Can we lose our salvation?

The question should be approached neither from an apologetic position in order to defend a particular theological tradition nor from a polemic position with the intention to attack a different theological tradition. In short, whether one is a Calvinistic or an Arminian is not the point. It cannot be denied that there are several  New Testament references that actually seem to support both the idea that salvation can be lost and cannot be lost. Romans 8:30, for example, declares: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” This verse seems to tell that from the moment God chooses us, it is as if we are glorified in His presence in heaven already. There is nothing that can prevent a believer from one day being glorified because God has already purposed it in heaven. The Apostle Paul continues to say, by the use of rhetorical argument, that nobody can bring any charge against those whom God has chosen. “It is He who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:33-34). The Apostle John, in his Gospel, quotes Jesus himself uttering words that seem to support eternal security (10:28): “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Ephesians 4:30 says that believers are “sealed for the day of redemption.” Another passage is Jude 24, which says that God is “able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence.” But the most conclusive argument is Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height or 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.” Eternal security is based on God’s love for those whom He has redeemed. Therefore, salvation is purchased by Christ, promised by the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Who then, can circumvent God's own works? 

On the other hand, the NT writers also insinuated, in several places, that the gift of salvation can be lost. The possibility of losing one’s salvation may be the motivation of Paul in writing to his young disciple Timothy: “my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophesies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith” (1 Tim 1:18-19). And again, in 6:20-21, Paul exhorts him to “guard what has been entrusted to [you], that [you] should turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Perhaps Paul is guarding Timothy about the prophesy about the end time revealed in Matthew 24:10-13, “At that time many will turn away from their faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” 

One of the primary concerns of the NT writers was what John Calvin and John Wesley both affirmed: the importance of the perseverance of the saints. In short, Christians must persevere and stand firm in their faith and relationship with God. Those who do not persevere will lose their salvation. For instance, the Gospel of John underscores the significance of remaining in Christ. Jesus repeatedly admonished his disciples: “remain in me.”  In chapter 15, while Jesus was exhorting his disciples about him as the true Vine and they as the branches, the term “remain” was mentioned ten times. The only way to live is being in communion and fellowship with the Vine, and “If anyone does not remain in [Jesus], he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6). 

Paul’s warning to his protégée Timothy is echoed by Peter to his readers. After admonishing them to live holy and godly lives to prepare for the coming of Jesus back to earth (2 Peter 3:11-15), he writes them, “since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position” (3:17). Peter undeniably thought that believers may fall away even from a “secure position.” This is why he admonished them to be on their guard. To fall from grace is possible, which is why like Peter, Paul admonished the Corinthian church to remain faithful to God’s Words. Furthermore, Paul thought of salvation as conditionally maintained: “by this Gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain” (1 Cor 15:2). They already believed, if they do not keep on believing and will continue to remain in the teaching, what they had before will count to nothing in their favor. Thus, it is necessary for Christians to constantly cling to Christ. Here we can say that salvation is not a fixed state. Instead, it is a continuous process. Giving our life to Christ is just the first step. We always need to work our own salvation everyday: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12).

Another way to approach the question is to look at the moral requirements asked of us. Second Peter tells us that since we are looking forward to meeting Christ, “we must make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him” (3:14). The same is found in Hebrews 12:14, which tells that “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” No wicked will inherit the kingdom of God, Paul writes to the Corinthians in his first missive (6:9). He goes on to enumerate the acts of the flesh that will prevent men and women (including Christians) from entering the kingdom (6:9-10). From these passages, the message is clear: we as believers of Christ Jesus are expected to live moral lives, and falling from the moral standard endangers our standing in Christ. John says that “he who does what is sinful is of the devil” (1 John 3:8). He proceeds to say that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remain in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (3:8-9). In here, we must be conscientious in what God asks of us. We are to worship, we are to give our resources, and we are not to sin. We as believers must constantly reach out and be aware of sin in our lives. To continue to deliberately sin will lead to the effect of losing salvation: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left; but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Heb 10:26-27).


[In my Doctrine of Holiness class this month, the question above came up, but we did not have sufficient time to deal with it. Hence, i dug up a short essay I wrote when I was a student at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological  Seminary. What is presented here is the abridged version.]