Is it possible, as some in the Christian community suggest, to receive salvation by way of God’s grace and then at some point lose it? Is there any chance a Christian can go so far or so low that causes God to disown them from Himself? Scripture and common sense say no.
The Bible says that we are “saved, through faith... not by works” (Eph. 2:8-9). That means that nothing we do ourselves, other than simply believe, plays a part in our salvation experience. If we are saved in this way, why would we then think that the system all of a sudden changes and we remain saved by doing good works? It would be like losing 30 pounds on a diet and exercise regiment and then plan on keeping the same figure by eating cupcakes and watching television. As the old saying goes, “Stick with what brought you here.”
Of course God doesn’t want us to continue to sin (1 John 2:1), and it’s not as if sin doesn’t have it’s consequences for believers (Acts 5), but it’s not as if God’s naive enough to think we won’t sin. After all, He knows the future ahead of time. Jesus died for our sins long before any of us were born, being fully aware of each indiscretion we would commit - pre and post conversion. He knew Peter would disown Him, Thomas would doubt Him, John Mark would quit on Him, and I would - well let’s not go into that. And yet He forged his way to the cross nonetheless, in order to save the very ones He promised to “never leave nor forsake” (Hebrews 13:5).
The reason so many of us are confused about the surety of the believer’s salvation is that we are inclined to think and operate according to worldly standards, whereby forgiveness and grace are conditional, always dependent upon future actions and or failures. If we apply that philosophy to the spiritual world it makes God just like us. And that He is not.
If you’re struggling with this issue, spend some time in the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. You should discover that God is not in the business of losing the found, but rather finding the lost. |
