PART 8 ETERNAL SECURITY

Analyzing scripture in order to deduce whether a believer can lose their salvation?

�-�Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation? �" Section 4

CHAPTER 13

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation? �" Scripture Section 4

Before we take a look at these sections of scriptures on this topic I wanted to mention the apostle James instructions to the Jewish believers who were scattered throughout the ancient world.

In James 3:14-17 James told the Jewish believers who thought their ideas and practices were the only correct ones, which were promoted out of selfish motives, to not be prideful. This earthbound wisdom was considered unspiritual and demonic. 

In contrast, heavenly wisdom, that to which they should aspire is:

• Pure�"free from self-interest.
• Peaceable�"helps others to settle their differences.
• Gentle�"tolerates and accepts the differences of others; not easily aroused or annoyed by what they say or do.
• Easy to be entreated�"always willing to listen to other people’s views and ready to be persuaded.
• Full of mercy�"shows compassion to those in trouble or in need.
• Full of good fruit�"just, benevolent, and kind in action.
• Without partiality�"not swayed by worldly honor.
• Without hypocrisy�"has nothing of which to be ashamed, and which needs to be concealed. 
  

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.       (James 3:14-17)

With that in mind let’s continue looking at more scripture sections which are used by various churches to support their view on salvation.

      Some use the word “unrighteous” to refer to those Christians who have lost their salvation. Just who are the unrighteous?

Such Were Some Of You:  “But ye are washed”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of whom were involved with the committing of habitual sins such as:

• Fornication.
• Idolatry.
• Adultery.
• Effeminate behavior (the passive male partner in homosexual intercourse).
• Abusers of themselves with mankind (the active male partner in homosexual intercourse).

At one time some of the Corinthian believers habitually practiced some of these sins, but were converted to the Lord and would inherit the kingdom of God. Their sins were washed away; they were sanctified (the setting apart of one as consecrated by the Spirit in the eternal purpose of God⁷²); and they were justified (of being acquitted or declared innocent by God, and so placed in a right relationship with him).

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• The unrighteous believer, who habitually practiced these sins would not enter into or become a partaker of the kingdom of God. 

NO

• The unrighteous, those who did not repent of their sins to God the Father and believe in his Son, will not inherit the kingdom of God, because they were unbelievers.

What does it mean to be a castaway in relation to salvation?

Those Who Run A Race:  “I myself should be a castaway”

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-27

The apostle Paul made himself a servant to both the Jews, who were under the Law, and the Gentiles, who were not under the Law, in order to preach the gospel to them, hoping for a favorable response. We, Christians, are like runners in the Isthmian games, one of the four great national festivals of the Greeks. Every runner who contended disciplined himself very carefully, enduring ten months of preparatory training and practice in the gymnasium under the direction of judges who had themselves done the same thing. Self-denial and hardship was required in order to compete in the contest and possibly win a perishable wreath.

Paul said that we, as Christians, should strive for a prize that will never fade. As for himself, He ran not as a boxer, beating the air and practicing without an adversary; but as one who, in his conflict with evil, struck straight and did not despair. As the Greek boxer wore a pair of fur lined gloves covered with cowhide and loaded with lead and iron⁷¹ in order to punish his opponent, so should we be as energetic in addressing sin in our own life.

Our bodies, which are where the sin nature resides, are like the horses in a chariot race that must be kept well in hand by whip and rein if the prize is to be secured. And, like the herald at the games who proclaimed the conditions of the games, displayed the prizes, exhorted the combatants, excited the emulation of those who were to contend, declared the terms of each contest, pronounced the name of the victors, and put the crown on their heads. Paul proclaimed the consequences of this race unless the body was brought into submission.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• A decision not to live separate from the world in victory over sin would result in Paul being a cast away, and therefore he would lose his salvation, being rejected by God who is the ultimate judge. 

NO

• If we don’t address sin in our life by subjecting our bodies to God’s discipline, then we could become a castaway, but not lose our salvation.

~        Analogous to a judge in the Greek games disqualifying a runner for breaking the training rules, and subsequently being unable to obtain the prize.

~        The runner was not barred from the entrance to the race nor did he lose his citizenship�"only his opportunity to win a prize.

The word “perish” seems to convey a convincing perspective that a believer can lose their salvation. Is this what it means?

An Idol Is Nothing:  “shall the weak brother perish”

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

What is being addressed here is the issue of eating meats previously offered in pagan sacrifices. An idol is nothing but there were some who, out of long habit prior to conversion, could not dismiss the idea that partaking of sacrificial meat indicated participation in sinful idolatry. Their conscience had not yet been properly instructed, and they were not strong enough to overcome former prejudices and superstitions, so consuming the meat became a temptation. They did not understand that their relationship with God did not depend on whether or not they ate this meat.

