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"Can a Christian lose salvation?"

 Answer: Before this question is answered, the term “Christian” must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior.

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. 

Ephesians 2:8    

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 

 So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies. Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

Many more illustrations of what occurs at salvation could be shared. Even these few make it abundantly clear that a Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. If a Christian can lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.

The most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are 1) What about those who are Christians and continually live an immoral lifestyle? 2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.” The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle (1 John 3:6). The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian (1 John 2:19). Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed.

No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28-29). God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has given us. Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

 

Recommended Resources: Eternal Security by Charles Stanley and Logos Bible Software.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

5 Reasons Why Pocket-Sized Gospels Are Effective:

1. The Word of God is Alive!

No words of man can be as effective for evangelism as the Word of God. That's why the full book of John is included in each pocket-sized Gospel.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  - Hebrews 4:12

2. Pick-Up Appeal 

These aren't just ordinary, run-of-the-mill Gospels. Every pocket-sized Gospel has a colorful and innovative cover that is designed to attract the attention of the recipient. Are you ministering to a dog-lover? A skateboarder? A business person? A military man? A flower lover? We have the ideal pocket-sized Gospel cover for you! There are over 100 covers in a variety of languages to choose from. You are covered for all sharing situations!

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Sin: The Great Societal Equalizer

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Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.     Thoughts for Today:   Our passage today is almost a summary of the first three chapters of Romans: those who have never heard of the Bible are indicted with evidence of God by creation; intellectuals who pretend to have gained higher principles are accused by their own conscience; and the Jews are charged by the commandments given to them by God. The Lord has spoken clearly to all men throughout every generation leaving no excuses -- we are all guilty of sin. In God's court it doesn't matter if we are high or low, good or bad, rich or poor, powerful or powerless -- who we are today is meaningless. As far as God is concerned we are all the same -- sinners. And the penalty is death.     Questions to Ponder:   Have you fallen into the trap that who you are, where you were born, perhaps the color of your skin makes you better or worse than someone else?   Sin is the great societal equalizer. I think that is what makes our witness so powerful in a country like Nepal: "If a rich American would come all this way to humbly admit he is a sinner just like me -- then maybe I should listen to his testimony."   Have you spoken of your faith in Jesus recently?   Have you expressed your relief that your sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus not by anything you have done?

An Error with Eternal Consequences

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Day 553: Romans 3:4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.'     Thoughts for Today:   In 1 John 5:10, John writes: "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son."   It is the same concept Paul is speaking about in our passage today: Although God provides the invitation for anyone to believe in Him, He knew some wouldn't. Therefore, Paul proposes this unbelief of the Jews proves God was right. This might be stated another way: When a non-believer rejects God's testimony about His Son Jesus he calls God a liar. It's a pretty serious accusation and many will suffer eternal consequences for their error.     Questions to Ponder:   I always find it interesting to meet people who embrace the teaching of the Bible and Jesus personally, yet reject Him as Lord and Savior. Either Jesus is accepted for who He and the Bible says He is or He is the biggest liar who walked the face of the earth.   Is God a liar or is man? It is a very simple question.   Are you making a error with eternal consequences or will you trust in God's truthfulness?

A Biblical Repository?

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Day 551: Romans 3:2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.     Thoughts for Today:   In our previous devotion, Paul asked the rhetorical question, "What advantage is there in being a Jew if the Gentiles have now been placed at the same level (in terms of salvation) as the Jews?" He now answers the question, "First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." For thousands of years, the Jews had the word of God imprinted upon their culture -- within their very nature as His chosen people. Despite this fact Paul tells us in Romans 11:11: "Because of their [the Jews] transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious." Some would propose therefore that God is finished with the nation of Israel -- the Jews were merely a Biblical repository. In my opinion, this is not supported by Scripture. God made many promises to the Jews as a people which were uniquely their own and have yet to be fulfilled. God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 is just as valid today as His promise to us in John 3:16. God is not through with the Jews and He certainly is not finished with you and me.     Questions to Ponder:   You have been entrusted with the very words of God just like the Jews -- what are you doing with this great gift? Are you reading, studying, and meditating upon it? Are you sharing it with children, friends and strangers? Are you relying upon it?

How Great is Your Debt ?

Romans 1:14

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

 

The original Greek word used for "obligated" is "opheiletes" which means: a person indebted. In our passage today, Paul considered himself "in debt" to a lost world. Why? Because of the grace God had so lavishly heaped upon him -- regardless of the great mistakes he had made in the past.

Jesus explains this in Luke 7:40-43, [Jesus speaking to a Pharisee] "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Have you ever noticed at church how some people are so enthusiastic in worship -- standing, singing, raising hands, laughing and crying -- all in praise to God. A non-Christian might wonder why so much emotion is involved. I know why -- because I feel the same way -- relief that my debts have been cancelled by the sacrifice Jesus made for me. It is just that sometimes our perception of the "size" of the debt released governs how much joy we feel.

Clearly Paul felt a lot of relief and joy -- which he expressed with his enthusiastic commitment to spread the Gospel. His new debt was to all of mankind ("both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish") to share this Good News!

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

 

How much joy do you feel for the debts God has forgiven?

A little or a lot? 
Don't be fooled;

It is not how much or how little sin has been forgiven that matters,

because our destiny is either heaven or hell.

Some questions you might want to consider:

How do I express the joy of my salvation?

Is it solely between the Lord and myself, or

do I, like Paul feel a sense of "obligation" to share the Gospel with everyone?