Can a Christian lose salvation?

Question: Can a Christian lose their 
salvation?

Answer: Before this question is answered, the term “Christian” must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family.

While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:

A Christian is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.

A Christian is redeemed. 1 Peter 1: 18-19 says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared.

A Christian is promised eternal life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in Heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away.

If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies.

Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in Heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

Salvation cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. 

If a Christian can lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.

The most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are -
1) What about those who are Christians and continually live an immoral lifestyle?                                                                                                                  2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ?

The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.”

The Bible declares in John 3:6 that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle. And 1 John 2:19 declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian. ‘

Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed. Examples are King Saul and Lot. They have lost rewards in heaven, but not their salvation. If a backslider openly renounces Christ, that might be a different story.

No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Romans 8:38-39 says nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love. God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has given us.

Jude 24-25 says, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Christianity: What it is and what it is not.

Ever wondered what is Christianity? Here are some ideas from scripture.

Christianity is not just something we do, but something Jesus did for us.

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Christianity is not intended to make us better people; Jesus makes us new people.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Christianity is not just pie in the sky when you die, it is the kingdom of Heaven in our hearts.

Luke 17:21 "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Christianity is not a Sunday affair. It’s a daily love affair with Jesus.

Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Christianity is not a heavy burden, Jesus' burden is light.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Christianity is not just a way of life to be practised - it is a gift of life to be nurtured.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Christianity is not earned through good works. It’s a free gift.

Ephesians 4:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. “

Christianity is not a new start in life. It is a new life to start.

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Christianity is not western or eastern, It from above, through Jesus in heaven above.

John 3:31 "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all."

Christianity is not about "arriving" it's about "journeying" with Jesus.

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Christianity is not a culture, it is transcultural.

Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Christianity is not a philosophy or outlook on life; it is looking to a living Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Christianity is not brain-washing, but the washing away of sins in Jesus blood.

1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Christianity is not a bunch of do's and don'ts. It is love, life and liberty through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

Christianity is not always an easy walk but an eternally rewarding one.

Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Christianity is not a fairy tale, a myth or fable. It is a fact its witnesses even died for.

2 Peter 1:16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

Christianity is not something hidden, private or kept personal, it is something that shows.

Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."

Christianity is not one of many possible religious options. Jesus is the only way!

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Christianity is not denying reality, but debunking deception and discovering true reality.

Titus 3:3 "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another."

Christianity is not dependent on race, color, sex or background. All are one in Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Christianity is not an excuse for our sins, but freedom from servitude to sin.

Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Christianity is not a get rich quick scheme, but contentment in all situations.

Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Christianity is not all the answers on a silver platter. It is receiving Him who has the answers.

John 6:68 "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."

Christianity is not a crutch; it’s a life support machine.

1 John 5:11-12 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Christianity is not primarily churchgoing, ceremonies, creeds or conduct. It is Christ in us.

Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

Christianity is not a new religion; It is fulfilment of the promises made to Adam and Abraham.

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

Christianity is not momentary emotional experience, it is a lifetime commitment.

Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

Christianity is not something you are born into. it is being born again in spirit.

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Christianity is not boring. It is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Christianity is not in contradiction with science. Studying God’s creation reveals the creator.

Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

Christianity is not irrelevant and is not just ancient history in a book: It is life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

Christianity is not a spectator sport; all Christians are expected to participate.

Hebrews 12:1 " Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

Christianity is not just something you do; it is faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Christianity is not just faith, it is something you do.

James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Christianity is not about buildings. It's about souls, "spiritual stones"

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

Christianity is not about doctrines and denominations, It's a family united by Jesus blood.

Matthew 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi. For one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."

Romans 12:5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another"

Christianity is not just another institution or organization. It is a living body.

1 Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."

Christianity is not an escape from fear of death. but faith in Jesus conquering death.

Hebrews 2:14 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

Christianity is not about getting smart, it’s about getting a new heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

Christianity is not satisfying self but self-denial and self-sacrifice.

James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Christianity is not a badge you put on your chest; It is the core of your existence.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Christianity is not salvation through observing set rules and regulations but faith in Jesus.

Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

If you are still wondering, Christianity is an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. And the fruit of that relationship are joy, love, peace, and freedom. Christianity is not learn-and-do, it is know-and-be.

THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

Question: I am a Protestant Christian. The book, The Rapture Exposed, as well as information on many websites say the Rapture is an invention of the church and NOT taught in the Bible. What do you say?

Answer: I say the Rapture IS taught in the Bible. Rather than countering the arguments of skeptics, the following comparisons show biblical distinctions in the two phases of the second coming of Christ.

In the Rapture phase, the church is “caught up” (1 Thess. 4:17) which is the Greek word, harpazo, from which we derive, “harpoon.” When a fish is harpooned, it is suddenly snatched upward which typifies the Rapture of the saints.