Paul’s point in this teaching was that the faith of a weaker brother, who saw a fellow believer eating sacrificial meat, might be harmed and he could be tempted to deny his conscience and enter into sin by eating this food, and subsequently perish. In this case, the stronger or more mature believer would be sinning against their brethren by weakening their ability to decide between right and wrong.

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (1 Corinthians 8:11)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• A weaker brother who saw a fellow brother eating sacrificial meat, could be encouraged to return to the temple and become re-involved with idolatry, which would result in the loss of their salvation.

NO

• A weaker brother, who saw a fellow brother eating sacrificial meat, could be encouraged to return to the temple and become re-involved with idolatry, but it would not result in the loss of their salvation.

~        That they would “perish” indicates spiritual ruin in which their Christian walk would be affected, but not their eternal standing.

~        However, they would have corrupted their souls in mind, speech, and action by yielding to the temptation.

If a believer changes their mind and concludes that Christ was not raised from the dead, does this negate their salvation?

I Declare Unto You The Gospel “unless you have believed in vain”

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

       Paul is reminding the believers of the gospel (the good news about who Christ is and what he has accomplished), which was preached unto them, and to which they received (responded to; embraced as true) by repenting of their sins to God the Father and believing in his Son for salvation, and by which their church was founded. Because of such it was a certainty that they were continually saved, if they kept in memory what he preached unto them, unless they have believed in vain. 

       By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:2,12)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• If a person believes the gospel and becomes born-again and doesn’t continue to believe in the teaching concerning it, albeit in this case, the teaching concerning the resurrection, then they would have believed in vain (have lost their salvation).

NO

• When a person hears the gospel and responds to it they are saved. The verb are saved is in the present passive indicative meaning it is a fact that they are continually a saved person.
• The implication that this status changes if they don’t continue to believe in the teachings of the gospel is not what is being conveyed here.
• What it is saying is that if a believer changes their mind about the teachings, albeit the resurrection of Christ, then what they have believed was in vain (without success; useless; to no purpose).
• This is not about losing their salvation, but bringing to the forefront the realization that if any believer denies the resurrection, then what they are saying is Jesus is not the Messiah/savior, and their sins have not been paid for and forgiven.

If a believer is asked if they are still in the faith, does this insinuate that they have lost their salvation?

Was Christ Speaking In Paul? “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith?”

Suggested reading: 2 Corinthians 13:1-9

The apostle Paul was addressing the believers in Corinth, some of whom were seeking proof that Christ was speaking through him. Paul’s response was that there was evidence of Christ in him. The first proof was that many in the Corinthian Church had been converted to Christianity because of their response to the gospel as presented by him. The second proof was that God demonstrated his work in Paul through the obvious power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that were evidenced in his life.

Paul asked them to check out their own spiritual condition to see if they lived as Christians should �" as being those who were to prove (test) themselves. Did their character, principles, and conduct align with God or had they been compromised by bad doctrine?  He prayed that they would do what was right and be restored to their proper place. Such restoration is analogous to setting a broken bone; adjusting a twisted limb; outfitting a ship for a voyage; and equipping an army for battle.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• The Corinthian believers needed to examine themselves in order to see if they were still in the faith or were still saved.
• Did they still know that Jesus was in them? If not, then it was because they had become reprobate, much like a counterfeit coin.

NO

• These verses have nothing to do with the Corinthian’s salvation, but everything to do with their walk with God. They were making false accusations against Paul because they were operating with a wrong mental attitude.
• Paul, aware that their faith had been adulterated with false doctrine, prayed for their restoration which could only take place when they ascertained their own spiritual condition, acknowledging and confessing their sin to God.
• Paul told them to find out whether they were living as Christians should live i.e. in the faith.
• We are instructed to walk in Christ, being constantly built up in Him and receiving more inner strength in our relationship with Him as Lord.
• As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

One of the paramount expressions for those who believe that salvation can be lost is found in the next section.

Stand Fast In The Liberty:  “ye are fallen from grace”

Suggested Reading: Galatians 5:1-4

       Paul encouraged the Galatians to depend on the ministry of the Holy Spirit; and not like the Judaizers who attempted obedience to the Mosaic Law through self-effort in order to receive personal sanctification. Seeking justification or righteousness through the Law nullified the work of Christ; and those who followed this course of action had fallen from grace.

       Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:1,4)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• Believers lost their justification or standing because they chose to live according to the mandates of the Mosaic Law; and therefore they were “fallen from grace”.

NO

• Believers were not able to live a life pleasing to Christ because they were not being sanctified (they had ceased from deriving spiritual benefits through the ministry of the Holy Spirit).
• The words “fallen from grace” means that they lost their hold upon grace for daily living, no longer depending on God's abundant supply. This however does not refer to the loss of permanent justification through Christ or salvation.

Does the word “sow’ mean that a believer’s salvation is earned, and therefore it could be by neglect lost?

