How does God say I can be saved?
God is holy and God is love. His holiness
demands that our sin be punished infinitely. His love provides a way
for us to be saved from this punishment. How is this possible?
Another
was willing to suffer what we deserve. Our substitute had to be a
sinless man, able to suffer the infinite anger of God against our sin.
The only one able to take our place was Gods only Son.
The greatest display of Gods love unfolded
as His Son left heaven to become a man. Born of a virgin 2000 years
ago, Jesus Christ lived with His creation. Unable to sin Himself, yet
He showed compassion to sinners all around Him. However, men hated Him
because His holiness revealed their sinfulness. He willingly allowed
them to nail Him to a cross of wood outside Jerusalem. They suspended
Him so they could sit and watch Him die. The climax of Gods plan of
salvation had arrived as God covered the earth with darkness.
The
Bible tells us that for three hours He laid on His Son the infinite
punishment we deserve for our sin. The darkness was broken when Jesus
Christ called out with a loud voice "It is finished".
He had
accomplished the mighty work,
Gods great plan of
salvation.
After three days in death, Christ Jesus rose
from the dead. This is evidence to all that saw him afterwards and to
all who read Gods word that Christs suffering completely
satisfied His father. He was victorious over death itself the
ultimate consequence of our sin.
Gods plan of salvation brings us into the
good of Christs suffering, death, and victory. "For when we
were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the
ungodly" (Romans 5:6).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life" (John
3:16).
Can I lose my salvation?
No!
This question often comes up in discussions
among Christians and there is a healthy debate on whether or not it is
possible to lose your salvation. The question and the answer are
important because they can affect your relationship with God. For
example, if someone believes that he can lose his salvation then he
might fall into the error of trying to keep his salvation by what he
does. This is a serious error (Gal. 3:1-3). On the other hand, if he
believed he could not lose his salvation then, he might fall into the
error of sinning willfully because he believes it cant be lost no
matter how much he sins. This also is very wrong (Rom. 6:1-2,11-12).
The proper understanding of salvation is that works play no part in it
(Rom. 4:5), that it is a free gift (Rom. 6:23), and that it is
received by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Once we are saved we are to live a
holy life (1 Thess. 4:7).
Fortunately whether you believe you can or
cannot lose your salvation does not affect your salvation. That is, your
salvation is dependent upon accepting Jesus as Savior, trusting in His
sin sacrifice, and looking to no one and nothing else. Your salvation
isnt dependent upon whether or not you think it is possible to lose
your salvation.
The important point is that you have studied the
Word of God and are convinced in your own mind of what you believe (Rom.
14:5). You are the one who has to answer to God (Rom. 3:19). You are the
one who needs to study to show yourself approved (2 Tim. 2:15).
There are on the surface good verses for both
sides of the argument. There are verses that seem to suggest that it is
possible to lose your salvation: 2 Pet. 2:1; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:26; 6:4_6;
Ps. 69:28, and there are also verses that seem to say you cannot lose your
salvation: John 10:27_28; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 7:21_23; 1 John 2:19; Rom.
8:38_39. But if there are verses used to support both sides, then is there
a contradiction in the Word of God? Of course not. There can be no
contradiction in the inspired Word of God, only in our uninspired
misunderstanding.
It is our opinion, and I stress opinion, that it
is not possible to lose ones salvation. We base this on scriptures that
seem to have a more "eternal" perspective on them. For example, on the day
of judgment when some seek salvation based upon their works Jesus will say
to them, "I never knew you" (Matt. 7:21-23). They were never known, that
is, they were never saved although they appeared, from the human
perspective, to be saved. Jesus says that His sheep will "never perish but
have eternal life" (John 10:28). How can eternal life be eternal if it can
be lost particularly when Jesus said that they will never perish. If they
will never perish, then they can't lose their salvation. Also, Paul says
that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom.
8:38-39). We see these "divine perspective" type verses as giving us
glimpses into the viewpoint of God. We see the other verses as being
stated from a human perspective, that they appeared to be saved and then
appeared to lose it (Gal. 5:4; Heb. 6:4-6). However, 1 John 2:19 says in
dealing with antichrists, "They went out from us, but they were not really
of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but
they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of
us," (NASB). We see this verse saying two things: First, that if it
appears that false teachers leave because they are not regenerated to
begin with. In other words, if someone had salvation and then lost it, it
was because they never were saved in the first place. Second, it says that
if someone is saved, they will remain in the faith.
Nevertheless, there are different positions on
this issue. One position states that it is possible to lose your
salvation, but only if you want to. In other words, having been set free
from sin, the person is then able by an act of will to deny the Lord and
desire not to be a part of Him any longer.
Another position states that it is possible to
lose your salvation if you sin too much. Then you need to go and confess
your sin and get saved again. This has obvious problems because it could
lead to someone trusting in his works and Gods grace to be saved.
Another position states that it is not possible
at all to lose your salvation, that because Jesus has redeemed you and you
are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) you cannot, then, turn your back on God.
Since attaining salvation did not depend on anything you did, keeping it
does not depend on anything you do, then also, losing it cant occur
because of anything you do.
Unfortunately, this topic has caused far too much
friction in the church today. Our hope is that people who disagree, can
learn to live harmoniously with their eyes on Jesus.
Look to the scriptures to know in your heart that
if you are truely saved, you can't lose it!
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's
hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:27-30)
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans
8:38-39)
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am
not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
(2 Timothy 1:12)
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of
laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the
Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which
drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs
meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that
which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of
you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is
not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have
shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do
minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" (Hebrews 6:1-11)
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)
Salvation is the deliverance from sin. When
someone appeals to God and seeks forgiveness in Jesus, his sins are
removed. He is cleansed. His relationship with God is restored, and he
is made a new creature (
God leaves no doubt about our condition.
We
set our standards of right and wrong by society's values. Gods
standard for us is His own holiness. How do we measure up?
"All
have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Its only fair that God demands holiness; thats how he first
created mankind. We have rebelled against Him as a race and as
individuals.
