Can a Christian lose his/her salvation?

[Quasar92]

Before this question is answered, the term “Christian” must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies. Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

Many more illustrations of what occurs at salvation could be shared. Even these few make it abundantly clear that a Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. If a Christian can lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.

The most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are 1) What about those who are Christians and continually live an immoral lifestyle? 2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.” The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle (1 John 3:6). The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian (1 John 2:19). Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed.

No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28-29). God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has given us. Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Recommended Resource: Eternal Security by Charles Stanley.

Source: qotquestions.org


Quasar92

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

I don't believe in once saved always saved for the simple reason we aren't robots we can do as we please. ( plus a person can get saved in 2017 but will he still be saved in 2020? Will he still believe in God? Many things can happen during our duration here on earth...that can influence our faith)

So man things can make a person turn from the faith :

1) they never really understood it much to begin with so the truth doesn't take root ...and they're easily swayed to another religion ( you have some Christians that start out as one but they either were disappointed by hypocritical Christians or what have you...and decided to switch to a better faith)

2) life troubles...for some people a death in the family especially someone close hurts a lot especially if they've prayed for it not to happen they feel let down and think God doesn't care about them... And some leave or renounce God..

Basically the moment you decide to stop following God permentatly you forgo your salvation.

Gods word says those who endure to the end ( the end...not a day,or a week or a month...but until your last breath..the end...if you still have faith and believe in God till the end) you will be saved.


Of course you Christians mess up...but the difference is..true Christians recognize their mistake and short coming and repent and return to God like the prodigal son...

People that lose their salvation never come back to god because they've harden their heart against them..

So again the main point. Those who endure to the end, when you take your last breathe and the cares of this world wasn't able to rob you of your belief in God ...you are saved.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

Before this question is answered, the term “Christian” must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies. Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

Many more illustrations of what occurs at salvation could be shared. Even these few make it abundantly clear that a Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. If a Christian can lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.

The most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are 1) What about those who are Christians and continually live an immoral lifestyle? 2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.” The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle (1 John 3:6). The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian (1 John 2:19). Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed.

No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28-29). God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has given us. Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Recommended Resource: Eternal Security by Charles Stanley.

Source: qotquestions.org


Quasar92

You are absolutely right..a true Christian will not make a habit out of sinning and will be fruits of the spirit...that's how u know

 

[Thedictator]

1 Timothy 4:1 Says that there will be some Christians that will abandon their salvation with God to follow demons. This is another example of denominational teaching ignoring what the Word of God says.

 

[1213]

...
So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? ...

Salvation, if it means sins are forgiven, is not lost, but if person continues in sin, it is not useful. Forgiveness gives a new beginning, but if person after that rejects God and continues in sin, the forgiveness was not useful. And yes, it is possible to reject God after the forgiveness.

Jesus taught that we should not continue in sin and he also taught the we how to become righteous. And eternal life is for righteous.

"Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
John 8:11

"Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
John 3:3-7

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother.
1 John 3:7-10

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

It can be lost. If not then it means Hitler is in heaven right now (as he started out Catholic).

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

1 Timothy 4:1 Says that there will be some Christians that will abandon their salvation with God to follow demons. This is another example of denominational teaching ignoring what the Word of God says.

Exactly! That's why we all must enough to the end...our salvation doesn't stop at the alter call...we have to hold on to our faith for life.

 

[dreadnought]

More important than defining "Christian," I think we need to define "salvation." Did the Lord create us to send us to hell forever? I think not. But he will discipline us quite severely if need be.

 

[com7fy8]

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

If our union with Jesus is almighty, how can we be separated from Him? And if each of us is "one spirit with Him", we share with Jesus in us, in how He pleases our Father and obeys our Father.

Our old self's free will is done away, more and more as Jesus shares His own freedom with us, making us freely pleasing to our Father and obedient and freely loving and forgiving and giving. So, it is not our nature to leave God, since we have our new nature in Jesus. And He shares His strength with us, more and more as we grow.

 

[com7fy8]

A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian.

