Q&A: Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Dear R.,</div> <bR> <div> Thank you for writing with your question on salvation. You wrote:</div> <bR> <div> "Do you think the bible teaches one can lose their salvation?"</div> <div>                     </div> <div> Not knowing what you have received regarding the subject of salvation, and knowing that most of the church errs greatly on this topic, I feel I must lay a groundwork in order to answer your question.</div> <bR> <div> First, the Bible teaches about more than one salvation. Those who have been born again of the Spirit are three part beings consisting of body, soul and spirit. We find this understanding clearly stated in the following verses.</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 15:44-45</div> <div> If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, <I><B>"The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I Thessalonians 5:23</div> <div> Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your <I><B>spirit </B></I>and <I><B>soul</B></I> and <I><B>body</B></I> be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> We read in Genesis that God formed man's flesh of the dust of the earth. This is the first part of man, and the most outward. It correlates to the Outer Court of the Temple.</div> <bR> <div> Then we read that God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. This is an inward part of man, and it correlates to the Holy Place in the Temple.</div> <bR> <div> In John Chapter 3 we read of Yahshua discoursing with Nicodemus on mankind's need to be born of the Spirit. This is the third part of man, the most inward, and it correlates to the Holy of Holies in the Temple.</div> <bR> <div> Regarding these three parts of man, Yahweh has different plans. Let's begin this time at the innermost part and work out. The spirit part of man is born of incorruptible seed as the apostle Peter declares:</div> <bR> <div> I Peter 1:23</div> <div> For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.</div> <bR> <div> This imperishable seed from which our spiritual body arises is the very seed of Christ. It is this same seed that the apostle John speaks of in the following verses:</div> <bR> <div> I John 3:9</div> <div> No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.</div> <bR> <div> I John 5:18 </div> <div> We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.</div> <bR> <div> When many Christians read these verses they are troubled because it appears to be saying that a Christian will never sin. This is not John's meaning, however. John is speaking about the spiritual part of man, the Holy of Holies, mankind's innermost being that is born of the seed of Christ. This part of our being does not sin, for it did not arise from corruptible seed, nor has it experienced corruption. As John says, "It cannot sin." It is not merely that it should not sin, or it will not sin. No! John states, "It cannot sin." In our innermost being we desire one thing only and that is to do the will of God. This is Paul's meaning when he says the following:</div> <bR> <div> Romans 7:22</div> <div> For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man...</div> <bR> <div> The word "law" here can be translated as "rule." In our inner man, the spirit part of us, we yearn to be ruled by God. We joyfully agree with God's rule over us. This innermost part of our being cannot sin, but ever seeks to live a life pleasing to the Father. This is because the seed it arises from is Christ's seed and He always lived to do the Father's will.</div> <bR> <div> Now let's go all the way to the outermost part of our being before we conclude by looking at the soul. The outermost part of our being is our natural body, or our flesh. The flesh is very different from the spirit part of us. We read the following about the flesh:</div> <bR> <div> Romans 7:18</div> <div> For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh...</div> <bR> <div> Paul tells us that sin dwells in our flesh, and that our flesh is sold under bondage to sin (Romans 7:14). Our flesh is fully corrupt even as the spirit part of us is fully pure. God has no plan to redeem the flesh part of man. Our flesh must die, and we must receive a new body that does not know sin. This is expressed in the following verses:</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 15:53</div> <div> For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.</div> <bR> <div> II Corinthians 5:1-4</div> <div> For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.</div> <bR> <div> Paul speaks of our flesh as if it were a tent, a dwelling place, and indeed it is. In our physical body dwells our soul and spirit, and it is within this tent that we have communion with God. This truth is also stated in the next verse:</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 6:19</div> <div> Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you...</div> <bR> <div> So, our body itself is corrupt, in bondage to sin, and Paul states that it is the desire of the saints to be clothed with a new imperishable, immortal body. We don't want to be unclothed, which is to be naked, having our soul and spirit exposed, but we long for this sinful body to be replaced with a new body that Christ has gone to prepare for us. This is actually the subject of the following passage:</div> <bR> <div> John 14:2-3</div> <div> "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."</div> <bR> <div> Yahshua is not speaking about preparing a mansion on Main Street in heaven for us. He is speaking of the glorified body which the saints will receive. He uses the same terminology as Paul who refers to our body as a tent, a house, or dwelling place. Some verses further down we see that this is our Lord's meaning:</div> <bR> <div> John 14:23</div> <div> Yahshua answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."