Can a Believer "Lose" His Salvation?

Question

"Has God indeed said...Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away."? (Luke 8:13)

Answer 1

Most definitely. In fact, the Bible names people who did:

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) - slain in the very act of lying to God.
Judas (Acts 1) - could do miracles with the other apostles for a time, but "went to his own place."
Simon (Acts 8) believed and was baptized (and so was saved, Mark 16:16), but was later described as "in the bond of iniquity" with his heart not right with God.

Peter referred to others, though not by name:

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 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 to her wallowing in the mire.

It is happened (not might happen) that these ones who escaped were again overcome. They fell from grace (Galatians 5:4).

Three-quarters of the New Testament is written to Christians so that they might stay right with God. If, as some people claim, all you have to do is speak the name of Jesus (under any circumstances), and then you're saved and can't lose it, the Bible could have been printed on an index card.

Answer 2

I believe that this verse (as well as James 2:17,26) refers to a superficial kind of belief.

Truly being born again produces a change in the person that causes them to live their life differently... or at least there's a growing desire to conform to Christ.

A superficial faith is one that has heard the good news and thinks it's a good idea, but hasn't really committed to change.

After all, "by their fruits shall you know them."

There is another verse that might help you find an answer to the "once saved, always saved" question:

1 Corinthians 12:14 "For the body [of Christ, that is - the church] is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any less a part of the body."

From this we can see that if a believer says, "well if I can't be a missionary (or whatever), I dont want to be part of the body of Christ!" -- despite this demand, it is still a part of the body. I believe the idea here is that the foot cannot cut itself off of the body.

Those that turn their backs on Christ have likely never TRULY believed in him. This is that superficial faith I mentioned earlier.

Answer 3

Jesus says to be assured of your salvation. He also says that He shall not lose a single one that God has put in His hands, and that He will not even allow you to leap from His grip.

Those above words are for believers who truly believe, who cling to Jesus with all their might, who have made the commitment to be with Him through thick and thin, almost like a marriage.

The above scripture reference is specifically speaking to people like my mother. In the beginning of her Christianity she walked the walk and talked the talk, so to speak, but when troubles came we found that her root system was not very firmly rooted. She did not exactly forsake her faith, but her growth was so stilted that I sit here and wonder if she is saved at all, or if she ever was.

Don't misundertand me. I am not judging my mother's soul; only God can judge the heart. But I can look at her life, where she is, what things she has overcome or not, and I can fairly rightly divide, as Paul says, by her actions that I have serious doubt as to her salvation.

If you have had an experience that causes you to call your salvation into question, go and rededicate your life to the Lord, and then seek after Him with all your heart. We all screw up, the difference is, do you continue to follow Him when you do.

Hope this helps,

Rebecca

Answer 4

The "once saved always saved" theology is not very sound. It actually presumes that a Christian no longer has free will...they can't choose to deny God any longer. That simply doesn't make sense. The scripture you pointed out (and there are others) point to the fact that there have always been believers who have turned away from the truth after believing for some time.

Answer 5

No. You are quoting scripture out of context. The security of the believer is not in question: once saved always saved. In the scripture that you quoted the person referred to is not a believer. A true believer will not reject his salvation. If a person could loose their salvation, then all of the promises of God would be lies and the entire Bible would indeed be a lie. But God cannot lie because there is no lie in him. The essence of God is truth and love and there is neither truth or love in a live. People who believe that they have lost their salvation are not saved and need to get saved. No believer should ever have any doubts about his salvation. Jesus did not die in vain. Jesus loves you and he died for your sins so that you would not have to do so.

Answer 6

Excellent verse. This flies in the face of the doctrine used by some churches, 'once saved, always saved'. The fact is, you can indeed lose your salvation. That's why Paul says to work it out 'in fear and trembling'. Stay alert, and keep your eye on the prize.

Answer 7

Do not believe something simply because you have heard it. Do not believe anything simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders, or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it, and live up to it.

Answer 8

In Bhagavad Gita also it is Stated that one may Fall down from the Spiritual Path. But there is no loss for that Person "Even a Little endeavour in this path, frees a person from greatest of Fear(BG 2.40)".
God Promises that my Devotees will never be vanquished. (BG 9.31). The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities(Heavens), is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy (BG 6.41)

Answer 9

Grace unto you and peace,
From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed. Saved(Graced) + Destroyed(Lawed) after is a Bad(Law) ending, as noted in Jude 5; as Bad as Life + Death = Dead end.

So also Mt 12:45 speaks of a latter end "worse", such as the "seven spirits" (more wicked) of Revelation (written as a latter end "worse" case scenario to "avoid"), which reveals John turned, back to law, "behind" him, and the result is Bad.

So also Gal 3 reveals it's "foolish" to turn back to law, especially when "delivered from the law"(Rom 7:6), and as if in answer to prayer: Our Father, "deliver us from evil" (Mt 6). Not to mention contexting Mt 6 with Rom 7, well then the conclusion is: law is evil, notably "evil concupiscence". Oh yeah, law is good, but it is also evil. And Heb 5:14 says discern(avoid) both good + evil.

Gal 3 also reveals "the law is not of faith"(Gal 3:12), and when contexted with Rom 14:23's "whatsoever is not of faith is sin", well then, law is sin; both the source of sin in Rom 5:13 and the "strength" of sin's death sting in 1Cor 15:56, the horse Death rode in on: Rev 6:8. Hence law is Mt 12;29's "strong man" to first bind, to spoil the hse of law: sin and death; in which things are an "allegory" (Gal 4) and a "mystery" (Col 2) to solve in time.

The "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 10

Aren't you all sweetness and light? I guess when you devote your whole life to a lie, you tend to get a little bitter.