Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 1/19/2012

Question
Hello Rev. Ross,

I am a bit confused on something. Now there appears to be two camps of Christians on a certain issue. One camp says that if one does not endure and if one does not overcome, he will loose salvation. Another camp says that one's salvation is always secure and that God will keep one from be dragged back into the world (and thus losing salvation.

On one hand there is Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Pretty straight forward.

But on the other hand there are a bunch of other verses in the Bible that seem to make conditions regarding salvation. This webpage (http://www.eternallysecure.com/condition.html) has a good summary.

So can one lose salvation if one does not overcome? Or does God keep one who believes secure?

Thanks,
Tressa

Answer
Hi Tressa!

Thank you for yet another interesting question.

The simple answer, I believe, is that one <b>cannot<b> lose one's salvation.  This is because it does not depend on us.  If I may illustrate: I have a grandson who will be four years old next Saturday (28th).  Imagine, if you will, that I take him out for a walk along the top of a high cliff.  Imagine, too, that I am stupid enough (I wouldn't be, of course!) to have him walking on the outside - i.e. at the edge of the cliff.  We are, of course, walking along, hand-in-hand.  Suddenly, the edge of the cliff crumbles away, and my grandson is falling with it.  Now - what is it that stops him hurtling to his death on the rocks below?  Is it his grip on me - or my grip on him?  You know the answer!

So what am I saying?  Simply that our salvation is not dependent on our feeble grip on Father God, but on His strong grip on us.

However, as you rightly point out, there are consequences to my salvation.  The website to which you directed me does give a list of texts - but my cursory glance at the site indicated that it doesn't give either context or explanation.  What we are actually talking about, and what it doesn't appear to mention, are two different things - salvation, and sanctification.  The first was won for us at Calvary, when the Lord Jesus actually became sin for you and for me (II Cor.5:21).  The second is the ongoing work of God the Holy Spirit, as He makes us increasingly like Jesus.  It is a work that will not be completed until we stand in His nearer presence in Glory as, in this life, we will never be sinlessly perfect.  

That too is His work. However, since he does not force His will upon us, we must co-operate.  This means, for example, that I will read my Bible on a daily basis - not because I am forced to, but because I want to learn more about Him, and to hear Him speak to me.  I will develop an attitude of constant prayer (Eph.6:18) - not kneeling all day with my eyes closed, but keeping in touch with Father God at all times, even when I am driving along the road.  I will give, generously, of my substance to the work of the Kingdom - not in order to 'buy favours', but because I want to share the material blessings that I have received, with others whose circumstances are less favourable (the tithe - 10% - is a good place to start, but not to finish!).  These will include, e.g. those in the persecuted church who suffer for Jesus in ways that you and I can barely imagine (there are a number of links on my blog).

The perseverance of the saints also, I would suggest, involves a literal perseverance - even when the going gets tough.  I would claim that the person who makes a Christian profession when all is going well, and then turns his/her back on the Lord when things become difficult, had never been truly converted in the first place!

So, rejoice in your salvation, dear sister; but work it out (i.e. show by your works that your faith is genuine; James 2:14ff) with the works that God has prepared for you (Eph.2:10).

I trust that the above will have been of some help to you.

Blessings, and shalom,

C.Brian Ross (Rev)