</div> <bR> <div> The same word translated "dwelling place," or "mansion" in the KJV in verse 2 is translated "abode" in verse 23. God has no plan to fix up, or save our flesh. Our flesh must be done away with, for "in our flesh dwells no good thing." We therefore look to the laying aside of this sinful flesh that we might receive our glorified body, as it is written:</div> <bR> <div> I John 3:2-3</div> <div> Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.</div> <bR> <div> We now come to the soul of man which is caught right between the sinful flesh and the spirit part of man that joyfully agrees with the rule of God. It is in our soul that warfare takes place. It is also of the soul of man that we read:</div> <bR> <div> Philippians 2:12</div> <div> Now then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling...</div> <bR> <div> It is in our soul that we must work out our soul's salvation. God desires that we be saved completely, body, soul and spirit. The salvation of our spirit is a free gift, it is not earned, or worked out by us. It is of our spirit salvation that we read:</div> <bR> <div> Ephesians 2:8-9</div> <div> For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.</div> <bR> <div> Understanding that man is a three part being, and that there is salvation at all three levels, we can then understand these scriptures which many have viewed as contradictory. How can Paul say to the Philippian church, "work out your salvation," and say to the Ephesian church, "it is the gift of God, not of works?"</div> <bR> <div> The salvation of our spirit is a free gift. God chooses to send His Spirit to move upon us and cause us to be born spiritually of imperishable seed. We do nothing to merit, or earn this. It is God's election, and is done according to the principle of "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." It does not depend upon the man who runs, or the man who wills, but on God who has mercy (Romans 9:16). The salvation of our soul is an altogether different matter. It must be worked out. And regarding our flesh, we wait with hope and expectation for the day when this mortal will put on immortality, and this corruption will put on incorruption. These are the three levels of man's salvation, of his full deliverance from the curse of sin.</div> <bR> <div> We have now laid the first part of the groundwork to answer your question, "Do you think the Bible teaches one can lose their salvation?" A second foundational matter must also be declared before we can bring a clear understanding. This is, what is Yahweh's ultimate plan for the reconciliation of the creation? Will all be saved? Will some be eternally damned? What will be the conclusion of all created things?</div> <bR> <div> Again, I must state that the church has erred tremendously in its current teaching on this matter. We live in those last days of which it was prophesied:</div> <bR> <div> II Timothy 4:3-4</div> <div> For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.</div> <bR> <div> Paul is speaking here of the last days of the church, days in which we now live. He states that sound doctrine will not be endured. Myths and fables will be the order of the day. It is possible that due to the instruction you have received on this matter that you will have difficulty with sound doctrine as well. Yet I encourage you to study to show yourself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Coming to a knowledge of the truth does not happen by chance. It requires obedience to God, diligent study, and a love of the truth.</div> <bR> <div> The following verses declare Yahweh's ultimate goal for His creation:</div> <bR> <div> Ephesians 1:9-10</div> <div> Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one <I><B>all things</B></I> in Christ, <I><B>both which are in heaven, and which are on earth</B></I>; even in Him...</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 15:22-28</div> <div> For as in Adam <I><B>all die</B></I>, so also in Christ <I><B>all shall be made alive</B></I>. But each in his own order: the anointed first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then the remainder, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished <I><B>all</B></I> rule and <I><B>all</B></I> authority and power. For He must reign until He has put <I><B>all </B></I>His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For <I><B>He has put all things in subjection under His feet</B></I>. But when He says, "<I><B>All things</B></I> are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. And <I><B>when all things are subjected to Him</B></I>, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to <I><B>the One who subjected all things to Him</B></I>, that <I><B>God may be all in all</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> Colossians 1:16-20</div> <div> For by Him <I><B>all things</B></I> were created, <I><B>both in the heavens and on earth</B></I>, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- <I><B>all things</B></I> have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before <I><B>all things</B></I>, and in Him <I><B>all things</B></I> hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in <I><B>everything.</B></I> For it was the Father's good pleasure for <I><B>all the fulness</B></I> to dwell in Him, and <I><B>through Him to reconcile </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>all things</B></I></FONT><I><B> to Himself</B></I>, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, <I><B>whether things on earth or things in heaven</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> Isaiah 45:22-24</div> <div> Turn to Me, and <I><B>be saved, all the ends of the earth</B></I>; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me <I><B>every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.