The question has been asked more times than not:
Can I lose my salvation?
As with all things, I believe the answer to be in the Bible.
I will be using a large amount of scriptures to support what I believe the Bible teaches. The reason I do this, is because I believe scripture should interpret/explain the true meaning of scripture. I would like to do everything I can so that I do not bend scripture to my perception, but instead change my perception to fit scriptures. I'm not writing this article to find out who is right, or to be right. I am writing this article because I would like to find the answer, to a question I have been asking for some time.
Jesus said:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
- John 6:47 KJV
Paul said: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
- Romans 10:9 KJV
Texts like these make life so easy and gives us a peace within, but then we find texts that make us wonder. Texts that seem to contradict the previous texts. This is why it is so important to read the Bible as a whole and never create doctrines from single verses or segments.
Let’s have a look at another text that talks about the same subject, but from another angle:
"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
- (Matthew 7:19-23 KJV)
The thing is, Jesus talked about this type of thing quite often:
- The parable of the sower tells about people receiving Gods word, but then falling away for different reasons. It explains that only those truly rooted in Christ are those that bear real fruit. - Matthew 13:3-23
- The parable of the unfaithful servants that were cut off for not doing what was expected of them. – Matthew 24:42-51
- The parable of the talents tells us very simply that if you don’t use what is given to you it will be taken away from us. - Matthew 25:14-30
- Jesus talked about the judgement where if we did not love and help our fellow man we will be sent away to hell. – Matthew 25:31-46
So does this mean that we are saved through our works? No, I don't believe it does. Because then the responsibility and power is back in our hands. Which in turn takes it away from the grace of God and away from Jesus' sacrifice. I believe the answer lies in the fact that true faith leads to works.
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
– James 2:24 KJV
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
– James 2:17 KJV
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
- James 2:26 KJV
I believe this to be best explained by the parable Jesus gave about the two sons:
"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."
- Matthew 21:28-31 KJV
Saying you believe doesn't change anything, doing what you say, changes everything. The same as when someone says they will do something, but then never does it. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we should give up our selfish lives and start living for Him.
Another way to explain it is through the parable of the wedding guests in Matthew 22:2-14.
Long story short – At the end of the day everyone was invited to attend the wedding, but then the King sent some people away for not dressing for the occasion. They didn't take it serious enough.
It isn't about doing the right thing or the wrong thing. It is about realizing the importance of the matter. Again it isn’t about works. We are saved through the grace of God and through the faith which He allows us to have.
But only true faith... Only saving faith, results in actions.
True faith produces fruits. One of the reasons for the sacrifice of Jesus is because we were unable to live the way God intended, but now that we have access to the Spirit, we can.
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
- Romans 8:11 KJV
Only if we have truly given our lives to Christ can we begin to live our lives the correct way. If we give everything we have then He will complete our effort. We see this in John 6:1-14 when the boy gave his 5 small loafs of bread and 2 fish for Jesus to use. He did not give enough to feed everyone, but he gave all that he had and God used what was given to achieve the required result.
Does this mean that we should live perfectly now. Yes, but through faith. do what you feel is right and fix what God is leading you to fix on a personal level. One day at a time and one action at a time. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will convict (John 16:8) us of our sin and that is where we should start. Simply by listening to what God is laying on our hearts, and then actually doing what He says.
So to conclude and to make sense of all of this. I think so many people are asking the wrong question. The question is not:
"Can I lose my salvation?" The correct question is: "Am I saved?"
The reason being, real faith produces fruit (James 2:22).
Paul, when writing to the Corinthians told them to examine themselves, to test whether they have truly accepted Christ in to their lives (2 Corinthians 13:5). Jesus also said that we should bear fruit that remains (John 15:16)
So does this mean it is too late… No, no, no! We are given this word as a warning, and why do you put up a warning or stop sign? To warn someone before it is too late. God is warning us so that we can be saved. If you are alive, you still have a chance. God wants to save us all (1 Timothy 2:4). He wants us to have perfect lives, give what we have, and stop trying to do it on our own.
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1/6/2014