Post Author: Bill Pratt
Once a person is justified (saved), can they lose their salvation? This seems like an important question, but there are differing views within Christendom.
Calvinists, both moderate and 5-point, affirm eternal security. Eternal security is the idea that once a person is truly saved, he can never lose his salvation. Calvinists point to many verses that seem to teach eternal security, such as 1 John 5:13, John 6:37, John 6:39-40, and John 10:27-28.
Arminians, both classical and Wesleyan, believe that a person can lose his salvation. Classical Arminians believe that a person who apostasizes (denies that Jesus is the Son of God) loses his salvation. Wesleyans believe that there are several (the number varies) serious sins, that if willfully committed, cause a person to lose his salvation. This position is similar to the Roman Catholic view.
I happen to agree with the Calvinists on this issue, that once a person is truly saved, it is forever.
But there is another question to consider. How does a person know he was ever saved in the first place? According to Norman Geisler, a person can know they were saved if they “manifest the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23). He adds,
Throughout his first epistle John lists ways we can know that we are one of God’s elect:
(1) if we keep His commandments (2:3);
(2) if we keep His Word (2:4);
(3) if we walk in love (2:5);
(4) if we love the brethren (3:14);
(5) if we love in deed, not only in word (3:19);
(6) if we have the Holy Spirit within us (3:24);
(7) if we love one another (4:13); and
(8) if we don’t continue in sin (5:18; cf. 3:9).
I’ve discussed this issue with my Catholic friends and they always point out that when someone apostasizes or appears to be living in egregious sin, Calvinists like to say, “He was never saved in the first place.” This seems like a convenient way to never allow a person to lose his salvation! They have a point. We truly do not know about other people’s salvation and we shouldn’t be making judgments about that. We can judge their fruit, but never their salvation. God just does not give us that information.
However, with regard to our own salvation, I think we can be sure if we examine ourselves, as suggested above. I can’t imagine going through my Christian walk, wondering every day if I was really saved. I settled that issue a long time ago. Have you?
Hey, I love your list. What it tells me is that NO ONE is saved because Christians believe we’re each sinful and only receive God’s mercy because of his grace alone. So, I guess this means I’m going to have A LOT of company in hell (a place, of course, that I don’t believe exists). I promise to save you a seat anyhow, Bill.
Yes, I have settled the fact that I was saved a long time ago. Otherwise, I would not have changed and love Jesus and the word of God. Your whole interests in life change and Jesus is truly the head of your life. I almost forget what my life was like before salvation, but I do know I was selfish and put myself at the head. Pat Meehan
Thanks for the post. I struggle with this issue. If someone supposedly gets saved, then they revert back to their old habits, then they are still saved? Doesn’t God ever get tired of us repeating the same sin over and over and over again? Was thinking there was a scripture that said something about eventually God would get tired of it. May be wrong.
What is your opinion on divorce and remarriage? C of C thinks that is a sin — a continual sin that you are living in daily. Two preachers told me the only way to be saved would be to divorce my husband. It sorta messes up one’s sense of knowing they are saved.
Kay, the book of 1 John speaks clearly to the fact that even as Christians, we will still sin, however our desire to sin should be always trending downward, as our new nature should be to please God, rather than ourselves. If someone continues to live in blatant, known sin, and continues to live that way knowing it’s wrong, then you have to wonder if they’ve received that new nature, or if they made a “lip only” confession, NOT from the heart. Kind of goes back to James 2, faith without works is dead.
As to divorce – the Bible gives 2 basic situations in which divorce is permitted (though not required) – infidelity and abandonment. Apart from those 2, the way I read Scripture, I don’t see justification for divorce. Note also that temporary separation and divorce are not the same thing. We can get very legalistic about the whole thing. I also believe there are some differences depending on when the person was 1st married and/or divorced, i.e. whether it was before or after they were a Christian. Can be very confusing. However, if the preachers believe it is a sin, how can they say that divorcing now is the only way to be saved? Do 2 wrongs make a right? Further, must one be properly married (or not) to be saved? I’m not sure I’d trust those preachers, Kay.
Bill, this a fine overview of a complex topic but I think you could have been a bit more detailed on your presentation of the Arminian position. Wesley’s construct is that apostasy puts one at risk for the loss of salvation but that the mercy and grace of God would grant them numerous opportunities to repent and be restored. Only one who turned away from Christ permanently could “shipwreck their faith.” Arminius and the Remonstrants never took a firm position on the possibility of become apostate from your regenerate state. He saw the Spirit as the director of perseverance and though the possibility of final apostasy existed, he never spoke to how far one would have to go to reach the state of exhausting the Spirit. In this idea he follows Calvin.
Calvinists also do not blindly follow the once saved, always saved ideal. Spurgeon warned against those Christians whose faith has all the appearances of being sound on the outside but is weak or nonexistent on the inside as being at risk of perdition despite the show they put on.
Personally, I rather like the assurance of Philippians 1:6. Peace.
How can some one be born again and then not born again? That makes no sense to me. My wonderful pastor believes a person can lose their salvation – out of sheer willfulness to disavow their Lord. I can see both points… don’t you think the scriptures teach both points of view? I believe they do…
In any case, if we truly are born again, we will live a life pleasing to the Lord and never need worry about losing our salvatio. Geesh – did that make any sense? I hope so!
God bless,
gloria
thanks, k
Calvinists do believe in assurance as you pointed out. However, they don’t necessarily say that one who is backslidden was never saved. King David is an example of one who walked away in disobedience for a time. But he was brought back and he repented of his sin and rebellion. So, we don’t want to judge others for we do not know their hearts. Certainly we pray that one who has backslidden will repent and turn to the Lord. This is the hope when church discipline has been administered. However, if someone truly turns their back on the Lord after once having believed, and it is shown clearly over time that they repudiate all belief in Christ, then isn’t it safe to say that they were never truly saved?
The Bible says that when we are born again, we have a new nature… like butterfly coming out of cocoon. I’ve never heard of a butterfly changing back into a cocoon. Keep in mind that we are saved “by grace” through faith and the faith to even believe, is a “gift from God” so we can’t brag about how great “our faith” is. Remember, we are all saved by the same gospel, same LORD. Some like to have their ears tickled by leaving out the word “repent”. Ray Comfort has some good messages about false conversions you may be interested in. God bless you! Dave