. Because we can learnfrom Matthew 7:16, “By their fruit you will recognizethem.
Do people pick grapesfrom thorn bushes,or figsfrom thistles?” The redeemedof Godbelong:“So,my
brothers andsisters, you alsodied to the law throughthe body ofChrist,that you mightbelong to
another, to himwho was raisedfrom the dead, inorder that we mightbear fruitfor God.” (Romans
7:4).

3. We can learnwhere we canlearnfrom Jude 24–25, that furtheremphasizesthe goodnessand
faithfulnessof ourSavior: “ToHim who isable to keep youfrom fallingandto present you before his
gloriouspresence withoutfaultand withgreat joy—tothe onlyGodour Savior be glory,majesty,
power and authority,throughJesus Christour Lord, before all ages, nowand forevermore! Amen.”
(Jude24–25).