Can I Lose My Salvation? Series

Joke: At the pearly gates, St. Peter greeted a minister and congressman and gave them their room assignments. “Pastor, here are the keys to our nicest efficiency unit and Mr. Congressman, the keys to our finest penthouse suite.” “This is unfair!” cried the minister. “Listen,” St. Peter said, “ministers are a dime a dozen up here, but this is the first congressman we’ve ever seen.”

So, there is grace for all though the rewards may be different!?

After you accept Jesus as your savior, can you be bad enough to lose your salvation? Or if you doubt your salvation is that proof you are not saved? I have seen people continue to ‘get saved’ every time there was an opportunity. They have doubts, so must have to do something because they don’t always feel different, or did they pray the exact right words? This video shows how important it is to say right words or else.

Video: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1:57, youtube.com (knights must answer 3 questions just right or be thrown into the abyss).

I. The Way of Salvation. How can you be sure of your salvation? You can leave here today and never be afraid of this again.

Rom 1:16-17a For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. NLT

Two key words: believes, faith. (Rom 3:30, Gal 2:16)

Phil 3:9 and become one with him, no longer counting on being saved by being good enough or by obeying God's laws, but by trusting Christ to save me; for God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith - counting on Christ alone. TLB

Paul wrote this and before he became a Christian he was a strict Jewish religious leader who adhered to the ten commandments and the Jewish moral law. He says he now no longer counts on being saved through obeying the law but by faith. The bible continually tells us that we are saved by faith, not by our works or good deeds. Biblical faith is when I make a decision to put my full trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior.

John 3:16 "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. NIV

God’s mercy and love is so great that He desires that none perish. It is not just to believe that God exists, because James 2:19 says that even demons believe that. The moment you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you are saved and forgiven for all eternity. So, can you lose your salvation? NO. Jesus says that no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28). So why do people still have doubts and fears about their salvation?

II. Doubts and fears can remain because of sin.

We may still lose our temper for example, yell at the kids, withhold our love to prove a point, can’t overcome an addiction, feel useless and depressed, etc. So, with this sin in our life, how can we possibly be Christians? This is the #1 reason we doubt our salvation because of sin.

Rom 7:21-25 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. NLT

Paul is saved and follows Christ but reveals to us the battle we all still have with sin. Peter denied Jesus three times and the last time cursed. If Jesus is going to take salvation from someone it would be Peter. But, Jesus already knew this would happen, he predicted it. So, why did he call him to follow him in the first place? Peter even was rebuked by Jesus for yielding to Satan (saying Jesus would not go to the cross). Jesus still loved and forgave him. Sin does not cause you to lose your salvation. The key is that when you sin you feel bothered and convicted. Peter when he denied Jesus, afterward, he wept bitterly -- ashamed and guilt ridden. One way we know we are saved is whenever we sin our hearts condemn us (1 John 3:19-20), we feel conviction and guilt. The Holy Spirit is working on you so you will repent.