Expert: Clifford H. Readout, Jr. - 11/15/2011

Question
We all know even Christians are not perfect and have struggles. We also know that Sanctification should be occurring and a Christian has conduct. My question is when does sin become a serious problem in a Christians life? When does a christian become a lukewarm christian? And after receiving Christ in your life, can Christians backslide or sin enough to loose there salvation?

Answer
Dear Josh,

Please forgive me for not answering sooner.  I thought I had set my "vacation dates" through February, 2012.  When I received notice of your question I was out of state at a seminary board meeting, with no time to reply.

I have s study on this subject that I will be happy to send you as an email attachment (Adobe PDF file) if you email me directly at <readout@gmail.com>.  It is copyrighted material, so I will not simply copy it into an answer that gets posted on AllExperts.com. All I ask is that you honor my copyright.

A wise elder once said, "The sin that will damn your soul is the one you quit fighting."

It is important that we recognize that the Word of God speaks to this issue.
Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

This does not mean that grace will eliminate the penalty for a Christian's deliberate continuance in sin. All texts must be kept in context.

Romans 6:1 𠗨at shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.  8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 𠈡ving therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  21 And having an high priest over the house of God;  22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  28 He that despised Moses򠬡w died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Lukewarmness is the result of blending zeal with self-indulgence. It is the comfortable feeling that you have a reasonable balance of fervent devotion and the other issues of "real life."  Question your motives.  Are you doing what you do in order to please the Lord because He is God, or in order to curry favor with Him for your own salvation?  There is no room for negotiating a deal with God.  You either serve Him because He is God or you serve appetites and things. We find ourselves looking for just enough Christian devotion and sanctification to satisfy our own conscience, and make us feel that we are "more righteous" than we are sinful.  We become comfortable, lukewarm, repulsive to the Lord Jesus Christ; for there is no acceptable middle ground between the "extremes."

Even the Apostles expressed the understanding that it is possible for one to turn aside from the grace of God.
1Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
[NOTE: the Apostle Paul thought it possible that he could be castaway, a word also translated "rejected or reprobate."]
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[NOTE: Who is the "we"?]
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
[NOTE: "wherewith he WAS sanctified".]
There are many other texts that point out this reality.

Allow me to conclude with one additional comment.  The text in Revelation 3 that mentions being "lukewarm" is given to us in the context of the Lord's messages to the angels of the churches in Asia Minor.  It is very important to notice that He makes many promises to them, but not all of them are positive, hopeful promises.  It is equally important to recognize that all of the positive, hopeful promises are made to "him that overcometh."  Overcoming is a process.  It is accomplished one decision at a time.  Being faced with a choice between satisfying yourself, or obeying the Lord is your opportunity to overcome. Take advantage of temptation, by using it to deny yourself.  After all, that is still the primary qualification for being a follower of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:24 𠔨en said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Again, I apologize for not responding earlier.  It was not possible.  Also, I have written study which deals with this subject from another direction.  I think you would benefit from it, and I offer it to you freely, but to obtain it you must email me directly at <readout@gmail.com>.

Yours for Truth,

CR