Can I Lose My Salvation? The Answer Might Surprise You

One of the most important questions about how salvation works in Christ is the question, after having received salvation in Christ, as I continue my journey through life, can I lose it? Is falling away possible? Or is my salvation eternally secure?

This is probably the single most contentious question in the modern day body of Christ. Let's take a look at the scriptures levied in the discussion and draw a conclusion from the word.

What do the scriptures teach? What did Jesus our Lord teach? What did Paul or John or Peter teach? Let's take a look at the best scriptures mustered for eternal security:

John 10:27-29 ESV 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. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

In John 10 we see Jesus using the metaphor of a shepherd and a sheep pen to describe salvation. He indicates that he gives his children eternal life, and no enemy can snatch them by force out of the sheep pen, which is the Father's hands.

John 6:37 ESV All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

In John 6 Jesus is describing how salvation works to a crowd that is chasing after him because they want free bread. He describes salvation in simple terms, comparing eating bread to receiving the bread of life from Jesus. He reminds them that he's not going to cast out those who earnestly follow Him. He will be their consistent provider, not just providing food, but much more.

Romans 11:29 ESV For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Examining the context of this scripture is extremely important, because in Romans 11, what's being discussed is the partial hardening of Israel. So what this is talking about, is that the Jews have been hardened, as the Gentiles are gathered in for salvation. But it's indicating God's blessing is on the nation, and he will gather them to himself during the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble.

Romans 8:38-39 ESV 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.

In Romans we see a great deal of the how God preserves us. Death or life can't steal us from God. Angels can't affect our salvation, rulers can't affect our salvation, no outside force in the world can't affect our salvation, but notice how sin, and apostasy are not mentioned, or free will, in this list. God preserves us, but, we can flee, or turn.

Jude 1:24 ESV Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy

Here we find a beautiful doxology from Jude, which again indicates how we can have an assurance of our salvation. We can believe that if we obediently follow God he will preserve us to the very last day. Our part is to remain faithful, and steer clear of sin.

2 Corinthians 1:22 ESV And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

This verse reminds us how to test if we're standing firm in the faith, we can sense God's Holy Spirit upon us. We're told elsewhere in the scriptures: 2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV, "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!" These instructions to Christians remind us, it is possible to fail the test.

Philippians 1:6 ESV And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Here we find a beautiful introductory statement in Paul's wonderful letter to the Philippians. He's writing to a very faithful church in persecutions. And he encourages them by telling them, in your case, given your faithfulness and obedience to God, I'm sure God will bring his work in you to completion. But once again, we see it's not a blanket statement to say everyone will always be brought to that point everywhere successfully. Free will has a place in all this.

Romans 8:28-30 We know that all things work together[m] for the good[n] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.