If you are saved, then it was by grace before the foundation of the earth. And if you are saved now, then you will persevere to the end. If you fall away, then you were never really saved.
So although from a temporal standpoint, your salvation is secured on earth by grace through faith, from God’s viewpoint you were saved from the foundation of the earth.
Are you concerned for your own salvation, or are you speculating as to the salvation of others?
By whose power have you been saved? Is it by the power of your own temporal decision or actions or works, or by the power and grace of God alone?
Boom, there it is. Good post.
Ahhh, but that’s the rub isn’t it...how do you define “fall away”? And how long do you have to fall away before you aren’t saved any longer? Let me give you my example to highlight the point.
I was saved at a young age and continued in the faith through college. However, I joined a fraternity in college and became addicted to alcohol. I struggled for several years with my addiction and every time I drank I cried out to God for help. I was not active in a church during that time, but I never denied God. During that time away, some would have seen no fruit and little evidence of my faith (except that the folks at my favorite bar nicknamed me “preacher” because I talked about Jesus all of the time). By His Grace I overcame my reliance and now don’t have the slightest desire for alcohol. The point is this, what amount of fruit is sufficient to “maintain” salvation? Who has to see that fruit (MacArthur?). What form must that fruit hold? How much time does a believer have to “fall” and then come back? Was I not saved until I returned to the faith the second time? Each case is unique and only God truly knows.