These can be things a person does on one's own. And our Apostle Paul says >

"being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will compete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6)

Getting saved is the result of God's work in us. And then He finishes what He has begun.

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation?

Our definition, then, needs to include that God is the One who has begun His good work of saving us.

 

[Geralt]

of course NOT.

the basic presumption is this : If God saves His people, He also CHANGES THEM.

all those who think a 'christian' can lose his/her salvation has the basic presumption that God actually does nothing else (to them) after salvation. it really boils down to a gospel of good works.

 

[com7fy8]

If God saves His people, He also CHANGES THEM.

A very important change is that we have been changed into being children of God. And there is constant care, in being a child. And a child can have very little ability to keep oneself alive and well. So, if we were to depend only or mainly on our own strength and will power, how likely would we be to keep ourselves with God?

We have our Heavenly Father's commitment to succeed in us. We are not wise to trust in and depend on ourselves to keep ourselves going > Proverbs 3:5-6.

Also, while a child is on Daddy's lap, and is enjoying being with Daddy in his warmth of affection, how likely is the child to be asking Daddy if he or she could lose being Daddy's child?

So, who is trying to get our attention away from sharing with our Father . . . so we could be wondering if and how we could lose being His child? If we are sharing with our Heavenly Father in His own love and warmth of affection (Romans 5:5, John 17:22-26), where is our attention going to be? . . . to how we could lose our relationship with Him, or to thanking Him for all we share with Him, plus seeking Him to change us more and mature us in the image of Jesus (Galatians 4:19)?

What I now get is not to be concerned about how we could lose our salvation, but invest ourselves in how to get more and more into personal sharing with our Heavenly Father in His own love (Romans 5:5).

"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

And actively seek God for His real correction (Hebrews 12:4-11) . . . of His love's perfection > 1 John 4:17 > not how we can will and choose to correct our own selves, but also trust Him to have us keep growing so we become more real in how we relate as His family with one another (Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 5:21, Ephesians 4:31-5:2, 1 Peter 5:3), while also having hope for any and all lost people.

 

[Geralt]

that's not my point in the word 'Change', its not just a change of "status".
it is total change of 'nature'.

spiritual nature => spiritual understanding => spiritual desires

thus the child of God lives to satisfy to God, it is his/her greatest desire, it is what gives him/her the greatest pleasure, thus his/her choices is for God among all other choices (to sin).

now that is CHANGE.

the only reason why people alleged 'Christians can lose their salvation' , by 'falling back to sin' = is that they never where Christians in the first place. why ? because there was NO CHANGE. choosing GOD is NOT what gives him/her the greatest pleasure, thus it is not his/her greatest desire.

A very important change is that we have been changed into being children of God. And there is constant care, in being a child. And a child can have very little ability to keep oneself alive and well. So, if we were to depend only or mainly on our own strength and will power, how likely would we be to keep ourselves with God?

We have our Heavenly Father's commitment to succeed in us. We are not wise to trust in and depend on ourselves to keep ourselves going > Proverbs 3:5-6.

Also, while a child is on Daddy's lap, and is enjoying being with Daddy in his warmth of affection, how likely is the child to be asking Daddy if he or she could lose being Daddy's child?

So, who is trying to get our attention away from sharing with our Father . . . so we could be wondering if and how we could lose being His child? If we are sharing with our Heavenly Father in His own love and warmth of affection (Romans 5:5, John 17:22-26), where is our attention going to be? . . . to how we could lose our relationship with Him, or to thanking Him for all we share with Him, plus seeking Him to change us more and mature us in the image of Jesus (Galatians 4:19)?

What I now get is not to be concerned about how we could lose our salvation, but invest ourselves in how to get more and more into personal sharing with our Heavenly Father in His own love (Romans 5:5).

"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

And actively seek God for His real correction (Hebrews 12:4-11) . . . of His love's perfection > 1 John 4:17 > not how we can will and choose to correct our own selves, but also trust Him to have us keep growing so we become more real in how we relate as His family with one another (Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 5:21, Ephesians 4:31-5:2, 1 Peter 5:3), while also having hope for any and all lost people.