Does the Bible teach that you can lose your salvation?

Question

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."—Ephesians 2:8

Many denominations or groups teach a "faith plus" type of salvation. There was a problem in the early church with Jewish converts to Christianity teaching that gentiles also had to keep the law to be saved. This teaching was rebuked by the Paul in the book of Romans. So, why do some continue to base their salvation on how many "good works" they can do?

JR, you can't take James' viewpoint apart from Romans 4:3 :"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Abraham's works didn't make him righteous. His belief did."

JR, you cannot teach that someone can lose their salvation without coming to grips with Hebrews chapter 6. If it were possible to lose salvation, then it is also IMpossible to gain it back.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Everlasting life is life that lasts forever, and we have it now. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

Wordman, you are correct. A life truly committed will show obedience to God's word. but that obedience flows from the free gift of God's grace having been received, not by having earned it by any human means.

UPDATE: If you believe it is possible for a person to be truly saved and yet turn back, that person can NEVER again be saved.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.


4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,[a] to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame

In the Greek, Christ's cry from the cross, "It is finished!" is an accounting term, meaning that the debt had been paid in full. Justice had been satisfied by full payment of its penalty, and thus God could "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:26). On that basis, God offers pardon and eternal life as a free gift. He cannot force it upon anyone or it would not be a gift. Nor would it be just to pardon a person who rejects the righteous basis for pardon and offers a hopelessly inadequate payment instead-or offers his works even as "partial payment."

If sin causes the loss of salvation, what kind or amount of sin does it take? There is no verse in the Bible that tells us. We are told that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness-so apparently any sin can be forgiven. Even those who teach falling away rarely if ever say they got "saved again." Rather, they confessed their sin and were forgiven. Hebrews 12:3-11 tells us that every Christian sins, and that instead of causing a loss of salvation, sin brings God’s chastening upon us as His children. If when we sinned we ceased to be God's children, He would have no one to chastise-yet he "scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Indeed, chastening is a sign that we are God's children not that we have lost our salvation: "if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

HEAVENLY EYES: Peter slipped and sinned grievously, but in spite of it all he endured to the end. Jesus said, “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not,” and though his outward life for a brief period was not what it should be, his faith remained, and Jesus restored him, and he went on to the end of his life until crucified for his Savior. Judas was one of the chosen, he was with the apostolic band but never was regenerated, and so when he sinned and sold his Lord, he turned away an apostate and died a suicidal death. Jesus said of him long before, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Not, “One of you is in danger of becoming a devil,” but “One of you is a devil.” And we are told: “Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:25). Peter was a backslider, Judas was an apostate, and there is a great difference between the two. If a man says, “I am saved,” let him prove it by going on.

JR, which part of this verse in unclear to you? If you fall away, it is IMPOSSIBLE to renew to repentance.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,[a] to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame

JC is the Man: Hebrews 6 says IF it were possible. Carry your argument out to it's logical conclusion. Hebrews 6:4-6, in effect, says once back-slidden, always back-slidden!!. Now, what kind of good news is that, my friend? How could you get through the day wondering how many times could you lose your temper and still be saved? Do I need to keep a running record of how many times I admire a beautiful woman a little too long? And how many times am I allowed? Once, twice...a hundred? No JC, the salvation that comes from true repentant faith is once,for all, forever! The free gift of God!!!

Romans 5:1,2...Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Contrast that verse to the fear of the unknown that thinking that first I have to EARN my salvation, and then second..having earned it...I have to be good enough to keep it!!?? If that's the case, then why did Jesus die on the cross? Romans 8:34 "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." By grace alone, by faith alone!!!

Jesus paid it all.
All to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow!

