In order to answer this question, we need to understand the issue of who does the saving and why. If man is even partly responsible for the work in obtaining his own salvation, then salvation can be lost. However, if God is wholly responsible for the work in securing our salvation, it cannot be lost.
There are several statements that Jesus made that should clear up this issue for us. Jesus said in John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Jesus then goes on to say in John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” Jesus is explaining that we were given to Jesus by the Father and Jesus has declared that He shall lose no one. It is Jesus’ ability to keep those that have been given to Him. This has been decided before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). All that God declares that will happen shall happen. We are incapable of thwarting what God has declared will come to pass. We are saved for His glory (Isaiah 43:25).
Romans 8:30 tells us that those whom God has predestined, He also glorified (past tense). Even though we have not yet been glorified, Paul uses the past tense for God has already accomplished it. He has redeemed us (Ephesians 1:7) removed the wrath of God from us (Romans 3:25), and forgiven us (1 John 2:12) in order that we be justified and sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Lastly, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who is the guarantor of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it (Ephesians 1:13-14). If salvation can be lost, God could not have declared that the Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our inheritance. The seal placed upon us reflects ownership. We belong to Him for Jesus paid the price for our salvation and have been given to Him and He shall not lose what was given to Him. The seal of the Holy Spirit guarantees that those that have been given to Him will be not be lost.
We are saved because we must believe that Jesus is Who He says He is and it is not tied to what we do. God seeks after us, we do not initiate contact with Him for scripture states that no one seeks after God (Romans 3:11). God seeks after us and calls on whom He will save (Galatians 1:15-16). Since we are in no position to save ourselves, it is God who saves us to completion. Ephesians 2:8-9 states “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
What God began in whom He has called, He will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). What this means is that it is God who bears the responsibility of completing what He started.
John 5:24 states “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” This verse states that the one who trusts in Christ has everlasting life in the present as it is written in the present tense. It is not a future event. How long is everlasting life? Everlasting life is forever. According to Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” God has already perfected forever (past tense) those who are being sanctified. His work of perfecting those whom are presently being sanctified is a finished work. Christians cannot lose their salvation for we cannot undo what He has already perfected.
The work of God is independent of man. Salvation is a work of God and we respond to His ability to complete what He started. Salvation glorifies God and it is for His name’s sake that He saves (Psalm 106:8).
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Ed
June 26, 2012 at 3:54 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
amen!
Gloria
June 26, 2012 at 4:48 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Very well spoken. I did share this on face book.
I am in agreement with all its content. If one’s life has truly been converted to Christ then nothing can separate us from Him.
Jud 1:24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]–
Thank you for sharing
Tishrei
July 5, 2012 at 4:27 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Gloria,
Sorry for such a late reply. For some reason, your comment ended up in my spam folder. I have no idea why. Every once in a while, a non spam comment will show up in spam and I don’t know how to prevent that. Fortunately, it does not happen often. I think this is the second or third time this has happened since I’ve had this blog.
And YES, if one’s life has been really and truly converted to Christ, then nothing can separate us from Him. That’s the qualifying phrase — IF one has been truly converted. A person whom He has redeemed now belongs to Him and it is Him that keeps us. If we were left up to our own devices, we’d all lose our salvation.
Again, my apologies for not catching your comment sooner.
Kent
July 1, 2012 at 6:24 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Blog Lady T.,
This is, as usual, very good work. I shared it on FB and our friend Kristy told me she really needed it. We had a nice chat back and forth about it. Thanks so much for writing it.
Kent
Tishrei
July 2, 2012 at 6:57 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Kent,
I really need to start FB’ing more often — actually not more often but to start doing it.
Am so very glad that it helped Kristy. It helped me too as it helped me understand this particular area more thoroughly.
Tell Kristy hi for me
Eternal Security, a License to Sin? - Fruit of the Word
July 30, 2012 at 6:04 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
[...] of the most heated controversies in Christianity is eternal security, or whether it is possible for someone who is saved to lose their salvation. The aim of this post [...]