DOCTRINES

SALVATION—CAN IT BE LOST?

    There are those who teach, just commit to the church to be saved. Others teach, only say a prayer or believe on Jesus. Salvation is more than just a prayer, believing, or committing to a church. A true conversion (being born-again) requires that you believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. You must obey Acts 2:38-REPENT (turn from all willful sin), AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU (by immersion). AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST-Gal 3:27. Repentance means to turn from your old ways, commit to Jesus, obey the Gospel (ref Acts 5:32; Heb 5:9), and do the will of God-ref Mt 7:21. You crucify your own will and do God’s will daily-ref Lk 9:23. Few Christians have ever made this total commitment to Jesus. Many are churchgoers and Word hearers, but they do not obey the Gospel. They are devoted Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, or Charismatics who will die dedicated to their church, but not to Jesus Christ. They are deceived. It may never occur to them they are going to hell, until they are there. It may never enter their mind that their religious leader may have mixed traditions of men with the Word of God without realizing it.

    Salvation is a commitment to Jesus in deed, not just in word.

3-THE QUESTION: CAN YOU LOSE SALVATION?

    Now the question arises, can you lose salvation? Can you lose the Holy Spirit, once you are saved? Many say salvation cannot be lost. A saved person could commit murder, rape, or child abuse and still go to heaven. They would simply lose the joy of their salvation.

    They quote Scripture about David to support their tradition. Others believe you can be saved, but if you lose your faith and return to your sinful ways, you are lost. These also stand on Scripture. One has to be wrong. God’s Word gives us the answer. Telling a person, once saved always saved, does not build faith. Only God’s Word can build faith.
   The following verses are sometimes used by those who say salvation can never be lost. David was saved. He committed murder. He did not lose his salvation, but he did lose the joy of it.
   God promised David He would not take His mercy away, even if he sinned, as He did take His mercy from Saul. Saul lost his salvation. As we read, AND DAVID SAID UNTO NATHAN, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD. AND NATHAN SAID UNTO DAVID, THE LORD ALSO HATH PUT AWAY THY SIN; THOU SHALT NOT DIE-2 Sam 12:13. NEVERTHELESS MY LOVING-KINDNESS WILL I NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL-Ps 89:33. I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID-Acts 13:34. It is written, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE-Heb 13:5. The question arises, can we forsake God? The answer is yes, and many people have. Jesus cannot divorce us, but we can divorce Him.

    It is written, NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING-Jude 24. So we ask, how does God keep us from falling? We stand BY FAITH-Ro 11:20. However, SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH-1 Tim 4:1. HAVING DAMNATION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CAST OFF THEIR FIRST FAITH-1 Tim 5:12. We are warned that, IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM-Heb 10:38. God keeps you from falling through your faith. If you cast off your faith or draw back, God will have no pleasure in you. The Bible urges us, do not DRAW BACK (from faith)…UNTO PERDITION-Heb 10:38,39.

6-BEING SEALED: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Jesus tells us, FOR HIM HATH GOD THE FATHER SEALED-Jn 6:27. When we are saved, God gives us His Spirit. Can we be unsealed? It is written, AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION-Eph 1:13,14. Note, THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE. "Earnest" or arrabon means money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited, if the purchase was not completed. It was thought to be a Phoenician word which was introduced into Greece. In modern Greek, arrabona is an engagement ring. Regretfully, some modern Bible versions have translated this word incorrectly, which has caused some confusion.

    The Bible gives us the formula for completing a purchase. Jesus paid it completely by His shed blood; however, we must hold on to our faith, for we stand by faith. We must hold THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONFIDENCE STEDFAST UNTO THE END-Heb 3:14. We enter into a contract (or covenant, or solemn agreement) when we receive Jesus. Jesus is the Groom, and we are the bride. He gives us a pledge or token of this contract, a ring, in a manner of speaking. He cannot break His contract with us. He will never leave or forsake the contract. The price of the purchase has been paid. Now, we receive an engagement ring (the Holy Spirit) as a deposit; thus, we are sealed unto Jesus as His bride. During this period of being sealed, temptations come against us to try to draw us away. We are tested to see if our love for Jesus is real. Will we wait for our Bridegroom faithfully, no matter what temptations come? Or will we stop waiting, and go off to serve another? We have been bought for a price. Jesus died for us. Yet we can "take off the ring," and choose to serve another. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to stand against the enemy. He promises no temptation will come against us that is more than we can bear. Our love and faith are being tested. If we hold firm until He calls us home, we become His bride. If we fall away, the engagement ring is forfeited. We cannot keep it, as the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that we are His, and we are waiting faithfully in love. Many do forfeit the engagement ring. They leave their first love and go to another. The other leads us to death, the lake of fire.