Answer 1

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

For the gifts and the calling of God are IRREVOCABLE. Rom. 11:29

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:23

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4

God can't lie. Titus 1:2

I think these scriptures are pretty self explanatory. Those who leave God and continue to willingly sin were never really repentant in the first place and were never Biblically saved, and thereby they are false converts.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Heb. 10:26-27

Answer 2

I've been pondering this lately. From what I have been reading in the Word, if you want to stay in Christ, nothing or no one can pull you out.
However, you still have free will in Christianity, so you can choose to walk away if the world appeals to you more than Christ. In its final form, it brings apostasy and death.
Here is where we see a name written in the Book of Life, and yet blotted out because of apostasy.

As for works-based salvation. Works are an evidence, not a means to an end. If it were works that gained salvation, how would you ever know there were enough? Who would set the arbitrary line? Would you ever feel secure in your walk?
Salvation via works is an absolutely false concept. How will you EVER know that you have done enough good, or if it will balance out the bad?

The truth is, before you accept Jesus as Savior, none of your good deeds are taken in to account, only the sin you have committed in violation to the law. After you accept Jesus as your Savior, your sins are deleted from the record and only the good you do in the Spirit remains. (1 Cor. 3)

You cannot buy your way into heaven with tithes, keeping of traditions or rules, rituals, singing in the choir or good deeds. THAT is why Jesus had to come and die in our place.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Answer 3

You have hit upon the key to this, with Judas and his apostacy. His story is the cautionary note regarding salvation with red flags all over it.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." - Matt. 7:21

Judas betrayed Christ long before the bargain for silver and the kiss in the garden. He did not guard against falling into sin, but took unseemly pride in being one of the Lord's chosen. He had a preoccupation with appearances, and while some others of the Twelve also stumbled a bit in the process of grasping just Who Jesus was, by their fruits they also showed that they were responding to the grace they received. Judas took the free gift, all right, but made the mistake of thinking that it made him bulletproof, and sank deeper into pride and avarice until he did the unthinkable and was irretrievably lost.

We are, absolutely, saved by grace through faith and not by works. The "good" thief on the cross next to Jesus obviously didn't have to "do" anything in the way of works; the grace of God allowed him to see Jesus for who He was. The only thing he did was respond in that grace. (One could argue that the other thief received the same grace, but rejected it.) However, had the man not been within minutes of the end of his life but standing at the foot of the cross, he -- like all believers -- would have continued to grow in the graces he received, shown by the fruits of the Spirit in his life; or not, and embarked on the path of Judas.

This is "working out your salvation"; not by doing good deeds and being a nice person and thereby racking up brownie points in heaven, but continuing in that grace -- with your works (fruits) as the evidence that you are still abiding in it.

We can certainly reject the grace God gives us even after initially receiving it, and as you point out there is no turning back once that occurs. But the mistake is in assuming that this is always a willful declaration of "non serviam", when in fact it can be insidious. That's the "fear and trembling" part; a healthy fear of our weaknesses that can ultimately lead us away from God's grace unless we daily cling to Christ, and trembling in awe at the very thought that though we are completely unworthy, we were even offered it in the first place ... because in His love for us, Jesus paid it all.

Answer 4

You cannot possibly works your way to heaven, because wouldn't you have to obey ALL commands of God in that case? Well, in James it says if you break one part of the law, you are guilty of them all. So it would be a endless attempt at being saved, seeing you can never obey ALL the law. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

You cannot lose your salvation because you didn't do anything to gain it in the first place. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast."

If you could earn your salvation, then it wouldn't be called a gift, but rather a reward, or a wage. No where in the Bible does it say "...But the wages of your works is eternal life..." It says "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord". It even says through Jesus Christ, not through man's attempt to be saved through works, but through Jesus.

Answer 5

Nobody can ever lose their salvation. How could we lose that which wasn't ours to give in the first place?

I believe "Paul taught clearly that genuine faith would produce good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is simply a semantic matter of emphasis. Salvation must be of grace, accepted by faith, since no one can earn it, but only God can know the heart and the reality of a profession of faith. But the reality of that faith can only be demonstrated to others by good works.

Answer 6

Can God make a mistake?

