Can I Lose My Salvation? - Part One

It has come to my attention that many people are struggling with their assurance of salvation, particularly teenagers. In this day of diverse doctrine, it’s no wonder some are doubting the truth and wondering if it’s possible to lose their salvation. Of course, this uncertainty creates anxiety as the doubter examines every word and deed to discover if those words or actions are “bad enough” to lead them to hell despite their profession of salvation. It is to these tortured souls I’d like to direct the next few devotions.

People who believe they can lose their salvation typically do so based on one or two verses of the Bible. After reading an unclear portion of Scripture, they misinterpret the passage to show that once saved, we can then be unsaved. However, as David F. Reagan so succinctly put it, “Scriptural doctrine must be taken as a whole, not as scattered proof texts. One or two scriptures we do not understand must not be used to deny one or two hundred passages which are very clear.” Well said!

When it comes to salvation, some verses in the Bible can give us pause and create confusion for our finite minds, but there are also hundreds of them that sufficiently prove salvation is final. It cannot be reversed or undone. There is no such thing as a former believer when it comes to God. Once saved, always saved. But I don’t want you to take my word for it. I want you to see what the Bible has to say about it. So, let’s begin with some of the more familiar verses which pertain to salvation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. - John 4:14

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:40

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. - Romans 6:22

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. - I Timothy 1:16

These are just a few of the verses that tell us plainly Christ saves us unto everlasting life. The word “everlasting” means “without end.” So, if we receive everlasting life when we accept Christ as Lord of our lives, that salvation is without end. If we could lose it, the life would not be everlasting. It would be temporary, and there is no basis for such a concept in the Word of God. The Bible makes it clear: when we believe, we receive everlasting life. And for those who may have some warped notion that the everlasting only comes into effect after a certain number of faith professions or after death or whatever else they may come up with, the Scriptures head off those arguments as well.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. - John 3:36

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. - John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. - John 6:47

Without going into a long, drawn-out grammar lesson right here, I want to point out the present tense verb “hath” (which means “has”) in each of the above verses. Here, God tells us that when we believe, we have everlasting life right then. It’s not some future fulfillment. Right now, every child of God possesses everlasting life, and they received that gift at the moment of salvation. To lose the salvation would be to lose the everlasting life, which again means the life wasn’t everlasting to begin with. A soul saved by faith in Christ is saved forever. Everlasting. Without end.

Yes, sometimes we mess up and do things we shouldn’t do. There are even times, as Christians, when our faith wavers, and we doubt the truths we’ve been taught. There is such a thing as being backslid, which means you’re still saved, but you’re not living a life pleasing to God. None of these things indicate lost salvation, only a life gone astray. That happens, and when it does, the Holy Spirit works within us to get us back on track. But, if we’ll look at the Scripture as a whole instead of centering in on a couple of unclear passages, we’ll see the teaching of eternal salvation. To dispute that is to dispute all the above verses as well as many others that declare everlasting salvation.

In the next few posts, Lord willing, we’ll look at other concepts that are confusing people and causing them to doubt the Bible concerning the topic of salvation. For now, if you have a question you’d like to ask or an issue you’d like me to explain, please leave a comment. God is not the author of confusion, and He never intended for salvation’s plan to be difficult. So, I want to do my best to clear away the obscurity and show you what the Bible teaches.  I hope you'll join me!