7-SEALED AND FAITH: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    It is written, THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE, HAVING THIS SEAL, THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS-2 Tim 2:19. WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION-1 Pe 1:5. How does God keep us? How do we stand? It is by faith. If we lose our faith, we are not standing sure, and are not kept by the power of God. For, WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM-Heb 11:6.

8-MEMBERS OF HIS BODY: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    We are MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH-Eph 5:30. One may ask, "How can we become separated, and not be members of His body?" The answer, again, is given by God’s Word. THOU STANDEST BY FAITH. If we depart from faith, we depart from being members of His body.

9-NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD:
CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Paul tells us, FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD-Ro 8:38,39. This verse seems to support the position, one may not lose salvation. However, the verse never says we cannot separate ourselves from God. No powers can separate us, but we can choose to walk away. During the Tribulation, many will receive Jesus, but they will be tempted with taking the mark or starving to death, as they cannot buy or sell. They will be tempted to worship the image or be beheaded. Many born-again Christians will give in and take the mark and worship the image. These will go to hell. Satan cannot force you to turn from God. He tempts you, as he tempted Eve. No one forced Eve to eat of the tree. She became deceived and chose to disobey God. She died.

10-THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Some say this next verse shows that we cannot lose salvation. Jesus says, MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND-Jn 10:27-29. Born-again Christians will not perish, as long as they follow Jesus. No man can force them to depart from Jesus. However, many do depart of their own free will. Many Christians hear His voice, but they do not continue to follow Jesus till the end. God knows who will, by His foreknowledge. You and I do not.

11-WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    It is written, WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD?-Ro 8:35. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; except ourselves.

12-YE ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    The Bible cautions us, GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION-Eph 4:30. Some say this shows we cannot fall. We are warned, however, not to grieve the Spirit with sin, lest the "earnest" of the Spirit be removed.

13-I HAVE SUCCORED THEE: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Another Scripture sometimes used by those who do not believe salvation can be lost is, IN THE DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I SUCCORED THEE-2 Cor 6:2. We are succored (helped-NIV) (or given timely aid in distress) with the earnest of our inheritance. The Bible also says, HAVING PREDESTINATED US-Eph 1:5. Some say this means we cannot lose salvation. But it is also written, ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD-1 Pe 1:2. God knows by His foreknowledge, if we will hold firm; therefore, He PREDESTINATED US. This is not a guarantee, however, that you cannot lose salvation.

14-DO THESE VERSES SHOW WE CAN'T LOSE OUR SALVATION?

    The verses given, thus far, are the main ones people use to prove salvation cannot be lost. However, when viewed in light of the rest of God’s Word, none of these verses show that we cannot depart from Christ by going into total, willful sin and rebellion against God, or by totally losing our faith; thus, losing our salvation.

15-VERSES THAT SEEM TO SAY WE CAN LOSE SALVATION

    Let's look at the verses that seem to indicate we can lose salvation to see which position is correct.