He That Sows: “shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”

Galatians 6:8

       Paul is instructing the believers at Galatia telling them that he that concentrates (directs all thoughts) on the flesh (bodily appetites or natural desires) shall receive corruption (physical and moral decay). It is believed that these words were in response to some in the church called Judaizers (converts from Judaism, who still clung to the Mosaic institutions) that taught a salvation by works; a religion without any regard for regeneration. This teaching would allow for someone to continue in sin while trying to seek the favor of God by their works. Paul goes on to say there is an alternative to this approach. And that is that whosoever channels their energies (thoughts, time, effort, etc.) upon the furthering in himself and in others of the fruits of the Spirit, will gather life everlasting.

       For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• Salvation is based on a person’s goal to attain eternal life. If a person gives up on this attempt, then they will lose the salvation they initially attained.

NO

• When a person repents of their sins to God the Father and believes in his Son they receive eternal life.
• And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)
• Eternal life can be called the abundant life or from the Greek the zoe life. It refers to all those superadded things which are needful to make that life eminently blessed and happy.These superadded things are the indwelling Holy Spirit and His fruit (influences). It refers to having: rest (refreshment and rejuvenation) for our souls; experiencing times of refreshing (divine peace and joy) in our life; righteousness (correctness in thinking, feeling and acting; upright character and disposition; integrity); peace (regulating, ruling, and harmonizing the heart), joy (inner happiness without any kind of mental agony or fear).   
• As the Christian sows to the Spirit, they will operate in the blessings (spiritual influences; fruit) of the eternal life, which they have already received.       

One of the prominent expressions for those who adhere to the view that a believer cannot lose their salvation will be looked at next.

“Ye Were Sealed With The Holy Spirit”

Ephesians 1:13

After you heard the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again; you acknowledged Him as your savior and were sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of much more to come and a taste of the life God has promised to His people in the future.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• A seal can be broken, such as in Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-2.

~        Following Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathaea begged Pilate for Jesus’ body so that he could place it in a new tomb.

~        The chief priests and Pharisees, remembering that Jesus said that after three days he would rise again, commanded the tomb to be sealed; and a stone was placed over its entrance.

~        So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:66)

~        On the first day of the week an angel of the Lord came and rolled back the stone.

~        And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:2)

• As the seal of the tomb was broken, so can a seal be broken when a believer practices habitual sin, resulting in the Holy Spirit’s departure and the subsequent loss of eternal life.

NO

• The sealing by the Holy Spirit is based on the blood of Christ.
• Faith is the condition or intermediate agency, and not the ground or basis for salvation.
• Salvation is based on the blood or primary agency of Christ, who paid the debt of sin and removed God’s just condemnation from the believer.
• Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Romans 3:24-25)
• Christ, not us, secures the seal, so a believer cannot lose their salvation. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

The word “destruction” is another one of those words that appears to signify loss of salvation. Is there another way of interpreting it?

Be Followers Of Me: “Whose end is destruction”

Philippians 3:17-19

 The apostle Paul instructs the brethren to be imitators of him, and to fix their attention on those who set a righteous example. Many Christians live as the enemies of the cross of Christ, using their liberty as a covering over licentiousness. Their fixed doom is destruction because they:

~        Worship their own appetites, sexual gratifications, and self-indulgences.

~        Take pride in the things of which they should be ashamed.

~        Depend on earthly things to earn God’s favor, holding onto rituals and beliefs from Old Testament times rather than on all that is available in Christ.

~        Give into the lusts of their flesh.

~        Have no spirituality.

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• Believers who habitually live for self as enemies of the cross do not secure God’s favor. Their inevitable outcome is destruction or separation from the presence of God in eternal judgment.

NO

• This idea of “Whose end is destruction” can be similar to what is said about a person who had sex with his stepmother.  

~        In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Paul had received a report concerning someone in the church who was involved in an illicit sexual relationship with his stepmother.This person was to be cast out of the church and given over to Satan for physical suffering so he would be corrected, humbled and reformed before the day of the Lord’s judgment when believers would receive rewards for their works.

~        To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5)

The two individuals mentioned caused their faith to be shipwrecked.

Holding Faith, And A Good Conscience “have made shipwreck”

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

(1 Timothy 1:18-20)

       Apparently there were some in Ephesus, who were teaching false doctrine. Paul is reminding Timothy, who was sent there to address this issue, to be mindful of the prophecies (prophetic utterances) concerning himself that not only was he was called by God, but his ministry was approved by Him. Therefore, he was to fight well by keeping hold of faith (sound doctrine), and a good conscience (to live according to the dictates of the truth).

       However, there were some believers, two in particular named Hymanaeus and Alexander, who chose to indulge in carnal propensities, thus having thrown away a good conscience (of sin not repented of and as a result not forgiven) and as such have made faith (that which they initially believed in, sound doctrine) shipwreck. As a consequence Paul said that they were to be delivered over Satan so that they would not blaspheme.

