No, a Christian cannot lose their salvation because Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” This means that God’s gift of eternal life is permanent and cannot be taken away, lost, or forfeited.
For the past 30 years, I’ve been affirming the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved,” also known as “Eternal Security.” This blog aims to direct you to the Bible verses supporting this doctrine, so you can experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
Eternal Life vs Temporal Life
Let’s consider the concept of eternity versus temporality. John 3:16 highlights that belief in Jesus results in eternal life not temporal life, a core aspect of the New Covenant. The authors of the New Covenant aimed to assure believers that salvation is complete once received and that it is eternal, unconditional and forever. Once the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you, He also seals you.
“And 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” Ephesians 1:13
Our Unwavering Fellowship With God
Once we are born again, our fellowship with God remains constant and secure; it does not change or end. As 1 Corinthians 1:9 tells us, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” This steadfastness is further emphasized in 1 John 1:3, which says, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Additionally, 1 John 1:7 reassures us, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Understanding the unchanging nature of our fellowship with God profoundly impacts our confidence before Him. Knowing that this relationship is secure and unwavering provides us with a firm foundation for our faith and trust. We can approach God with boldness, not because of our own merit, but because of His enduring promise and faithfulness. This confidence is echoed in Hebrews 10:19-22, which encourages us to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience. Recognizing that God’s commitment to us is unshakable helps us overcome doubts and fears, enabling us to stand firm in our relationship with Him and to live out our faith with greater assurance and joy.
Transformation Through Renewal
In Romans 12:2, Paul instructs believers to let God renew their minds, emphasizing the need for transformation rather than conforming to the patterns of this world. He writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Here, “transformation” refers to a profound inner change facilitated by God, as opposed to simply fitting into worldly norms and values.
This renewal helps believers grasp and pursue God’s divine purpose while considering the consequences of their actions. It transforms their hearts and minds, shifting their perspective from worldly influences to one aligned with God’s will. This new perspective allows them to understand sin’s broader implications, recognizing that it harms others. Sin can create conflict, erode trust, and hinder reconciliation, making it crucial to reflect thoughtfully on their choices and seek actions that foster harmony and align with God’s intentions.
This transformation is often sparked by God’s grace and kindness, which inspire genuine change and growth in a believer’s life. As described in Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.”
Although sin can impact our relationships with others, it does not disrupt our fellowship with God. Belief in eternal security is not a license to sin but a recognition that Jesus has removed our sins once and for all, highlighting the enduring grace of God despite our failings.
Ultimately, the transformation and renewal of our minds are central to living out our faith authentically, allowing us to align with God’s will and experience His ongoing grace in our lives.
Common Misinterpretations
However, some pastors and theologians argue that this belief can lead to complacency, suggesting it encourages believers to sin without fear of consequences, including the potential loss of their salvation or punishment from God. They often cite Hebrews 10:26 out of context, claiming that persistent sin or deliberate abandonment of faith can result in the loss of salvation. This perspective, they argue, rejects the significance of the cross, undermines the reality of the resurrection, and insults God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10:26-31 delivers a stern warning about the severe consequences of rejecting Jesus’s sacrifice, which has taken away the sins of the world. This passage emphasizes the gravity of willfully disregarding the cross and treating Christ’s sacrifice with contempt.
The first ten chapters of Hebrews establish the unparalleled superiority of Jesus’s sacrifice compared to the repeated offerings of the Old Testament. Jesus is shown to be greater than the angels, Moses, Joshua, the prophets, the Levitical priesthood, and even the Sabbath, illustrating that the New Testament is far superior to the Old. Jesus’s death on the cross stands as the final and ultimate sacrifice for sins, surpassing the need for repetitive Old Testament animal sacrifices and offering a permanent solution.
To reject Jesus’s once-for-all sacrifice is to deny its power, insult the Spirit of God, and make a mockery of the cross. Consequently, no further sacrifice for sins is available.
Hebrews 10:26 specifically addresses those who “sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth.” Here, “sin” refers to unbelief, akin to the unbelief demonstrated by Israel in Hebrews 3:16-19.