16-RIGHTEOUS TURNETH FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    God tells us, WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS TURNETH FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jesus, his faith), AND COMMITTETH INIQUITY, HE SHALL EVEN DIE THEREBY (go to hell). BUT IF THE WICKED TURN FROM HIS WICKEDNESS (repents), AND DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT, HE SHALL LIVE THEREBY-Ezek 33:18,19. These people thought they could not lose salvation. God seems to be displeased that they thought, once saved, always saved. He speaks through Ezekiel with words that seem to explode: (17)-THY PEOPLE SAY, THE WAY OF THE LORD IS NOT EQUAL: BUT AS FOR THEM, THEIR WAY IS NOT EQUAL. These words are for every person who believes once saved, always saved. The way of God, once you surrender to Jesus, is all your sins are erased. They are not remembered. But, if you turn back to sin (turn from your faith), all your good deeds are equally not remembered. God’s ways are totally just. When the RIGHTEOUS MAN DOTH TURN FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY...HE SHALL DIE IN HIS SIN, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HE HATH DONE SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED-Ezek 3:20. This includes baptism. Jesus said, regarding baptism, THUS IT BECOMETH US TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS-Mt 3:15. Once you are saved, if you fall away, then you need to repent and be re-baptized.

17-I SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY: THOU SHALT BE CUT OFF
CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Paul said, I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: LEST THAT BY ANY MEANS, WHEN I HAVE PREACHED TO OTHERS, I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY-1 Cor 9:27. Paul knew we could lose salvation as also exemplified in the following. BEHOLD THEREFORE THE GOODNESS…OF GOD…IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALT BE CUT OFF (if you do not continue in faith and obeying the Gospel, you shall be cut off). AND THEY ALSO, IF THEY ABIDE NOT STILL IN UNBELIEF, SHALL BE GRAFTED IN: FOR GOD IS ABLE TO GRAFT THEM IN AGAIN-Ro 11:22,23. They can be saved, but fall into unbelief and lose salvation. However, if they repent and believe again, God can save them again (a second time).

18-OUR LAMPS ARE GONE OUT: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Jesus tells us, THE FOOLISH SAID UNTO THE WISE, GIVE US OF YOUR OIL; FOR OUR LAMPS ARE GONE OUT-Mt 25:8. Their light was burning. They were saved. Then, their light went out. They once had oil (the Holy Spirit), but now their lamps were quenched.

19-HE WAS TURNED TO BE THEIR ENEMY: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Isaiah also shows us, HE WAS THEIR SAVIOUR…HE REDEEMED THEM…BUT THEY REBELLED…HE WAS TURNED TO BE THEIR ENEMY-Isa 63:8-10.

20-HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Moses knew you could lose salvation. He besought God saying, YET NOW, IF THOU WILT, FORGIVE THEIR SIN; AND IF NOT, BLOT ME, I PRAY THEE, OUT OF THY BOOK WHICH THOU HAST WRITTEN. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHOSOEVER HATH SINNED AGAINST ME, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK-Ex 32:32,33. David knew you could lose salvation. He prayed, LET THEM BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING-Ps 69:28. If your name is in the book of life, you are saved. If your name is blotted out, you lose your salvation.

21-THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Saul lost his salvation. Samuel said to him, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU ASK OF ME, SEEING THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, AND IS BECOME THINE ENEMY? BECAUSE THOU OBEYEDST NOT THE VOICE OF THE LORD-1 Sam 28:16,18. He was saved, but he refused to obey God’s Word. Is this you?

22-HE WILL FORSAKE YOU: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    BUT IF YE FORSAKE HIM (the Lord), HE WILL FORSAKE YOU-2 Chr 15:2.

23-YE PERISH FROM THE WAY: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    It is written, KISS THE SON, LEST HE BE ANGRY, AND YE PERISH FROM THE WAY-Ps 2:12.

24-IF SALT LOSES ITS SAVOR: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH (saved): BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS SAVOR (that distinctive quality which sets apart or makes a difference between a saved person and an unsaved person)…IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING-Mt 5:13.

25-EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARETH NOT FRUIT HE TAKES AWAY: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    I AM THE TRUE VINE...EVERY BRANCH IN ME (every saved person in Christ Jesus) THAT BEARETH NOT FRUIT (will not serve Jesus or do the will of God) HE TAKETH AWAY...AND CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE-Jn 15:1,2,6.

26-DEPART FROM THE FAITH: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Especially in the last days, some shall DEPART FROM THE FAITH-1 Tim 4:1. They are saved, but depart from faith in Christ.

    Paul writing to the believers says, BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE-Gal 5:1. He warned them not to go back into the bondage of sin, back to the Law.

