Can a Christian lose their salvation?
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Frankly Answered Questions - FAQs

Can a Christian lose their salvation?

Q: My parents and I can not agree on this. Can you help? I believe once you are saved, you are always saved. My parents believe in lost and found (backsliding or losing your salvation). They also believe that they are perfect Christians or sanctified. Because I do not live like they do, they say I have lost my salvation or was never saved. Because I wear pants, make up, jewelry, watch TV, etc.,...... Can you help me find the answer? I know I am saved and always have been. I repent daily from anything I may have done wrong. My dad says Jesus says to go and sin no more. He didn't say go and try not to sin no more. Please help.

A: Tough questions, because I don't want to pit you against your parents in anyway. I want you to have a strong and wonderful relationship with your parents. But the questions you raise are foundational Biblical issues that deserve an answer. So let's just imagine that you asked me some doctrinal questions without reference to your parents at all.

Do I believe that a Christian (a genuine believer -- with true faith from the heart) can lose their salvation?

* No, the Bible seems very clear on the idea that we are "kept by God" from falling. Check out the following verses. They show that God's people are given ETERNAL life the moment they believe (if we could lose our salvation it wouldn't be eternal). They show that we are kept by God's power and nothing can separate us from His love. They show that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given as a "guarantee" of our eternal salvation and inheritance. The ultimate salvation of a true believer is absolutely secure: Isaiah 43:1-3; Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 32:40; Matthew 18:12-14; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35-40; John 6:47; John 10:27-30; John 17:11,12,15; Romans 5:8-10; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 8:35-39; 1 Corinthians 1:7-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:14,17; Ephesians 1:5,13,14; Ephesians 4:30; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 9:12,15; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19,25; 1 John 5:4,11-13,20; Jude 1; Jude 24-25.

* I realize there are verses in the Bible that seem to teach otherwise (examples Matthew 7:21-22; Luke 8:1-15; Hebrews 6:1-8), but these verses are very few compared to the overwhelming amount of verses on our eternal security. And I believe in every case the verses that seem to teach otherwise are about people who PROFESS to believe, but don't actually believe. (See for example Matthew 7:23, Jesus says "I NEVER knew you.") There is a difference between the person who answers an altar call because of guilt, emotion, or social pressure and the person who actually commits their life to the Lord from their whole heart. The former is only a professor. The latter is a true believer.

* There are people who will object to this view and say, "I believe salvation is a gift and Jesus will never take that gift back. In this sense, my salvation is secure. But as with any gift we have the ability to destroy the gift. God will not take the gift of salvation back, but I do believe we have the ability to destroy our gift, not through sin, weak belief, or weak faith, but denial. For example, it says in 2 Timothy 2:12-13: 'If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.' So a Christian can deny the gift of salvation."

My response would be that a security or guarantee that doesn't change my heart (so that I will not deny Christ) is no real guarantee at all. I am the problem in the issue of security. My ability to fall away and deny my Savior is really the problem. Trials, demons, hardships, and temptations (Romans 8:35-39) are all acting on me to bring me to the point of denial.

Yet Paul says that I will not fall away, but be "glorified" (Romans 8:30) and I will "conquer" (Romans 8:37). How can Paul be so sure? God changes my heart, so I will never want to deny my Savior. By the action of the Holy Spirit, He regenerates me (causes my heart to be born again), so I will never want to deny Christ. Jeremiah's prophecy of a new, changed heart that follows God always (Jeremiah 32:39-40) is fulfilled in me and all believers in the New Covenant.

I just don't think people who think we can destroy God's gift of salvation have taken into account the many verses on regeneration of the believer's heart by the Holy Spirit. I can only touch the surface here on this issue, but key verses on the new birth of a Christian's heart would be: Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3,23; 1 John 5:4. I'm sure you can do an Internet search on the words "regeneration by the Spirit" and get some good explanations with many more Scriptures.

Can a Christian sin and still be saved?

* Absolutely! The apostle John said, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us... If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives" (1 John 1:8,10). James, the Lord's half-brother, said, "We all stumble in many ways" (James 3:2). Paul said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I AM the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).

* I don't believe that sin causes us to lose our salvation. Sin is serious, there are consequences for our sin, and God will discipline us because He loves us enough to want us to change, but a Christian has a whole new relationship to sin. Take for example, your relationship with your earthly father. If you disobey him, you are not a good daughter. If you rebel against him, you cause him much pain. But YOU ARE STILL HIS DAUGHTER. Nothing can change that fact. Likewise, if you truly have given your life to Christ, then you are born of God. You have a heavenly Father. Nothing can change that. For more see What Sin Does and Doesn't Do in the Life of a Christian.

* (Please don't take anything I'm about to say as a statement about your parents. I don't know them and am not attempting to judge them or their motives. This is just my personal observation from limited experience.) My experience with people who believe in sinless perfectionism is that they are usually strong on the outward appearances (like what they wear, how often they go to church, etc.). They are also strong on what they or others SHOULDN'T do, i.e. the DON'Ts of the Christian life. They are usually also very critical people (of themselves and others), because in their view salvation is based on being perfect.

But my experience with people who believe in sinless perfectionism is that they are weak on the heart issues that Jesus is so concerned about, such as humility, love, joy, compassion, forgiveness, forbearance, and peace. I like Paul's statement: "For the kingdom of God is...righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men" (Romans 14:17-18). When I look for a mature believer I look for someone who is in right relationship with God, full of peace rather than worry and fighting and judging, and full of joy! This is what pleases God, not the emphasis on debatable legalisms and spiritual competitions with one another.

This is my opinion, but my opinion is not really important. Study God's Word and let Him guide you. He is a loving Father and rewards anyone who seeks Him and wants to know what is true. He will direct you. When you are sure of what your Father tells you, then hold on to it with all your heart and don't let anyone disturb your peace. Your Father has spoken and that's enough.

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