"Who is Jesus Anyway?"

Lesson 3The Security of the Believer

Continuing from our last two lessons on Christian Apologetics, we will address a basic question that many believers ask, i.e., "Can I lose my salvation?". There are times in our Christian walk when our faith may not seem as strong, especially during a time when we backslide or commit a sin that we regard as "unpardonable." Suddenly, we fear that we may have lost our salvation. Doubts arise as we begin to fear that we have irredeemably fallen from grace.

Jesus

In this study, we will examine this question and related questions so that you may know that once you are saved, you are saved. No matter what others may try to tell you, you must always know that you are secure in the hands of Christ.

So let’s take a look at this question and see how God’s Holy Word speaks to us about our salvation and if there is something or some things we can do that would cause us to lose our gift of eternal life with Christ.

  1. Let’s first consider the motivation behind the question. That is, what would make someone even ask the question; specifically, what would contribute to someone’s belief that a person could lose their salvation?
  2. Suppose for a moment that the question of losing one’s salvation is being asked because someone doubts that they are actually saved. In other words, for some reason, they don’t feel worthy. Or maybe the new life in Christ is not what they imagined it to be; and, even though they have accepted Christ and repented of their sins, they are still not sure that they’re really saved. After all, it must take more than a confession of sin and God’s great grace in order to be truly saved. Read 1 John 5:13, and note what it tells us about this frame of mind?
  3. Now consider John 3:16, the oft–quoted verse on salvation. What does it say about those who believe? Does it say that only those who believe in a certain way, or come from a certain walk, or have a certain experience can be saved? Who does it say is saved, for how long are they saved, and who saved them?
  4. So, at this point in our study, it is important to note that nothing beyond repentance and believing on Jesus as the Christ saves us—no body of disciplines, or way of life (fasting etc.) results in us being saved, only God’s great love for us and Jesus’ divine sacrifice for us. Looking at this further, let’s analyzer the "doing" part for a moment. List below some examples of acts or deeds that you would consider could cause someone to lose their salvation.
  5. Let’s assume for a moment that when you answered the previous question, you listed murder as a reason that a believer would lose their salvation, or cheating with another man or woman’s spouse. Would you say then that King David lost his salvation?
  6. Perhaps you listed the reason that someone would lose their salvation was behavior that caused another person to stumble, or the person did something that went directly counter to God’s will. Given that rationale, then do you consider that Abraham, Moses, Peter and others in the Bible also lost their salvation?
  7. Maybe you listed as a reason a believer who lived a life of carnal pleasure and did not do the things that were pleasing to God even though he or she was a believer. Then do you consider that Lot lost his eternal home? Here was a man who not only loved the carnal life but offered his daughters to a rioting crowd outside his door who wanted him to throw the angels out to them who had come to warn Lot of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Did God still love him and save him from that destruction along with his family?
  8. We fall into this trap of erroneous thinking when we start with the false assumption that someone can lose their salvation based what they do; when we do that, we are focusing on works, not grace. We believe that our works are what keep us saved, and those whose works aren’t righteous have lost their eternal hope. This is the wrong focus; note what Ephesians 2:8 tells us about this.
  9. To confirm just how firm and solid our salvation is, take the time to examine and reflect on the following verses:
    1. Psalm 37:23
    2. Psalm 138:8
    3. Jeremiah 32:40
    4. John 5:24
    5. John 6:37
    6. John 6:39-40
    7. John 6:68-69
    8. John 10:27-30
    9. John 16:27
    10. John 16:29-33
    11. John 17:8
    12. John 17:11
    13. Acts 1:3
    14. Romans 4:8-9
    15. Romans 4:20-22
    16. Romans 5:1-5
    17. Romans 8:15-17
    18. Romans 8:28-30
    19. Romans 8:33-35
    20. Romans 8:37-39
    21. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
    22. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
    23. Galatians 4:6
    24. Ephesians 1:4-5
    25. Ephesians 4:30
    26. Philippians 1:6
    27. Philippians 2:12-13
    28. Colossians 2:2
    29. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
    30. 2 Timothy 1:12
    31. 2 Timothy 4:18
    32. Hebrews 6:11
    33. Hebrews 7:24-25
    34. Hebrews 10:22-23
    35. Hebrews 11:1
    36. 1 Peter 1:3-5
    37. 1 Peter 5:10
    38. 1 John 2:1-2
    39. 1 John 3:9
    40. 1 John 3:14
    41. 1 John 3:18-19
    42. 1 John 4:13
    43. 1 John 5:10-11
    44. 1 John 5:13
    45. 1 John 5:18
    46. Jude 1:1
    47. Jude 1:24

Early in my walk with Christ when I realized that I wanted nothing greater than to know more and more about the God who saved me and Jesus who died for me, I began studying the Bible in earnest. A wise pastor warned me of people who form their theology and belief system on one or two verses in the Bible, taken out of context. I hope that this lesson has provided some of the overwhelming evidence that God’s Word has for us regarding the fact that we are indeed saved, and saved forever. No one can take us out of God’s hands—nothing, no one, ever.

Many years ago in response to this question from my sister I wrote a piece for her on this subject, it contained all of the scripture above, verse–by–verse. I encourage you to take the time to look up all of the references listed above; but if you can’t, or if you would like to see what it is like to read each of these verses without a break as written word taken from God’s Word; I have provided a copy of it HERE. I can assure you that it will fill your life once again with hope and joy, as you come to realize that we are indeed saved by His great grace for an eternity and nothing can rob us of that promise.

We may stumble and fall, and we may sin greatly in both God’s eyes and our eyes, but we were sinners before He saved us. God loved us then, so imagine how much more He loves us now as one of His children. He has much in store for us in the eternity to come and wants to reassure us through His word and His actions that we are His and His forever. Hallelujah!

Pass the word: God loves you, He sent His Only Son to die for you and He is preparing a place for you for all eternity!

Have a great week everyone, and thanks for studying with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2018]

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