The question is often asked. If someone is truly saved, can they lose this? Those who say “yes,” haven’t thought the issue through very well. Usually, a question on this matter will be accompanied by the example of a homosexual who has called on Christ and then fallen back into his old ways. We will go with that below, but it could be any sin or addiction leading to a supposed “loss of salvation.”First, a few questions. Answer now, and then see how you score. No need to email me your answers. It’s just for you to think it through –1) Does God search the hearts and minds of men?
2) Can God lie, or make a false promise?
3) Can God make a mistake?
4) Which of the three of these is the worst –
—–Homosexuality.
—–Sleeping with your father’s wife.
—–Some other sexual sin.Ok, to answer the questions:Does God search the hearts and minds of men? Yes. (See Jeremiah 17:10, Romans 8:27, Revelation 2:23, etc.)Therefore, Romans 10:9, 10 is a matter of the heart. It is stated, and if the profession by the individual is untrue, then God knows this. This has nothing to do with a loss of salvation, but God accepting a profession of faith which is true. There it says:“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”The proposition is made, and it must be true – if the Bible is true. Salvation is granted upon meeting this requirement. God has searched the heart and mind and made His decision.Can God lie, or make a false promise? Obviously not (See Numbers 23:19, etc). God cannot lie, nor can he make a false promise. Ephesians 1:13, 14 says exactly what occurs upon the moment a person believes (see Romans 10:9, 10 again if needed). When a person believes (in their heart which is read by God who reads the heart) then –“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”The moment a person believes, they are sealed– not with a marker, but with the Holy Spirit. God Himself attests to the salvation. And it says that God has done this with a “guarantee until the redemption of the purchased possession.” The word is erevon (Hebrew) or arrabon (Greek). This is an earnest deposit. And it is “to the praise of His glory” not ours. God cannot lie. We are His and it is for His glory.Can God make a mistake? Obviously not. God is the Creator of time, space, and matter. Thus, He is outside of time and He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10, etc). But if Ephesians 1:13, 14 is true, and yet one can lose his salvation then God – in fact – made a mistake.Therefore, to take away one’s salvation means that God has falsely represented Himself, and He is also fallible.Further, Paul says in Ephesians 2:8, 9 –“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”If we can lose our salvation, at any point after being saved, then that means our salvation is up to us, not to God. It was never of grace, and it was and continues to be, of works. So much for grace!Finally, you answered either “homosexuality,” “sleeping with your father’s wife,” or maybe “some other sexual sin.” Or maybe you say, “all are equally bad.” Or whatever. The Bible makes no distinction. Sexual immorality is sexual immorality. However, Paul does say in 1 Corinthians 5:1 –“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!”Paul says that what this man is doing is not even named among the Gentiles. Homosexuality was rampant among the Corinthian culture. But, Paul infers that this is a true abomination. Guess what he then says in verse 5 –“…deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”He is rather clear. This is a willful sin, and yet Paul says he is saved. He is to be handed over to Satan in this life for whatever happens – AIDS? Getting shot by a jealous lover? Whatever. But his spirit will, in fact, be saved. It is in this life that the torments for believers who fail to live up to their salvation come, not the next. The next is a judgment (for believers who are saved and sealed) for reward and loss, not condemnation (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-15).Finally, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 that for those who are in Christ (see above – believe, saved, sealed) that we are not being imputed our trespasses. As the ISV says, God is “not counting their sins against them” 2 Corinthians 5:19.If we are not being imputed sin, and the wages of sin is death (meaning the spiritual disconnect from God) then we can no longer be spiritually disconnected from God.Salvation is eternal. Rejoice in that, and keep things in context. In fact, if you post below, please note that Scripture tennis doesn’t solve anything. So if you are going to cite a verse, it really needs to be in context.To understand proper theology, I suggest you join us each week at the Superior Word in our Thursday night Bible studies (or later on YT where they are posted.) Doctrine matters.The loss of salvation teaching is not just bad doctrine, it calls into question the truth of God in Christ. If those who teach this can’t get this right, this simple precept, then are you going to trust them on other matters of theological importance?Doctrine matters. Hold fast to God’s word.Salvation is eternal.
