The question of whether a Christian can “give back” or lose their salvation is an important one that many believers ponder. The Bible provides insight into this issue, though there is some disagreement among Christians regarding the interpretation. Ultimately, one’s view on this theological question stems from how one understands key biblical passages on salvation and eternal security.
Those who believe salvation can be lost (often called “conditional security”) point to verses that warn against falling away, apostasy, or faithlessness as evidence that someone who is saved could end up not remaining saved. For example, Hebrews 6:4-6 says “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.” Passages like this lead some to believe that true believers can turn away from Christ and lose their salvation.
However, others who hold to eternal security (sometimes called “perseverance of the saints”) interpret these warning passages differently. They argue that true saving faith will necessarily persevere rather than fall away. Apparent falling away shows that the person’s faith was never genuine rather than proving one can lose salvation. Verses used to support this position include John 10:28 where Jesus says “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” God preserves true believers, keeping them securely saved.
So how might an eternal security proponent interpret Hebrews 6? They may argue that those who “fall away” in this passage were never truly saved to begin with. This text describes people who were associated with the church and had some exposure to Christian truth, but had not sincerely trusted in Christ. When they abandon their superficial faith, they show their lost state. But for those with genuine saving faith, perseverance is assured.
Another key set of verses in this debate are Jesus’ parable of the sower/soils in Mark 4:1-20. The soils represent different responses to the gospel. Only the good soil representing true believers persevere and bear fruit. The other soils show that not all who appear to start well continue on and thus prove they were never truly saved despite some external religious experiences.
There are good biblical cases to be made on both sides of this issue. Those who see conditional security emphasize human responsibility to continue following Christ. Those who believe in eternal security (perseverance of the saints) emphasize God’s sovereignty in preserving true believers. There are complex theological issues at play.
While Bible scholars continue to discuss and sometimes debate this point, it is wise to avoid extremes. One extreme would be becoming casual about sin or falling away because “I can always repent later.” The other extreme is constantly doubting one’s salvation out of fear of losing it. Neither response represents a healthy biblical perspective.
Whether one believes a true Christian can lose their salvation or that God preserves all true believers eternally, the biblical imperative is the same – continue trusting in Christ, relying on His grace, fighting sin, and pursuing holiness by God’s power. Warnings against falling away should lead us to self-examination and motivate us to press on faithfully following Jesus. At the same time, God’s sovereignty and preservation of believers should give us confidence that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
In conclusion, Christians continue to have differing views on whether salvation can be lost or not. The theological issues are complex. But regardless of one’s position on eternal security, the Bible clearly teaches the importance of persevering in faith and holiness, trusting in Christ rather than our own efforts for salvation. Biblical writers issue warnings against falling away as a means of motivating believers to avoid complacency and continue pursuing Christ-likeness in reverent fear. Their aim, and God’s desire for us, is that we endure joyfully to the end, never doubting Christ’s power to present us faultless before His glorious presence (Jude 24).
With over 7000 words to go, let’s explore some additional points and biblical evidence related to this topic:
First, it’s important to note that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, not by our good works. Verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 make this clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Our salvation rests securely in Christ’s finished work, not our own effort.
However, good works and perseverance in faith are the evidence of genuine salvation. James 2:14 asks “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” True saving faith inevitably results in a changed life characterized by good works.
Many warnings against falling away are best understood as urging self-examination about whether one’s faith is genuine rather than proving you can lose salvation. 2 Corinthians 13:5 encourages believers to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” The purpose of such warnings is to spur self-reflection, not create constant doubt about our standing before God.
Some argue that no true believer could ever deny Christ or fall into grievous sin. 1 John 3:9 says “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” But examples like Peter denying Christ show this cannot mean believers will never stumble. Christians are still capable of grievous sins when not relying fully on the Spirit.
The most reasonable understanding of such verses is that they are describing what is true of believers when enabled by the Spirit. They have a new nature that cannot persist unrepentantly in sin, but they can still struggle with sin when not walking by the Spirit. But true believers will repent and return when confronted, as Peter did after denying Christ.
This ties into the biblical tension between conditional and unconditional promises. God’s promises are unconditional – based fully on Christ and secured for believers. But they are accessed conditionally as we walk by faith and repent of sin. Right standing with God is secure, even when our experience of closeness with God fluctuates based on obedience.
Philippians 2:12-13 captures this tension well: “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Our salvation is fully God’s work, yet we have a role in living it out in dependence on Him.
The Bible includes many “if…then” statements related to salvation and blessings on believers. If we walk in the Spirit, we won’t fulfill the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). If we confess our sins, God will forgive us (1 John 1:9). If we put to death sinful deeds, we will live (Romans 8:13). Such conditional statements do not undermine security for believers, but give incentives for obedient living.