The severity of such unbelief is underscored in Hebrews 10:28-29: “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
Many people teach that you can lose your salvation because they lack a full understanding of what salvation truly entails. When I ask individuals about their understanding of salvation, the most common response I receive is “Jesus died for my sins.” While this statement is undeniably true, it only represents half of the gospel.
In reality, our problem extends beyond merely being sinners in need of forgiveness. We are born spiritually dead, separated from God, and desperately in need of life. This spiritual death sentence originated on the day Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command in the Garden of Eden. Despite being instructed not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they did so anyway. As a result, the entire human race was condemned to spiritual death.
In essence, all of us enter this world without the Spirit of God, which constitutes our primary problem.
In Romans 5:12 the Apostle Paul writes…
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—”
In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul again writes….
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”
This is the bad news.
Crossing Over From Death to Life
The good news is that God had a plan all along to offer new life to all mankind. Jesus Christ not only took away the sins of the world but then rose from the dead, ensuring that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
God raised Jesus from the dead to offer new life to the spiritually dead, which includes everyone. The same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us from the dead when we put our faith in Him (Romans 8:11). This offer of new spiritual life comes by faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (John 3:16, John 3:36, John 6:40).
The Apostle Paul articulates this truth in Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The resurrection is more than just an Easter holiday we celebrate each year; it is through belief in the resurrection that guarantees us heaven one day.
One of my favorite verses to describe this transaction from spiritual death to spiritual life is John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
Can it get any clearer than that?
Once Saved, Always Saved
Once that transaction happens, God promises in the Bible over and over to never “leave us or forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). We are then eternally saved. Based on God’s promise, He will never leave us once we are born again.
Many scriptures suggest that once we are saved, our salvation is secure. So why do some pastors teach that salvation can be lost? Could it be a matter of control, a strategy to encourage moral behavior, or a way to ensure church funding and job security? Do they think God might change His mind and withdraw His Spirit from someone who is born again?
The Apostle Paul sought to assure us that losing salvation was absolutely impossible. In Romans 5:15-19, Paul contrasts what Adam brought to mankind with what Jesus offers. In Romans 5:15-19, Paul underscores the contrast between Adam’s impact and Jesus’ provision for all mankind. He repeats this theme in Romans 6, assuring Roman Christians that they have died to the sin of being “in Adam.” This doesn’t mean we’ve ceased sinning altogether; we still struggle with sin despite finding victory in certain areas of our lives.
Paul mentions this 11 times in the following verses back to back to back….
Romans 6:2 “we died to sin”
Romans 6:6 “so that the body of sin would be rendered powerless”
Romans 6:7 “no longer a slave to sin”
Romans 6:7 “we died to sin”
Romans 6:11 “count yourselves dead to sin”
Romans 6:14 “for sin shall not be your master”
Romans 6:17 “you used to be slaves to sin”
Romans 6:18 “you have been set free from sin”
Romans 6:20 “when you were slaves to sin”
Romans 6:22 “you have been set free from sin”
Romans 8:2 “you have been set free from the law of sin and death”
These verses should unequivocally reassure a born-again Christian. Will you ever be an unbeliever again? Will Jesus Christ ever leave you? Absolutely not! You have received the very life of Christ and have been marked by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Bible Proof God Will Never Leave You
Romans 8:28-29 “Nothing will separate you from the love of God”
Hebrews 6:18 “it is impossible for God to lie”
Hebrews 7:25 “he is able to save completely”
Hebrews 13:5 “never will I leave you or forsake you”
Ephesians 1:13-14 “having believed you were sealed”
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved” (Past tense)
John 3:16 “you have eternal life and will not perish”
John 5:24 “you have crossed over from death to life and will not be judged”
John 6:37-40 “whoever comes to me I will never drive away, I shall lose none of them.”
John 10:28 “No one can snatch them out of my hand”
John 10:29 “No one can snatch them out of my fathers hand”
John 11:25-26 “Who ever believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
1 Peter 1:4-5 “we have an inheritance which can never perish, spoil or fade.”
2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful”
Titus 1:2 “God does not lie…”
Romans 8:35-39 “nothing can separate us from the love of God”
Romans 11:29 “….for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable”
Two Ways the Cross Benefits Us
To further affirm that Christians cannot lose their salvation, it’s important to grasp why Jesus’s sacrifice was so comprehensive. While Jesus’s death on the cross provides complete forgiveness and cleansing from all sin, there’s an additional, profound aspect: His sacrifice ensures that the Spirit of God remains with us forever once we are saved. This interplay between the cross and the resurrection guarantees not only our forgiveness but also the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Consider these questions:
- What caused the Spirit of God to depart from Adam?
