Can you lose your salvation?

Satan wants to cause FUD (a TLA [three letter acronym] known in the computer industry — standing for Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) among God’s people. For example, when the Israelites left Egypt and traveled towards the promised land, just before they were to enter in they sent in twelve spies to search out the land. Ten returned with bad news — there were giants in the land, and we are no match for them. Two of them said God is with us, it’s no problem, let’s go in and take it. But Israel succumbed to satan’s old trick, FUD. Therefore, they wandered for 40 years, and their children were the ones to enter into the land.

This has important implications for today’s Christian. For what does the promised land represent? If you say heaven, you’re not quite right — there are giants to defeat, and many battles. No, the promised land represents the spirit filled life. Some battles still remain.

Don’t we all want to have a spirit filled life? Then we must be able to resist the FUD of the enemy. Satan uses FUD to keep us wandering in the wilderness, unfocused and powerless to engage the enemy. Satan is still up to his old FUD tricks today. The following causes much FUD for Christians.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV)

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. (2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV)

Whoops! What does this mean? Is my salvation in question? Many today teach such doctrine. But is it true? On the face of it, it would appear so. In looking at these passages, we must look at the whole counsel of God, not just these two, in order to make our case.

Let’s deal with the passage in Peter first. To take just these verses is a critical mistake. Chapter two starts out with a warning about false teachers, with the thought continuing throughout the chapter. They are “wells without water” (17) “for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (17). And when we arrive at verse 20, the subject is still false prophets. It is not about Christians, it is a warning for Christians. But notice the wording of Peter, he uses the phrase “knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. Does this imply they were saved? Hardly. James gives us a commentary on what knowledge is good for in terms of salvation.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! (James 2:19 NKJV)

Are the demons saved by their knowledge? I don’t think so. Knowledge does not imply salvation! There is an important distinction between the two. The passage in Peter talks about false prophets who were never saved in the first place; it does not, can not, apply to Christians.

But the passage in Hebrews is not so simple. “enlightened” means to make see, and both enlightened and illuminated are born-again references (Chuck Missler). But it gets worse. “tasted” is a word implying a total experience. Thus, the people referred to in this verse are believers!

Yikes! Does this means a Christian can lose their salvation (many take that view)? But what can they not be renewed to, salvation? NO! The word used here is repentance. We equate repentance with salvation, but that’s not necessarily so. To fully understand this, we look to another passage in Hebrews and a few other of Paul’s writings. (As a side note, we will see a similarity of phrases, which hints of Paul’s authorship of Hebrews).

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)

Paul was always concerned with his running a race. He did not fear losing his salvation, but being unfruitful. He exhorts us to lay aside any weight hindering us, and run with endurance the race before us. As Christians, it’s important to remember the kind of race it is. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. That’s the reason we need endurance. But Paul brings out similar ideas in his other writings.

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV)

It’s clear Paul talks of rewards, not salvation. Even if a person loses all their rewards by living a carnal and unfruitful life, they are still saved. But this race theme echoes in his writings

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV)

Paul’s first focus was always heavenly, not earthly. It’s sad today we frequently lose this focus. But still, the issue is the jeopardy of heavenly rewards, not salvation. Paul makes the distinction between the two clear. Thus, the conclusion about the passage in Hebrews is the following:

The primary reference of this passage is to Jewish believers in the sense of them being called out of Judaism. Thus, this is NOT a Salvation passage. It is talking of the fruits, the making of our lives into useful ministries. … Those who have lost their first love (Revelation 2). As we emphasize the idea that Jesus did the whole deal, we run the risk of sitting back on our security and not recognizing that we are in a race. Paul was preoccupied with this idea of being in a race. Only Christians are in this race, Paul was not running a race with sinners. Paul’s fear was not that he would lose his salvation, but that he would have an unproductive life and have his witness curtailed.(Chuck Missler “Hebrews” page 73)

Now that we have dealt with two troublesome passages, finding out what they don’t mean, you may ask is there any evidence we can’t lose our salvation? Certainly.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29 NKJV)

Notice the explicit phrase here, “they shall never perish”. If you could lose your salvation, you would perish, and Jesus would be a liar, thus it must not be possible. But also notice there are two hands here, the Father and the Son. The picture is of one hand over the other, a complete enclosure, so that “no one is able to snatch them out”. That’s comforting, because I’m a man, and if no one can snatch them out, I can’t snatch myself out.

But there’s a problem, you may say. Can’t I walk away? I don’t think so. Later Jesus, just before his betrayal, had this to say in his prayer to the Father.

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12 NKJV)

It’s not up to us to maintain our salvation. Jesus does all the work. Whose job is it to keep the sheep? Certainly not the sheep, they are too stupid. It’s the shepherd’s job to keep the sheep. And one of Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements in John is “I AM the good shepherd” (John 10:11). If Jesus is the shepherd, he isn’t going to lose any sheep. By myself, I’m sure I could mess it up, but fortunately, it’s not my job.