What about the “sin unto death” mentioned in 1 John 5:16? This likely refers to persistently unrepentant sin rather than a single act. Some believe it may refer specifically to denial of Christ. In any case, it does not contradict verses promising preservation for true believers. But it does provide a sobering warning against walking in darkness.
Overall, passages warning against falling away are best understood as urging self-examination and perseverance for those already saved, not proving one can lose salvation. They call nominal believers to press on to true faith, and urge genuine Christians to continue walking by the Spirit.
The doctrine of assurance of salvation relates to this issue as well. Scripture teaches that Christians can have full assurance of salvation by resting in Christ’s finished work (1 John 5:13). False assurance assumes salvation without biblical self-examination, but true assurance comes from Spirit-bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, as Romans 8:16 expresses. Both faulty presumptions of security and constant doubtful fear of losing salvation should be avoided.
In summary, this is a complex biblical issue with good cases made by Bible scholars holding different perspectives. The best approach is focusing on the practical implications more than just intellectually debating. Whether one leans more toward conditional or unconditional security, the Bible clearly teaches the need for persevering faith, self-examination, repentance from sin, and reliance on the Spirit rather than flesh. Our salvation rests fully on Christ, not ourselves, but genuineness is evidenced by spiritual fruit.
With thousands more words still to go, let’s explore some additional Bible passages relevant to this question of eternal security and what they might indicate:
Romans 8:38-39 says “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This powerful promise reassures believers that nothing can remove us from God’s love and salvation.
Jesus says in John 6:39, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” He promises to lose none who come to Him in faith, keeping them for resurrection.
In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul says believers “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” The Holy Spirit’s presence in believers guarantees their salvation until they enter God’s presence in glory.
Jesus states in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Christ promises His sheep eternal security, for no one can take them from Him.
And Paul asks rhetorically in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” God will not revoke the gift of salvation He has given true believers in Christ.
However, other verses offer warnings not to fall away:
Hebrews 10:26-27 warns, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.” Those who reject Christ’s sacrifice after knowing it have no other place for forgiveness.
Hebrews 6:4-6, mentioned earlier, describes those who have “fallen away” as unable to be restored again to repentance. This serves as a serious warning against turning from Christ after experiencing some of the blessings of the faith.
So in passages promising security, we see assurance for genuine believers. But warning passages prompt us to examine ourselves and continue pursuing holiness, lest we prove ourselves false converts by falling away. Biblical writers employ both angles, encouraging and warning readers toward perseverance in Christ.
The doctrine of predestination also relates to this debate over eternal security. If God has predestined His elect to be saved through faith, that salvation must necessarily endure. As Paul says in Ephesians 1:11-12, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” This view sees true saving faith as a gift and fruit of God’s redeeming work rather than human effort we might abandon.
Differing views remain between denominations. Lutherans, Arminians, and Methodists typically reject eternal security, believing salvation can be lost if one falls away. Calvinists and many Baptists embrace perseverance of the saints, believing God will complete the salvation of true believers who have been predestined for election. Other Protestants affirm eternal security but disagree over whether “falling away” passages refer to losing salvation or proving one never truly believed.
Historically, Augustine differed from early church fathers on this issue. He taught that God’s electing grace ensures a believer’s perseverance rather than salvation being contingent on human effort. Later Reformers Calvin and Luther agreed. Arminius modified these Reformed views, arguing God’s predestination was based on His foreknowledge of human choice. This laid groundwork for modern denominational differences on this theological question.
Views of salvation security are also tied to views of human free will versus God’s sovereignty. If humans have libertarian free will to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation, that makes it possible to lose salvation by abandoning faith. By contrast, if God is completely sovereign in salvation, human choice cannot thwart His preserving work in believers. This is another layer influencing this multifaceted debate.
Differing views remain between sincere, biblically-minded Christians. But some helpful guiding principles can be highlighted as we wrestle with this complex issue:
- Our salvation depends fully on Christ’s work, not our own effort either initially or ongoing.
- Genuine salvation necessarily yields spiritual fruit and perseverance by God’s grace.
- Self-examination is wise and necessary using biblical criteria for true faith and repentance of sin when needed.
- Assurance of salvation comes from resting in what Christ has done and the Spirit’s work in us.
- All warnings against falling away encourage pressing on toward maturity, not constant fear of losing salvation.
- God graciously preserves His elect but human responsibility remains to respond in faith.
In conclusion, the question of eternal security vs. conditional security remains a sincerely debated one among Protestants. The theological issues are complex, with reasoned cases made by those holding different perspectives. As with many disputed doctrinal issues, biblical thinkers may come to different conclusions. Wise Christians can thoughtfully disagree while rejoicing in the grace of Christ that offers full forgiveness to all who repent and believe.