28-FALLEN FROM GRACE: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    It is written, YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE-Gal 5:4. There are those who say this does not mean what it says. They interpret it to mean that the people are fallen away from the message of grace. God will justly recompense to all who misuse the Word. We are SAVED THROUGH FAITH-Eph 2:8. Now, if you turn from your faith (seek to be justified by circumcision, thus a debtor to the Law), you are not standing by faith. You are fallen from grace. You lost your salvation.

29-CANDLESTICK REMOVED: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Jesus saith, I HAVE SOMEWHAT AGAINST THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST LEFT THY FIRST LOVE. REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM WHENCE THOU ART FALLEN, AND REPENT…OR ELSE I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK OUT OF HIS PLACE, EXCEPT THOU REPENT-Rev 2:4,5. Sinner, if you are fallen—repent quickly—before your name is removed from the book.

    It is written, BY THIS GOSPEL YOU ARE SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD… OTHERWISE YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN-1 Cor 15:2 NIV. You may be saved, but if you turn from the Word (from Jesus), it is all for nothing. You have believed in vain.

    Over and over, the Bible warns us that once we are saved we need to be careful, take heed, examine ourselves, be sure we do not fall back into unbelief and return to sin. You are free. You have liberty. Nevertheless, if once you are saved, you go back into unbelief,  willful sin, or refuse to do the will of God—and do not repent: you will perish from the way, become shipwreck, and be cast into the fire.

31-TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Wherefore, LET HIM THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL-1 Cor 10:12.

32-IN TIME OF TEMPTATION, FALL AWAY: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    The parable of the seed tells of those who, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY (they become saved, but) IN TIME OF TEMPTATION FALL AWAY-Lk 8:13

33-WORD CHOKED: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Others, GO FORTH (they begin serving God), but CARES…RICHES…PLEASURES, CHOKE THE WORD-Lk 8:13-15. They bring no fruit to perfection. They are cut off and thrown into the fire, even though they were saved.
   Only the people who IN AN HONEST AND GOOD HEART, HAVING HEARD THE WORD KEEP IT, AND BRING FORTH FRUIT WITH PATIENCE, go (to heaven)-Lk 8:15. As it is written, THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH-ref Heb 11:13.

34-BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, SUFFERED IN VAIN: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Paul asks, ARE YE SO FOOLISH? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT (these are saved, they have the Spirit of God), ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH? HAVE YE SUFFERED SO MANY THINGS IN VAIN?-Gal 3:3,4. He is asking them if they have suffered for Jesus in vain. He is cautioning them that, although they have suffered for Jesus, they can still be rejected and go to hell.

35-WEAK "BROTHER" PERISH: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    It is written, AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED?-1 Cor 8:11.

36-DOG TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN, PIG THAT WAS WASHED TO HER MIRE:
  CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    Peter also cautions Christians, that, IF AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST (they are saved), THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME (they return to their evil ways), THE LATTER END IS WORSE WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING. FOR IT HAD BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (it had been better not to have known Jesus), THAN, AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN IT (after they are saved), TO TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT DELIVERED UNTO THEM (to turn from Jesus, from the Word). BUT IT IS HAPPENED UNTO THEM ACCORDING TO THE TRUE PROVERB, THE DOG IS TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN; AND THE SOW THAT WAS WASHED (a person is clean or washed by the blood of Jesus) TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MIRE-2 Pe 2:20-22.

37-TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE: CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    If your name is in the book of life, most would agree you are saved. However, if ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE (this person will lose salvation)-Rev 22:19.

38-ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED: GOD GIVES A WARNING
  CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

    God’s Word gives a warning to all that teach "once saved, always saved" and do not acknowledge that a person can indeed turn from and forsake the Lord and perish. For they are, in effect, saying, THE WAY OF THE LORD IS NOT EQUAL: (note the Lord’s response to them) BUT AS FOR THEM, THEIR WAY IS NOT EQUAL-Ezek 33:17.

    There is no worry about losing salvation to those who abide in the will of God.

    You are a sinner. Jesus saves you through your faith. If you turn from your faith, from God’s will, you are worse off than when you began; however, you can repent again and return. God’s ways are equal.