Can A Person Lose Their Salvation?

🔥The Assurance of Salvation in Focus:

Salvation is a gift from God, secured by faith in Jesus Christ, and it is eternal. The biblical understanding is that once a person is saved, they cannot lose their salvation. This is often referred to as "Once Saved, Always Saved" (OSAS). Key to this doctrine is the belief that salvation is not dependent on human effort or continued works but on the finished work of Christ on the cross. The assurance of salvation is rooted in the promises of God, who cannot lie, and is anchored in the immutability of His counsel (Hebrews 6:17-19).

The New Testament teaches that believers are justified by faith, not by works, and this justification is a one-time event that has eternal consequences. Justification involves both the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of eternal life. It is a legal declaration by God that the believer is righteous because of their faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 4:5). While believing the gospel is within reach of the natural man, when a person believes the gospel (which is called the faith), they receive what the bible also calls the “most precious faith.” Unlike silver and gold, which are corruptible, the precious faith is incorruptible and can withstand any trial. It will be found unto “praise and honour and glory” at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). In fact, it is Christ Himself, putting His trust in the Father within us, as He says in the Psalms (Psalm 22:4-5) and in Hebrews (Hebrews 2:13). This faith is not a work of the natural man but an operation of God, produced by our union with Christ, which makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

đźš«Summary of Misconceptions:

➤ Claim: Believers must persevere in good works to maintain their salvation.

However, scripture teaches the opposite. Salvation is not maintained by human effort but is a gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The perseverance of the saints is not about maintaining salvation through works but about the assurance that those who are saved will continue in faith because God preserves them.

➤ Claim: Salvation can be lost if one falls into sin or stops believing.

This view misunderstands the biblical principle that salvation is a secure promise from God. Hebrews 6:17-19 emphasizes the assurance and immutability of God's promise, stating that believers have a strong consolation and hope as an anchor for the soul.

⚖️What Scripture Actually Says:

Scripture clearly states that salvation is a secure and eternal gift from God. In (John 10:28-29), Jesus assures us that no one can snatch believers out of His hand. (Romans 8:38-39) declares that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. These passages affirm the eternal security of the believer.

The New Testament also addresses the condition of believers, encouraging them to remain steadfast in faith and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). This is not about losing salvation but about maintaining confidence and assurance in Christ, which affects our spiritual condition and joy.

đź’ˇCorrect Understanding from Scripture:

  1. Eternal Security: Salvation is a gift of God, not based on works, and is eternally secure (Ephesians 2:8-9). Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).
  2. Justification by Faith: Believers are justified by faith, not by works, and this faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5). It is through faith that we receive forgiveness and eternal life.
  3. Assurance in Christ: Our assurance is based on God's promises and the finished work of Christ, not on our performance (Hebrews 6:17-19). We are encouraged to hold fast to this hope.
  4. New Creation: In Christ, believers are new creations, and old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation is spiritual and affects our identity and relationship with God.
  5. Perseverance in Faith: True believers will persevere in faith because God preserves them (Philippians 1:6). This perseverance is evidence of genuine faith, not a condition for maintaining salvation.

🧠Implications/Damage of Misunderstanding:

  1. Loss of Assurance: Believing that salvation can be lost leads to fear and uncertainty, undermining the assurance that God provides through His promises.
  2. Works-Based Salvation: Misunderstanding salvation as dependent on works can lead to legalism and a distorted view of God's grace, shifting focus from Christ's finished work to human effort.

🩸True Grace/Application Brings You to Christ:

  1. Rest in Christ's Finished Work: Understanding that salvation is secure allows believers to rest in the finished work of Christ, leading to peace and joy in their relationship with God (Hebrews 4:10).
  2. Focus on Christ, Not Self: True assurance comes from focusing on Christ and His promises, not on our ability to maintain salvation through works (Hebrews 12:2).

🛑Final Takeaways:

  1. Salvation is a secure, eternal gift from God, based on faith in Christ, not human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9).
  2. Assurance of salvation is rooted in God's immutable promises and the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 6:17-19).

🌳Additional Biblical Insights:

The distinction between the new covenant and the inheritance promised to believers highlights that all sin was judged on the cross, while consequences for sin remain in this life. This understanding reinforces the eternal security of salvation while acknowledging the ongoing need for spiritual growth and maturity in Christ.