Is God omniscient (all knowing)?

If God grants you salvation and you somehow lose it later, that can only mean that God made a mistake in granting it to you in the first place, since He surely knew in advance that you would lose it later.

If you are saved, you are saved. You may "think" you are saved or make others think you are saved, but in fact not be saved in the first place. Only you and God know which applies to you.

It is also possible for a believer to commit blasphemy. It is not possible for a non-believer to commit blasphemy because you cannot get more lost that being an un-believer who is lost in Sin and tresspasses.


God bless you.

Answer 7

Okay.. Once stored continuously stored isn't within the Bible. According to the Bible at Matthew 24:thirteen, "But he that has continued to the top is the only with a view to be stored." It is a steady battle to do what's correct ... so a character have to suffer with a view to be stored. We are all sinner however there's one other in being a sinner (born into sin) and practising sin (do matters God hate).

Answer 8

Sadly many Church's today teach you can lose your salvation. Does this mean that Jesus has to die on the cross again or can we earn it back ourselves? Why not earn it without Jesus then? Because there is no other way to heaven but thru Jesus Jn 14:6. You cant buy it, earn it, and surly we don't deserve it.

Answer 9

I looked up Hebrews 6:4-6 Studied these scriptures in church a few months ago. The Scriptures say that once
God Begins a Good work, that he brings it to completion.
It is my understanding that you can not lose your salvation.


That being said, there are many who think that they have salvation and are actually not saved...MANY, the Bible says.

that is why your postings are so important...that is why I spend the time here that I do...there are many who are complacent in checking out their theology...Believing what they were raised to believe, and blindly following a counterfeit gospel, they are in great peril of losing their souls.

Remember what god will say to many: "GET away from me you workers of lawlessness...I never Knew you"

Question: How can you claim to be God's people if you deny that he Came to sacrifice for you...No wonder He uses such harsh and final words...There is no excuse for not examining your beliefs.

Answer 10

God's people have not been taught that there is more
than one type of "salvation" taught within the Word of God.
Jesus was born a saviour, he didn't become a saviour. We
only need to read the read letters within the book of John to
see Jesus' statements like;

John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye
have eternal life::: and they are they WHICH TESTIFY OF
ME". People search the word inorder to obtain eternal
life, thru various means, but Jesus alone is the Life. Not
of works, lest man should be able to boast!!! Yes, we
can "lay hold on eternal life" but that simply means to
have knowledge of Him and become intimate with His
truth; the wise virgins have this intimacy with him, while
the unwise are shut out. Being intimate with our Lord, is
truly knowing what He has done and Loving Him for it.

John 6:37-"ALL that the Father giveth me SHALL COME
TO ME; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out".

6:45, "...And they SHALL BE ALL TAUGHT OF GOD.
Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned
of the Father, cometh unto me". This is saying they are
taught by God not about Him. Read about the new covenant
in Jeremiah 31:33-34 which is repeated in Hebrews 8:10-11; "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their
hearts::: and I WILL BE TO THEM A GOD and they SHALL
be to me a people. And THEY SHALL NOT TEACH...
saying, KNOW THE LORD: FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME,
from the least to the greatest". This is how Peter knew who
Jesus was & why Jesus said to him, blessed art thou for
flesh and blood did not TEACH IT TO YOU BUT MY FATHER, and this is how Paul was taught, Gal 1:12, "For
I neither received it of man, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT,
BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST". This
is what Christ has built His Church upon; Spiritual revelation.
AND THE GATES OF HELL WONT PREVAIL AGAINST IT!

The 10th chapter of John says that His sheep hear his
voice and follow Him and "a stranger will they not follow,
but will flee from him:for they know not the voice of strangers.

There is another salvation within God's word and it is to be
saved from this world and it's troubles, and errors. When
a child of God falls, it is for our learning. God does teach
us through these situations which arise within our lives,
"cast down, but not destroyed".