Can a Christian "Lose" their salvation?

Question

I have seen preachers and teachers I admire and respect take both sides, and I decided I should put it to the rest of the class and see what answers I get...

Answer 1

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 2

If a believer in Christ abuses the present of salvation to sin and sin and sin, properly that individual remains stored, yet is going to stand many available outcomes, probable consisting of a few or all of those: a million) Sin has organic outcomes. using the molestation occasion, persevering with with it motives reformatory, a ruined existence, perhaps your call would be on an criminal's record. some sins reason super soreness. some sins may even reason a untimely demise. to not point out of direction the soreness brought about the newborn, which in spite of if the guy does not be apologetic approximately it now, they'd very a lot be apologetic approximately it later. in straightforward terms the Lord can get rid of that accountable feeling, no count what the sin is that we committed. And the Lord is elementary to take action, for the believer :) 2) Sin would reason non everlasting smash in close intimate fellowship with the Lord. this is a significant deal to a individual this is used to feeling the Lord's presence and approval. That close intimate fellowship with the Lord is restored with the help of confession of sin to the Lord (a million John a million:9). 3) Sin would reason loss of rewards in heaven, some thing this is a significant element, on the grounds that we are rewarded for stable service finished in this existence 4) Sin can harm the guy's witness of Jesus Christ to three human beings. this is extreme because of the fact we are left right here as witnesses. i wish from this record, which you spot that i don't evaluate sin to be purely not something. I take it each and each piece as heavily as you do. however the question is, while is a individual stored, thinking all stored believers are nonetheless sinners? That salvation is instantaneous while a individual believes in Jesus on my own for salvation (John 6:40 seven).

Answer 3

Usually the debate centers around whether or not a person was born again by the Holy Spirit in the first place and then it becomes not a matter of can they "lose" their salvation but can they decide that they don't want it anymore and walk away from God.

It's one of those matters that shouldn't divide the body of Christ. Each person should be fully convinced in their own mind if they want to take a stand on it and agree to disagree agreeably with those who don't share their beliefs in this area.

Answer 4

Jesus states that those who believe (those who receive the Holy Spirit) ARE saved; they have eternal life NOW.

He also states that no one can snatch the true Christian from his hands.

The whole concept behind faith and turning to God is that those who do comprehend the difference between the two states; life without God at the center, and life with God at the center. The one who believes has made a choice based upon the experience of now knowing what life is without God, and the resultant consequences.

So although it is theoretically possible for a Christian to lose his or her salvation, it will not happen. God knows what he is doing and the process he is put in place concerning all this.

So those who claim the Christian can lose their salvation are either ignorant of the facts, or just plain wrong, in that their implication is that there will be Christians who lose their salvation.

This also needs to be considered. When one receives the Holy Spirit, it is described by Christ as a "healing". It is a healing of the mind; the person becomes "mentally" whole.

Would a "sane" person choose death?

One last thought --- Those who claim a Christian can/will lose their salvation are calling Jesus Christ a liar.


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Answer 5

If you can opt in, then why can't you opt out, and find the verses to prove that point?

If God is the one to determine whether a person is going to be saved or not, then wouldn't he be able to hold that person in the palm of his hand forever? And we can find verses to support this viewpoint, too.

What bothers me is the preacher that says it's all up to you, and then tells me that there is no way you can lose your salvation. If people have to be so adamant about free will, then it needs to stay consistent with leaving the faith as well as accepting the faith.

Answer 6

no you cannot, it right in the scriptures, Christ is not an Indian giver (i gues sthat term is politically incorrect, but at least I'm not going to loose my salvation over it). "what has been given to the son, can no man take away". when you give your life to Christ, he destroyes the old, you are a new creation in Christ, you have been spiritually reborn, and you can't go back. of couarse you can fall away in practise, you can deny Christ, but nothing you can do, no not even sujiside, can change the contract with Jesus Chirst. those who state other wise, are trying to control people by fear. God keeps his contracts, always has, always will, man breaks all of his, so salvation is not a contract with terms and rules, salvation is a gift of grace, a free gift, undeserved by anyone, and given freely to all who ask, it can not be returned, It can be ignored, and we will answer for our chosices in life, when we talk to Christ some day, but we will not be judged for heaven or hell, as a destination, we as saved people, have an irrivocalble ticket to Heaven, but it says we will all fall down and cry and say we are unworthy of anything, yet he will usher us all into the gates of heaven, and he'll talk some things over with each of us. Limiting salvation, putting guidelines, and waxing eloquent on gospel facts is dangerous, yet many so called preachers, just can't seem to understand what "Grace" is, they want rules, because you can control with rules. hrist needs no such things, he's in control, and we'll understand it all later on.

Answer 7

I think our modern conception of salvation is not the same as the Biblical concept of salvation.

From a 1st century AD Jewish context, salvation referred to the survival of repentant Israel from national judgment (fulfilled in AD 70).

From a 21st century context for both Jews and Gentiles, salvation refers to the salvation from sin and thus death through a future resurrection to incorruptibility.

You can definitely lose the privilege of a future resurrection by rebelling against God. Israel probably thought that, as God's chosen people, they would always be safe. However, God judged unrepentant Israel with the events of AD 70.

God judges the rebellious, and it is possible for a Christian to rebel, and not inherit the promises given to those who have faith.

Answer 8

First of all, the question should read either "Can a Christian Lose HIS salvation?" or "Can Christians Lose their salvation?" -- because "a Christian" is singular and "their" is plural.

Since each of us is not eligible to be in the immediate presence of God, we are spiritually dead. Since each of us is mortal, we are physically dying, and will someday be physically dead.

Salvation involves counteracting both deaths, so we can be in God's presence, each firmly housed in a tangible body.

Because Jesus died and was resurrected, all of us -- good, bad, and indifferent -- will be resurrected without any action on our parts. Thus, we will all be saved from a permanent physical death.

To be saved from a permanent spiritual death, we must accept that Jesus took our guilt, forsake our sins, and endure to the end.

Nobody can lose salvation from physical death -- but a person can lose salvation from spiritual death.

Answer 9

Yes, Simon the sorcerer is an excellent example. Acts 8:9-24

Answer 10

First off, those who have been born again are partakers of the Holy Spirit and in fact are sealed by the Holy Spirit according to Apostle Paul. (Ephesians 1:13) Second, there will be those who fall away or get side tracked as all of us do, but remember the promise of God, "that He who began the good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6) Thirdly, for those who do fall down and get caught in sins they cannot lose their salvation and regain it again, for that would mean Jesus would then have to die again which contradicts the Scriptures entirely. (Hebrews 9:28, 10:11-12, etc.)