Can someone lose their salvation?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is to rest not in your ability to hold onto God, but in God's perfect ability to hold onto you. When you are born again (Question 79), you are brought into a new covenant secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ (Question 49).
The assurance of your salvation is rooted in God’s faithfulness and power, not in your fluctuating effort or performance. While genuine faith always results in obedience (Question 80), the source of your salvation remains the unmerited favor of God (grace, Question 61).
Therefore, focus less on the fear of losing salvation and more on the joy of resting in the unbreakable covenant God has made with you through His Son.
The Simple Answer
Christian believers generally fall into two main viewpoints on this issue:
Eternal Security (or "Once Saved, Always Saved"): Holds that genuine Christians are eternally secure because God's salvation is a permanent, unconditional gift. Salvation is based entirely on the finished work of Christ, which cannot be undone by human failure.
Conditional Security (or "Apostasy is Possible"): Holds that while salvation is by grace, it must be maintained by the believer's continued faith and perseverance. A true Christian can, through deliberate and sustained rejection of Christ, forfeit their salvation.
Both views agree on one core point: A truly born again believer will persevere to the end. The difference lies in whether one can fall away if they choose to stop persevering.
The Deeper Dive
Both sides draw on Scripture to support their position, creating a healthy theological tension that drives believers back to God's Word.
1. The Argument for Eternal Security (God’s Power to Keep)
This view emphasizes the work of God as the guarantee of the believer's final safety. Key passages emphasize assurance and permanence:
Christ's Grasp: Jesus promises that His sheep are secure in the Father's hand.
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” — John 10:28 (NIV)
The Chain of Salvation: Paul describes salvation as a divine chain that cannot be broken.
"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." — Romans 8:30 (NIV)
The Spirit’s Seal: The Holy Spirit is the permanent seal and deposit guaranteeing future redemption.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." — Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
2. The Argument for Conditional Security (Warnings to the Believer)
This view emphasizes passages that contain serious warnings against backsliding and apostasy, suggesting that conscious choice can lead to rejection of faith.
The Warning to Turn Back: The author of Hebrews warns against deliberately turning away from Christ.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened... if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance...” — Hebrews 6:4, 6 (NIV)
The Need for Perseverance: Paul stresses the need for continued faith.
“...if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” — Colossians 1:23 (NIV)
The Reconciliation: The Test of Genuineness
Most theologians agree that the warnings are given to make us diligent and examine ourselves, while the assurance verses are given to remove anxiety. The best test of a true believer who has been saved is that they will not ultimately and permanently fall away. If a person falls away completely and never returns to faith, they were likely never truly saved in the first place (1 John 2:19).
God's Assurance
God assures you that His love is eternal, and His power to save you is absolute. Your security is not in your strength but in His unwavering commitment to His children.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
You are assured that your salvation is locked into the love of the eternal God.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not let this theological debate distract you from the work God has called you to do. Instead of constantly worrying about "losing" your salvation, focus on confirming it (2 Peter 1:10) by living a life of obedience and love. If you sincerely desire to follow Christ and trust in His sacrifice, you have every reason to live with profound assurance and peace.