       What does it mean when the word says that faith was shipwrecked and they were given over to Satan?

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• The result of Hymanaeus and Alexander choosing to live in teachings which condone habitual moral sin was that faith (that which they initially believed in) was made shipwreck (destroyed).
• Paul goes on to say that both of them were given over to Satan, meaning that they had lost their salvation and were now servants of darkness.

NO

• The result of Hymanaeus and Alexander choosing to live in teachings which condone habitual moral sin was that faith (that which they initially believed in) was made shipwreck. Another word it was the loss of a good conscience (of sin not repented of and forgiven) that made them shipwreck (fall into error and bad conduct) with respect to the faith (sound doctrine).
• Paul goes on to say that both of them were given over to Satan, meaning they were to be removed from church fellowship thus being given over into the world system for a period of time so that they might learn by chastisement (physical maladies) to not blaspheme (to stop holding on to doctrines that reproach God’s character) with the implication of them being restored back to fellowship.

If a believer casts off their faith, is this synonymous with losing their salvation?

The Qualifications Of A Widow: “Having Damnation”

Suggested Reading: 1 Timothy 5:3-16

The qualifications for placing a Christian widow on a church list in order to receive financial support are set forth here. Christians are admonished to provide for not only their widowed mothers, but also for widows who are relatives that have no living children or grandchildren. If a believer chooses not to provide support, they will be regarded as those who have disowned their faith.

If a Christian widow has no children or grandchildren and needs financial support from the church, there are guidelines for her to follow in order to be eligible and remain eligible.

She must:

1. Be at least 60 years old.
2. Have no opportunity to earn wages.
3. Have no children or relatives remaining alive.
4. Have placed her hope in God.
5. Continue in petition and prayer on a daily basis.
6. Not be involved in a sensual lifestyle.
7. Not be open to censure (to find fault with; to criticize harshly).
8. Not be living in luxury.
9. Be the faithful wife of one man (same conditions as for a pastor), meeting the following conditions.

 i.      Validly divorced people who remarried were considered married to one spouse. If the believing Christian is married to an unbeliever, and the unbeliever chooses to leave the marriage, then the believer is allowed to divorce and remarry. (1 Corinthians 7:15)

ii.      If the Christian is married to an individual, whether they are a believer or not, who decides to engage in an extramarital affair, the Christian is allowed to divorce and remarry. (Matthew 19:9)

iii.      If the husband or wife dies, the surviving spouse is allowed to remarry. (Romans 7:2)                                 

iv.      If the believing Christian is married to a believer and the believer chooses to leave the marriage, then the believer is to remain unmarried or be reconciled. (1 Corinthians 7:10,11)                    

                      

10. Have a good reputation, being spoken well of and regarded favorably regarding child rearing, hospitality, and service to others.

Some infer that the enrolled widows were to pledge themselves to remain widows, serving the Lord in the church. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know.

Widows under 60 years of age were to consider remarrying, bearing children, and guiding a household rather than depending on the church for support. If they were placed on the widow’s list, problems could arise because some might have strong physical desires and want to remarry. There is nothing wrong with that desire, but if this was a widow’s chief preoccupation they might:

• Develop a mindset that solely served their own needs.
• Become idle, refusing to engage in any meaningful activity.
• Wander from house to house (this could relate to house visitation).
• Begin talking nonsense about other people’s affairs.
• Pry into the affairs of others.
• Speak of things they shouldn’t, such as disclosing secrets or revealing the concerns of their neighbors.
• Withdraw from serving Christ and be condemned, because they had cast off their first faith.

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. (1 Timothy 5:9, 11-12)

Can A Believer In Christ Lose Their Salvation?

YES

• Those younger widows who became so preoccupied with getting remarried and subsequently turned against Christ would lose their salvation and receive eternal death because they had wholly fallen away from their first pledge.

NO

• Younger widows, whose preoccupation with getting married was to the exclusion of continuing on in their faith would incur the discipline of God and be miserable, the goal of the judgment being the restoration of their first faith.

~        Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8)

~        And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:5-6,11)

What are you thinking? Have I presented too much information? If you are ever in a dialogue with someone whose view on this topic is different than yours at least you will have information from this study to use in support of your perspective. I can honestly say that I never thought there were as many scriptures as there actually are, which are used to either support the idea that a believer can lose their salvation or the idea that a believer can’t lose their salvation.

Well if you can believe it we have one more chapter of scripture sections to look at. You might be wondering are there many other doctrinal topics that not only are looked at differently, but use a lot of scriptures to support them? I would have to say in many cases the answer is yes. I think that the expression, to study to show yourself approved unto God, in this study has been taken to a whole other level.

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