Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 10/31/2007

Question
QUESTION: Is backsliding the same as walking away from your salvation?

ANSWER: Hi Jared,
   Through some preachers talk about Christians backsliding it is a term used in the Old Testament to refer to the nation of Israel not following the Lord and accomplishing God's plan for them.   Blacksliding is not found in the New Testament.    Preachers who use the term are talking about a believer who goes into sin.
   It is possible for a believer to go into sin.  The NT speaks of a "sin unto death" in which a Christian goes into sin and refuses to repent and turn from his sinful live.  The believer will not lose his salvation, but God may take his life to stop his sinning.   
   "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." (1 John 5:16-17)
    Paul makes this statement concerning Corinthian believers who were living worldly lives and not "discerning the lord's body."  The phrase means they continued to sin while fully knowing their sin caused the Lord Jesus suffering on the cross.  They were insenitive to Christ's having to suffer for their sins...thus not discerning His body.
    Hebrews 12:6-12 tells us of God's chastening of believers who continue to sin.  God like a good parent will discipline believers who ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit and continue in blatant sin.   
    God chastens a believer to help them see the seriousness of their sins and turn them from it.   If God's chastening is ignored, then God may chose to end the believer's life.
    Christian in this the dispensation of the Church Age can get out of fellowship with the Lord, but cannot lose their salvation.  The Lord explains that He keeps a believer saved and they will not be lost.
    "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)
   This an many other passages explain the security of the believer.  Once a person becomes a child of God they will always be God's children and will go to heaven.
    Thus a saved person cannot really walk away from their salvation, but they can go into sin.
    I hope this answers your question.   However, if you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So if I was to say, as a believer, "God, I do not want you in my life anymore" and reject God altogether, am I still saved?

Answer
Hi Jared,
  Yes that is what the Bible teaches.   The Bible tells us we become an adopted child of God.  "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:5)
  Once a person becomes a child of God that relationship is permanent and God will not reject His child regardless of their faithfulness to the Lord.   However, as I mentioned in my last e-mail God will chasten a son who refuses to repent and turn from their sin back to the Lord.
  The security of the believer is not a license to sin as some conclude, but a cherished promise of our Heavenly Father and Savior.
   Of course some teach falsely that salvation can be lost, but that is not what the Bible teaches.  I have an article at http://bible-truth.org/assuran2.html which explains this doctrine from the New Testament.
   Thanks for writing.   Hope the explanation and article are useful.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org