The Rapture and the Second Coming have different purposes and patterns.

Following is a comparison I took from an unknown source on the Internet some time ago and to which I added material. Clearly, these events differ from one another.

Here is what I believe is the correct timeline of the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ

	Rapture - Before the Tribulation		Second Coming – After the Tribulation
	Jesus comes to the clouds for His Church/Bride. Luke 21:36; John 14:1-3; 1Thess 1:10, 4:14-17, 5:9; Rev 3:10		Jesus comes from heaven with His Church/ Bride.  Zech 14:5; Col 3:4; Rev 19:7-8,14, 21:9-10; Matt 24:29-31; Jud 1:14,15; 1Thess 3:13
	Jesus comes with a shout and the sound of a trumpet. 1Thess 4:16 Believers are "caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord."  1Thess 4:13-18 Christ appears to believers only.  Matt. 5:8, John 11:40, Heb 9:28		No shout is heard. A "sharp sword" comes out of his mouth (i. e. words of judgment)  Rev.19:11-21 Jesus and the "armies of heaven" touch down on the Mt. of Olives. Zech 14:4; Rev 19:11-21 Every eye sees him, both believers and unbelievers. Rev 1:7, Zech 12:10, Mat 24:30 Luke 3:6 John 19:37
	Christ comes unexpectedly, "as a thief in the night." No one knows the day nor hour. Matt. 24:43; 1Thess 5:4-6; Rev 3:3 Believers are removed and taken to Heaven; unbelievers are left behind for the tribulation. Matt. 25:1-13; Rev 3:8-10; Rev 4:1, 1Thess 4:13-18		Christ comes at the end of the tribulation, exactly 2,520 days after the Rapture.  Dan. 9:24-27, 12:11-12; Rev 11:2, 12:6,14, 13:5 Unbelievers are removed and taken to Hell; believers are left behind for the Millennium. Matt. 13:28-30; Rev. 14:19, 20; 19:17-21
	The dead in Christ rise first, followed by living believers. All receive new bodies and depart to be with Jesus. 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1Thess 4:14-16		Christ rescues the "elect" (Gentile believers), rescues the remnant of Israel from their hiding place, executes judgment on unbelievers, then sets up his earthly Kingdom.  Zech. 14:3-4; Jud 1:14-15; Rev 19:11-21
	By removing the church with its restraining influence against evil, Satan expands his assault against Israel and the world. Rev. 13:4		Christ reduces Satan's influence by imprisoning him in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Rev 20:1-7

WHAT’S NEXT ON GOD’S TIMETABLE?

By Grace Kemp
gracekemp@aol.com

Question: I heard that Jesus is going to make his kingdom here on earth in Jerusalem to be with the people. If Jesus is here on the new earth, who is going to be in the New Heaven?

Answer: Here is the lineup of future events according to Bible prophecy, as I understand it:

1. Rapture of the Church. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 says,

^“14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

2. Seven year Tribulation on earth. See Matthew 24.

3. Second Coming of Christ "in power and great glory" See Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 19:11-16.

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”

4. Christ, as "King of the Jews," reigns over earth from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Revelation 20: 5, 6 says,  
^”5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

“⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

5. Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers  See Revelation 20:11-15.

“¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.

¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

6. Destruction of earth and the cosmos. See 11 Peter 3:7-12.

^“7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.

¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”

7. Creation of a "new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness". See 11 Peter 3: 3-18.

¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

8. New Jerusalem, the city that God has prepared for his bride, the church, descends to earth from Heaven. All of the Godhead resides in it. See John 14:1-3 and Revelation 21.

“¹ Do not let your hearts be troubled; You believe in God; believe also in me.

² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.“

Thus begins the eternal state.

YES, JESUS IS VIRGIN BORN

By Harold Smith

inchrist@ns.sympatico.ca

QUESTION: How is it that many clergymen do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ?

ANSWER: The greatest menaces to Christianity are those who profess to be believers in the Christ of the Bible. Despite what they teach, the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly taught, from Genesis to Revelation.

1. THE VIRGIN BIRTH WAS PROMISED--In Genesis 3:15, God promised the WOMAN a seed (Christ) who would bruise the head of the serpent (The Devil). (See Galatians 4:4). "When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son. MADE OF A WOMAN.” This was not true of any other person.

2. IT WAS PROPHESIED--Isaiah 7:14 says, "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel"

3. IT WAS PRODUCED--Luke 1:31,34,35 say, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God’."

The Bible says in 1Timothy 4:1 and 2 Peter 2. "In the latter times many would depart from the faith...and there would be false teachers among us.”

Titus 3: 10-11 brands such as "heretics". In Isaiah 8:20 we read, "If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." 

Romans 3:4 says, "Let God be true and every man a liar."

Christ is the virgin born Son of God. He came to save sinners. Have you received Him as your Savior from sin?