Question: "Can a Christian lose salvation?"

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[ealgeone]

Question: "Can a Christian lose salvation?"

Answer: First, the term Christian must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer or walked down an aisle or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what makes a Christian. A Christian is a person who has fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior and therefore possesses the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8–9).

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? It’s a crucially important question. Perhaps the best way to answer it is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation and to study what losing salvation would entail:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christian is not simply an “improved” version of a person; a Christian is an entirely new creature. He is “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be destroyed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The word redeemed refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. We were purchased at the cost of Christ’s death. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase of the individual for whom He paid with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To justify is to declare righteous. All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. Those absolved of guilt would have to be tried again and found guilty. God would have to reverse the sentence handed down from the divine bench.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is the promise of spending forever in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be redefined. The Christian is promised to live forever. Does eternal not mean “eternal”?

A Christian is marked by God and sealed by the Spirit. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14). At the moment of faith, the new Christian is marked and sealed with the Spirit, who was promised to act as a deposit to guarantee the heavenly inheritance. The end result is that God’s glory is praised. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to erase the mark, withdraw the Spirit, cancel the deposit, break His promise, revoke the guarantee, keep the inheritance, forego the praise, and lessen His glory.

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). According to Romans 5:1, justification is ours at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification comes with justification. All those whom God justifies are promised to be glorified. This promise will be fulfilled when Christians receive their perfect resurrection bodies in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

A Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation is the gift of God, and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). A Christian cannot be un-newly created. The redeemed cannot be unpurchased. Eternal life cannot be temporary. God cannot renege on His Word. Scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Two common objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation concern these experiential issues: 1) What about Christians who live in a sinful, unrepentant lifestyle? 2) What about Christians who reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these objections is the assumption that everyone who calls himself a “Christian” has actually been born again. The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a state of continual, unrepentant sin (1 John 3:6). The Bible also says that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he was never truly a Christian (1 John 2:19). He may have been religious, he may have put on a good show, but he was never born again by the power of God. “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). The redeemed of God belong “to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).

Nothing can separate a child of God from the Father’s love (Romans 8:38–39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28–29). God guarantees eternal life and maintains the salvation He has given us. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep, and, “when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5–6). The lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden; our Lord takes full responsibility for bringing the lost one safely home.

Jude 24–25 further emphasizes the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior: “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

[ebb tide]

What “facts”?

[ealgeone]

>>There is nothing indicating this was to be for the whole church.<<

Is that right? It was just meant for St. John?

Per the Greek yes. John took Mary into his household.

Was the Last Supper just meant for the twelve apostles?

You continue to display your lack of knowledge of the Bible with comments such as these...and others.

The Lord's Supper is for any believer.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Pentecacost. Was that just meant for the apostles?

As the Holy Spirit is given to all believers we can all remember Pentecost. You want to have a feast, go ahead. However, there is nothing in the NT to indicate we are to have a feast or not.

[MHGinTN]

ebb wrote, “Eve presumed eating the apple would give her knowledge.” What does the WORD OF GOD SAY? ... ‘Her eyes were opened’. Satan deceivered her by doing what Catholics on these threads do constantly, he twisted what GOD said to the first family, knowing that in the day they thereof they would suddenly know god and evil. EVE presumed she would get something from eating the fruit, AND SHE did! AND to pour salt in your wound further, IT WAS ACCORDING TO GOD’s PLAN!

[caww]

This might be helpful......you see when Jesus left home to begin his ministry, other members of his family appear to have disapproved...when you look at Mark 3:21, they said that he was “out of his mind”, and some of them attempted to “take charge of him” and bring him home.

Then again Matthew 12:46-50 indicates that he refused to talk to his mother and brothers when they tracked him down and tried to see him. .

Additionally John 7:5 says “even his own brothers did not believe in him.”

Perhaps that might help you.

[ealgeone]

What “facts”?

A question asked of Roman Catholicism almost daily yet with no answers.

Will you accept the challenge?

[ebb tide]

I pray your eyes may be opened.

[MHGinTN]

Your prayers may not be getting past your ceiling ... but keep trying. When / if God opens your eyes, I’ll see you in the clouds someday, sooner rather than later.

[ebb tide]

I have no ceiling.

[ebb tide]

I’ve answered you numerous times.

Give it a rest.

[af_vet_1981]

“Presumption is a sin."

Only to those unfamiliar with the New Testament.

Presumptous = τολμητής = tolmétés = a daring, presumptuous man

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Second Peter, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verses nine to twenty two,

as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[ealgeone]

Very well.. Continue in your admitted idolatry.

[ealgeone]

You’re saying presumption is not a sin?

[ebb tide]

Satan deceivered her..

And Satan continues to deceive to this day.

[ebb tide]

Why are you quoting protestant verses?

Am I wrong in thinking you are a Catholic?

[ebb tide]

Continue in your admitted idolatry.

I have never committed idolatry, let alone admitted it. Please cease the ad hominems.

[ealgeone]

You’re bowing and praying before an idol of Mary. That’s idolatry.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“I repeat, presumption is a sin

I presume God’s Words are true. Every single one.

[ebb tide]

You’re bowing and praying before an idol of Mary.

Once again, you are bearing false witness.

I'm not surprised.

[ealgeone]

Good night, ebb.

[Mark17]

Isn’t that the emblem of the sun god?......why would you post that?

I was just going to ask, what is that monstrosity?