If you have been following my website for any length of time you probably are aware that I don’t normally address topics that are somewhat controversial in Christian circles. While the question, can a Christian lose their salvation, is definitely a hot button issue in Christianity, I feel it is important enough for me to share my views on why I believe a true believer is eternally secure in Christ and can never lose their salvation.
I would like to list three observations on why I believe a Christian can’t lose their salvation.
Observation 1 – I can’t save myself and I can’t keep myself saved.
It is important to understand that we can’t save ourselves. Salvation is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit and we can do nothing to earn it. It is totally a work of grace. Not only that but if my salvation depended on me I would lose it. The idea that we must do something to keep our salvation shows that we don’t really understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. For you see the Holy Spirit, once we are saved, takes up residence in us to keep us secure. Just as we can’t save ourselves, we can’t, on our own, keep ourselves saved.
Observation 2 – Our salvation is not based on works.
While it is true that once we are saved good works should follow us, and are a sign that we are saved, our salvation is not based on works. Our salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit and thinking that we can do good works to earn it, again misunderstands that nothing we can do as sinners can earn our way back to God. God does all the work in saving us and no matter how many good deeds we do, none of them contribute to saving us. Simply put you didn’t do anything to gain your salvation and without the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you can’t maintain it.
Observation 3 – Scripture clearly teaches that a Christian is eternally secure.
(Ephesians 1:4-5) tells us: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” We were chosen for adoption into the family of God before creation to be holy and blameless. And while we may sin after we are saved we don’t lose our position as adopted children. We are clearly predestined to salvation.
In (John 6:38-39) Jesus declares: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” Again, Jesus is telling us that, all who God has saved will persevere to the end.
We read in (Romans 8:38-39) what I consider one of the most powerful verses in the Bible showing us why our salvation is eternally secure: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” My friends there is absolutely nothing that will ever separate a true Christian from the Father.
I believe that (1 John 2:19) is the key verse to understanding why there is so much confusion on the question can a Christian lose their salvation, for we read: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” For those who walk away from the faith, I believe, as we read here, were never saved to begin with.
I sleep well at night knowing that I am eternally secure in Christ. If I thought that I could lose my salvation I doubt that I could ever get a good night’s sleep wondering did my sins of the day cause me to lose my eternal standing with Christ. Thankfully, I understand that it isn’t me that is maintaining my salvation, but the Holy Spirit who lives in me!
Great points. We just finished in Hebrews 6 in one of my Bible studies the verse about losing your salvation. People who say you can lose it point to that spot and people who argue against them point to the same spot.
Enjoy your emails
Curt, thank you for encouraging us with this devotional today. It is a matter our ministry often encounters with individuals and leadership within the church. It’s not uncommon for new Christians to struggle with this biblical truth. However, I’m always astonished at how many mature Christians struggle with their eternal security. Therefore, I appreciate your taking the time to reaffirm Christ’s words from the cross when he declared forever – “it is finished.”
Great devotional Curt! A lot of this confusion comes from a lack of knowledge on the character of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. When we think that we maintain our salvation, God’s grace through Christ’s work on the cross becomes, as Paul would say, “nullified” or “voided.” That work was done for a great purpose and that was to completely save us now and for all of eternity!