If a person becomes a Christian and is saved, but knowingly sins later, can that person lose salvation?

Question

Please provide scripturial support if you can for your answer.

Answer 1

You cannot lose your salvation when you have truly repented and claimed the benefits of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Your salvation is assured from the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.

Falling from grace:

This taught that a saved man could fall finally from salvation. It is, of course, the logical and natural outcome of the system. If man must take the initiative in his salvation, he must retain responsibility for the final outcome.

But we know from the bible that no man can save himself. If he could, then Christ's death was in vain. We are called to repentence through the workings of the Holy Spirit. God's elect were chosen before the world was created.

God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son . . . And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30). All of those God justifies are glorified.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand (John 10:28).

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-- if that were possible (Matthew 24:24). This implies it is not possible to deceive the elect and cause them to fall away.

I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me (Jeremiah 32:40).

Answer 2

I would not think so. King David was knowingly sinful after accepting God but God gave him another chance. The same thing held true for Sampson and Abraham and any number of old testament characters so from God's vantage point, I think as long as they believed they were not destined to lose being with him eventually. In the Christian sense (New Testament) I don't think I have every read anything that indicates that a person can lose their salvation as long as they maintain the belief in Christ and why he died. The person's actions however would determine whether or not they believed. A Christian will always regret sin and ask forgiveness. A person who does not truly believe will just keep on doing it or something equally wrong.

Answer 3

No. It is not that simple to lose your salvation, whether you consciously sin or not. Once you go to God and ask Him for forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin and unrighteousness. Luke 17:4 Jesus told His disciples about forgiving their brothers seven times in one day if that brother sinned against you. Far more for God. God's promises are true, whatever He says He will do. If it was so simple to lose your salvation - there wouldn't be a save person on the face of this earth. Matthew 12:31 says the only sin that would not be forgiven is known blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Answer 4

If that were true then no Christian would keep their salvation, they would loose it because all Christians sin. However, a Christians attitude towards sin is different than a non believers, they try to avoid sin and follow God because of the Holy Spirit within them, but because the flesh is sin, we will fall into it once and awhile. When this happens follow 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The Holy Spirit that God gives believers will not allow them to live in sin, but strive for holiness through the power of the Spirit in Jesus name. Peace be with you.

Answer 5

No.

Not sure what you mean by knowingly sin (ie., deliberately went against what you knew was wrong but did it anyway).

Because we are still in the natural flesh, we can fall at times but you normally immediately repent and ask God to forgive you. For example, I am thinking more like exhibiting anger by saying something mean. It was in a heat of passion even though you knew better. We have to beat the flesh down daily and allow the spirit to override our "natural tendencies."

As you mature and grow in grace, this won't be too much of a problem.

Answer 6

I believe that once a person exercises saving faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is forever in the family of God. God never kicks anyone our of his forever family. A number of Scripture passages support this view. For example, in 1 Corinthians 12:13 we are told that at the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit places us in the body of Christ. Once we are infused into the body of Christ, we are never excised from the body. In fact, Ephesians 1:12 and 4:30 indicate that at the moment of believing in Jesus Christ for salvation, we are permanently "sealed" by the Holy Spirit. At that point, we are God's everlasting property. That seal guarantees that we'll make it to heaven.
Moreover, we read in John 10:28-30 that it is the Father's purpose to keep us secure despite anything that might happen once we have trusted in Christ. Nothing can snatch us out of His hands. God's plans cannot be thwarted (Isaiah 14:24). Further, Romans 8:29-30 portrays an unbroken chain that spans from the predestination of believers to their glorification in heaven.
Another fact we need to keep in mind is that Christ regularly prays for each Christian (Hewbews 7:25). With Jesus interceding for us, we are sucure. (His prayers are always answered!)
Of course, the fact that a believer is secure in his salvation does not mean he is free to sin. If the Christian sins and remains in that sin, Scripture says that God will discipline him or her just as a father disciplines his children (see Hebrews 12:7-11).
Source(s):
The Complete Book of Bible Answers by Ron Rhodes

Answer 7

Psalms 37:38-40. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

God clearly states here that the wicked shall be destroyed and the righteous shall be saved. But don't worry too much. That's why he created repentance. Everybody sins there's no way around it. We're only human.

Answer 8

The only unforgivable sin is the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit. God sees our 'daily' sins covered with the blood of His precious Son Jesus...we are justified through Christ...I was told when I was little that that means 'just as if I'd never sinned'...however Paul tells us that even though we have received God's grace is that a reason to continue in sin?...of course not. We are to strive toward the goal and grow daily in our walk with the Lord.

Answer 9

Once God has granted salvation, why on earth would He take it back? Would God remove a person's salvation because he or she was a sinner? Did not He offer us salvation "while we were still sinners"? John the disciple said, "Beloved, now we are children of God" (1 John 3:1). The Father protects His children. Jesus said, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). Jesus also protects us. He said, "Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition [Judas], that the Scripture might be fulfilled" (John 17:12). Dr. Henry Morris puts it this way, "Just as a babe, once born, cannot be unborn, so one who is "born again" into God's family can never be not born again." If salvation depended on man, then yes, it could be lost. But since salvation is based solely on God's mercy and work, it is permanent.1

Answer 10

HEBREWS 3:12-14 "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,"

unbelief.” What did Jesus say, "If you believe.” The above text suggests that one can believe in Christ, and then be deceived into unbelief. The Israelites who died in the wilderness, could not enter into the promised land because of “unbelief.” Their disobedience was proof of their disbelief. (Hebrews 3:19) If we believe, we will obey. If we refuse to obey, it is because we do not truly believe in the rightness of God.

MATTHEW 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

1 JOHN 1:7 "If we walk in the light .... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

ROMANS 11:22 "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."

1 JOHN 2:24 "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."