Can I lose My Salvation?

Westside Christian Fellowshihp ^ | Jan 12, 2017 | Shane Idleman

[metmom]

A common question for many is, “Can I lose my salvation?” I’ve heard both sides of the argument, and only God truly knows a person’s heart, but I can share a few thoughts. The reason there is a debate is because the Scriptures teach that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned, but they also offer warnings about falling away. There should be a healthy tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. This issue should not create a spirit of division, elitism, or theological superiority.

One school of thought suggests that salvation cannot be lost, as in losing your car keys, but that it can be left, as in walking away from it. This may be why Jesus spoke of the man who said in his heart “my master delays His coming; therefore, I will turn from living a godly life”. When the master returned unexpectedly, the servant was banished because he chose to turn from what he knew to be right.

In another passage, Jesus said, “You have left your first love,” when speaking to the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:4). James 5:19-20 adds, if anyone wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, a soul is saved from death. If anything, these Scriptures, and many more, reinforce the fact that we have certain responsibilities.

[metmom]

Yes, but it still doesn’t mean they were saved.

[kosciusko51]

That’s my point...

[kosciusko51]

To follow up: you can show all the outward signs of being saved, and yet not be saved.

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> John 3:18 New International Version (NIV)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. <<

You post John yet believe not what John said in his first epistle?

By your own testimony here, you do not walk as Yeshua walked.
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[metmom]

OK.

[wardaddy]

Obliviousmom

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> “Yes, but it still doesn’t mean they were saved.” <<

John ch 3 explains why nobody is saved yet.

Matthew ch 24 tells us what one must do to be there at the appointed time of salvation (1st Trump)

He who endures...
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[editor-surveyor]

.
What do you call “outward signs?”
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[af_vet_1981]

I gave up on doctrine ...

Works, works, works of faith .,.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verses one to six,
As authorized, but not authored, by King James

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” <<

That is a conditional statement (if).

So, to those of us that do watch (observe his appointed times), he comes not as a thief, but as our redeemer.

[Mr Rogers]

“have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit”

If that does not describe a Christian, what does?

“12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

While I believe Hebrews 6 is incontrovertible, it is not the only example. Indeed, there are many:

“Such warnings cannot be easily dismissed, and the Christian theologian should be diligent in giving full consideration to the entirety of the book of Galatians in formulating his doctrine of continuance in salvation. In particular, hear once again Paul’s words as he winds down his argument: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (6:7-9).”

http://evangelicalarminians.org/daily-scripture-commentary-continuance-in-salvation-eternal-security-and-pauls-letter-to-the-galatians/

Also http://evangelicalarminians.org/apostasy-and-perseverence/

No one simply reading the New Testament would conclude no Christian can leave the Lord. It is filled with warnings about falling away, and full of encouragement to stay the course to the end. It takes an external theology imposed on top of the scripture to make the obvious go missing.

[af_vet_1981]

He is not talking about appointed times in that passage, but about works, about those who defiled their garments and those who did not. Compare the defilement with the earlier instance mentioned in the letter to the Corinthians from the Apostle to the Gentiles.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.


Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

First Corinthians, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verses ten to eighteen,

First Corinthians, Catholic chapter six, Protestant verses eighteen to twenty,

as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[metmom]

And tares are identical to wheat until they begin to bear fruit.

Jesus said that by their FRUIT you shall know them, not their works.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.

IWO, the character and attributes of Christ being displayed in our lives.

[kosciusko51]

Good points.

[terycarl]

if anyone wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, a soul is saved from death. If anything, these Scriptures, and many more, reinforce the fact that we have certain responsibilities.

How true it is!!!

[metmom]

That’s why I don’t put a lot of stock in works in determining if some is saved or not.

Lots of people can be what we call good.

I have a couple atheist s-i-l’s who are essentially atheists and they are nice people who are raising wonderful kids.

Jesus even admitted that the pharisees kept the law and did good works, tithing for example.

But their hearts were far from God.

[terycarl]

Yep, if the Ol' King James was good enough for the Apostle Paul, its good enough for me.

That's GREAT....give or take 1,600 years !!!!

[redleghunter]

Many are called few are chosen. Jesus said that in a parable.

He also said in John 6 “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

Jesus knows His sheep and they hear His voice. Judas was not listening.

[MHGinTN]

Hear here! ‘Captain, there be wisdom here!’

[redleghunter]

The definition of an apostate.