Question:  Can a person be saved and then lose their salvation?

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Answer:
The salvation of sinners is a free gift by the grace of God,1 and is from God in that he draws them by His Word and Spirit.2  Man contributes nothing.3  Therefore, those whom God has effectually called,4 and sanctified by His Spirit can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.5  This perseverance of the saints does not depend on man, but ultimately depends upon the decree of election flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father,6 the merit of the redemption and intercession of Jesus Christ,7 and the Holy Spirit who will bring to completion the work that God has begun in the saints.8   It is the nature of the covenant of grace that provides man with the infallibility and certainty of his salvation.9  If salvation is accomplished objectively at the cross, thru Jesus Christ and him crucified for us in such a way that the Father is pleased and we are both redeemed and reconciled, then if this objective reality never changes or loses effect, then our salvation is always secure.  Though it is true that those who are called and sanctified by God may fall into grievous sins11 and and grieve His Holy Spirit for a time, it is also true that God will complete the salvation that he began.12

There are Scriptures that exhort believers to hold on and continue in the way of salvation (Heb. 2:1, 10:26, Matt. 24:13, Col. 1:23, Heb 3:14).  However, these Scriptures prove only that God exhorts man to examine his standing in the Lord (and turn to his grace if he is not already standing in it) as well as to co-operate in the salvation God is working in them through perseverance and sanctification.  Other Scripture verses even tell of cases of apostasy (1 Tim 1:19-20, 2 Tim 2:17-18).  In these cases there is no proof that the apostates mentioned were real believers.13 


(1 )Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God-

(2) John 6:44 (NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me

draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

     Acts 13:48 (NIV) When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

(3) 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV) who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have   done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

      Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is

rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

(4) Romans 8:30 (NIV) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

      1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

(5) John 10:28-29 (NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

      1 Peter 1:5 (NIV) who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

      John 6:39 (NIV) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

(6)  Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

    "I have loved you with an everlasting love;

    I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

      2 Timothy 2:18-19 (NIV) who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

(7) Romans 8:33-39 (NIV) Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

36As it is written:

    "For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(8) John 14:16-17 (NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

(9) Jeremiah 32:40 (NIV) I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

(10) John 6:37 (NIV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

(11) Psalm 51:14 (NIV)

    Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

(12) Philippians 1:6 (NIV) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

(13)  1 John 2:19 (NIV) They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

(14) Ephesians 2:9 (NIV) not by works, so that no one can boast.

       Romans 11:6 (NIV) And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.  

       Romans 9:30-32 (NIV) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 

 

 

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