- What caused the Spirit of God to depart from Jesus? (John 19:30 and 1 John 2:2)
- What is the only thing that could cause the Spirit of God to depart from you?
- Where are your sins today?
- Were your sins judged by God?
- What was the verdict?
- What was the penalty for your sins?
- Who is the One who took it?
- How much of it did He take? Some or all of it?
- So then, what penalty for your sins is left for you?
Therefore, why can’t the Spirit of God ever depart from you when you sin? Because all your sins have been taken away! This is divine logic! The cause of spiritual death (Adam’s disobedience) has been eradicated by God. Even when we sin, we are forgiven because Jesus took away our sins once and for all (Colossians 2:13). Once you have the Spirit of God living in you, He will never leave you, for any reason. That’s eternal security, and it’s why this news is so good.
Revisiting the Context of the Book of Hebrews
The Book of Hebrews was specifically addressed to the Jewish community, many of whom had adhered to the Old Covenant, including the Mosaic law and sacrificial rituals. Some Jews had embraced Jesus Christ as their Savior, while others remained hesitant, caught between traditional faith and new Christian beliefs. The writer of Hebrews aimed to caution those who hadn’t fully embraced Christ, urging them not to disregard such a profound salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3).
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 6:4-6 is often cited in discussions about the possibility of losing one’s salvation. To understand this passage, it’s helpful to read the initial five chapters of Hebrews. In Chapter 5, the author describes individuals who were slow to grasp the concept of salvation. They had not fully comprehended the doctrine of imputed righteousness and were still reliant on basic teachings rather than deeper spiritual truths. Essentially, they had not undergone a genuine transformation in their faith in Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 6:4, phrases like “tasted,” “shared,” and “enlightened” are used. “Tasting” implies only a sample rather than full consumption or acceptance. Being “enlightened” does not necessarily mean full acceptance of the truth. Thus, the passage suggests that for these individuals—who had only sampled or been exposed to the truth but not fully embraced it—it is impossible to return to repentance. This is because they had never truly repented and experienced spiritual rebirth. The analogy here is like attempting to revisit a place one has never actually been. The author of Hebrews remains optimistic, believing in better things concerning salvation for the readers (Hebrews 6:9).
Hebrews 10:26
Hebrews 10:26 states, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sin is left.” The sinning referred to here is the rejection of the truth about Jesus as the final sacrifice for sins. For the Hebrews, this concept was challenging because the Old Testament law had previously commanded animal sacrifices to atone for sins. They had heard the truth, been enlightened, and tasted it, but they did not fully embrace it. By rejecting Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, they insulted the Spirit of Grace. The passage warns that for those who reject this truth, there is no other sacrifice for sins left, and they are in danger of severe judgment.
Human Testimony vs. God’s Testimony
Some pastors and teachers rely on personal experiences and testimonies to argue that Christians can lose their salvation. They might point to individuals like “Pastor Bob,” who walked away from faith, as evidence that salvation can be lost. However, this raises a crucial question: Should our theological beliefs be grounded in personal stories, or should they be based on the clear teachings of Scripture?
Our understanding of theology must primarily derive from the Bible, not from individual experiences. While personal anecdotes can be illustrative, they should not override or contradict the authoritative Word of God. The Scriptures are the ultimate authority for understanding salvation, faith, and Christian living.
It is vital to examine biblical passages in their proper context to build a solid theological foundation. Relying solely on human experiences to shape our beliefs can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of God’s Word. Ultimately, Scripture serves as the unerring standard for discerning truth and shaping our understanding of salvation and the Christian faith.
As 1 John 5:9-12 states: “We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
We should place our trust in the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God alone.
My prayer for this blog is that it reassures you of your eternal security in Christ, leaving no room for doubt that Christ will never abandon you, regardless of the circumstances.
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