But there are several other considerations to think of. Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by faith, not by works. In fact, even the faith to believe is a gift from God! Logically, if I didn’t do anything to obtain salvation, can I do anything to lose it? I don’t think so. If God chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), will he unchoose us later? That would imply he can change, and God does not change (Hebrews 13:8). Thus if you are chosen, you will remain so. This idea of being chosen disturbs many people, for they think “what if I haven’t been chosen, and I’m believing in vain”. But anyone who comes to Jesus will be accepted (John 6:37 — Note: The free will vs. predestination arguments result from a lack of understating of physics and is too involved to be discussed here, just be assured if you come to Jesus, he will accept you and will not turn you away).

But Paul has another issue in Ephesians. In chapter 1 verses 13-14, he speaks of being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit of promise. Now I may be strange, but if God seals something, I don’t see how it could be unsealed. But Paul goes on to speak of the Holy Spirit as “the guarantee of our inheritance”. The old King James uses the word “earnest”, as we would use today in earnest money when purchasing a house. The earnest money means you are serious about the transaction. And God is serious about completing his transaction. We get this earnest “until the redemption of the purchased possession (Revelation 5), to the praise of His glory”. What God starts, he finishes.

But some would call this whole idea of eternal security “cheap grace”. If we don’t do anything for it, somehow it lessens the whole thing. Totally wrong. Jesus made the supreme sacrifice, to call it cheap is to demean and belittle his whole experience. Paul, of course, in Romans deals with people who think grace means they can do anything they want.

But there is another disturbing issue, illustrated in the following two verses.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ (Matthew 7:22 NKJV)

First, it’s clear these are heavy hitters. Casting out demons is nothing to take lightly. These people obviously are performing some miraculous things. But the disturbing idea is what comes next.

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:23 NKJV)

The real problem is NOT can you lose your salvation (you can’t), the real problem is, were you ever saved in the first place? This is perhaps a more disturbing question than losing your salvation. First off, we are not speaking of sincere doubts, we at some point all have those. Remember satan and his FUD campaign. Have you made a sincere prayer of commitment to Christ? If so, you don’t have a problem. If not, do it now.

But after that, how can we be assured of salvation? The Bible speaks of several ways. First, it’s important to realize we must NOT consider our feelings. They are easily manipulated by the enemy to deceive us. And if we have a great feeling, what happens when we don’t have it? Are we unsaved until we get that feeling back? Hardly. It’s simply that feelings are not a reliable assurance of our eternal security. We must trust in the Word of God.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. (1 John 5:9-10 NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 NKJV)

Nowhere does it say anything about feelings. We are not to rely on them. But there are ways to be assured. Both Paul and John speak of this.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17 NKJV)

What does this mean? How does His Spirit bear witness with our spirit? One way is simple, and often taken for granted. Do you believe the Bible? His Spirit wrote it. If you agree with it, your spirit and His are in agreement. This is not a minor point. Most people certainly don’t believe the Bible is the very Word of God. It’s just something we as Christians take for granted. But Paul says it’s one way we can know we are children of God. Also in that great chapter we call Romans 8 is the following.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14 NKJV)

Have you ever been led by the Spirit? If so, Paul says it’s because you are a son of God. In this great chapter are two ways we can be assured we are children of God. But John also speaks of the assurance of salvation in his letters.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24 NKJV)

Do you keep his commandments? If you do, it’s more evidence you are saved. Not that you have to be perfect, that is not John’s point. But that we strive to always keep his commandments. And what are they? We don’t have to guess, John tells us.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John 3:23 NKJV)

There are two ideas. First, believe on Jesus Christ — John says the same thing as Paul in Romans 10:9. But he adds one other method for assurance of salvation — love one another. So here is another way to test your salvation — do you have love for the brethren? If we don’t understand exactly what that might imply, John further amplifies this concept.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1 John 3:14 NKJV)

And what kind of love is he talking about? The Greek word for love is agapao. Simply put, it means totally given over to or devoted. But you don’t need to know Greek to understand this, as John explains.

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18 NKJV)

We have several ways in the Bible to be assured of our salvation.

• His spirit bearing witness with our spirit. (Romans 8:16-17). This occurs by the Word of God.
• Being led by God (Romans 8:14)
• Keeping God’s commandments (1 John 3:23-24)
• Love (agapao) for the brethren (1 John 3:14, 17-18)

Unfortunately, we frequently rely on feelings and experiences, which not only are unreliable, but can easily be used by the enemy to deceive us. Satan himself can transform into an angel of light (2 Cor 11:13-14). We must anchor ourselves firmly to the rock of the Word of God.

In conclusion, it is not possible for a person to lose their salvation, for it’s not theirs for the keeping, it’s Jesus’ responsibility. We contribute nothing. Secondly, we must run the race set before us with endurance. Thirdly, it is possible to have assurance of salvation. The Bible provides at least four different ways, but we must be careful not to rely on feelings or experiences, as they can deceive us.

Finally, think of Paul’s final words to Timothy, just before his execution at the hands of the Romans.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV)

Good advice from a man who would know.