</B></I> They will say of Me, 'Only in Yahweh are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, and <I><B>all who were angry at Him will be ashamed</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> All of these passages are very grand in their wide view of Yahweh's ultimate plan for His creation. There are many ages yet to come, but when the times are full, and the ages have run their course, then will be seen the final result of Yahweh's plan. All things He has created will be reconciled back to Himself through the cross of Christ. All things in the creation will be gathered together into Christ. In Yahshua all things in heaven and in earth will be summed up, having been purified and brought back into oneness with Him. Then the Son Himself will be subjected to the One who subjected "all things" to Himself, and God will be all in all.</div> <bR> <div> We do not see all men saved in this age. We do not yet see all men ashamed at having been angry with God. We do not observe all things in heaven and earth reconciled back to God through the cross of Christ at this time. But the clear testimony of Scripture is that when the ages have come to a fulness that there will no longer be any sin or rebellion left in the creation, for the cross of Christ is supremely powerful to effect the reconciliation of all things.</div> <bR> <div> The myths and fables of the current church age teach many false things, and they lead the multitudes astray. The church teaches that God will never reconcile the entire creation to Himself. They teach that all things will NOT be summed up in Christ. They teach that hell is eternal and that the majority of creation will be eternally damned. In declaring such things the church has maligned the wisdom and goodness of God. They have denied that mercy triumphs over judgment. They make the cross of Christ appear weak and ineffectual in reconciling the creation back to the Father. And they leave Yahweh's creation permanently marred by sin, for sin and rebellion are declared to exist eternally in those who are damned and committed to eternal tortures.</div> <bR> <div> It would take an entire book to explain the truth of Scriptures as they relate to these matters, and I cannot now go into a full discourse on this topic. I will refer you to the book "God's Plan of the Ages" for further study. The book can be read here: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/id195.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/id195.htm"><U><U>http://www.heart4god.ws/id195.htm</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> When many people ask if a person can lose their salvation they are asking if a person can be eternally damned due to some failure of faith and obedience. The scriptures clearly reveal that no one will be "eternally" damned, for God has sworn that the day will come when every tongue will swear allegiance to Him, and they will profess that "In Yahweh is righteousness and strength." A day is coming when God will be all in all, and in order for this to occur there must be nothing left in creation that is contrary to His nature and image. This is Yahweh's magnificent plan.</div> <bR> <div> In Revelation we read that death and Hades are cast into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is called "the second death" (Revelation 20:14). The punishment and purging of the Lake of Fire, the second death, is not eternal. It will accomplish its purpose of cleansing and purification, and then it will come to an end.</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 15:26</div> <div> The last enemy that will be abolished is <I><B>death</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 20:14</div> <div> And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second <I><B>death</B></I>, <I><B>the lake of fire</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> If death and Hades (hell) are cast into the lake of fire, and if the lake of fire is the second death, and if death will be abolished, then hell and the lake of fire cannot be eternal. They will serve their purpose of fiery purification and when all has been consumed that is contrary to the nature of God they will be abolished and all things will be summed up in Christ, and Christ Himself will be summed up in the Father, Who will be all in all.</div> <bR> <div> If you can receive these things, you are now prepared to receive the answer to your question. The answer is "Yes, a Christian can lose their soul's salvation." In the book of Revelation we read that all Christians have their names written in the Book of Life. This book is a list of all those who are to be spared the second death, which is the Lake of Fire. Note the contrast of these two things. One bears the name "life," the other bears the name "death." If your name is in the book of life, then you are spared the second death, which is the lake of fire.</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 20:15</div> <div> And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.</div> <bR> <div> The salvation of the soul is what is in view here, a total surrender to the will of God in man's mind, will and emotions. Christians have an opportunity in this life to come to this place of complete surrender. Christ beckons His sheep to follow Him in embracing the cross. He will lead His obedient ones down paths that will bring a crucifixion to every last vestige of self-will, idolatry, and independent living. He urges those who would be His disciples to "count the cost" and He warns them that they must hate even their own lives (soul life) if they would be His disciple.</div> <bR> <div> Paul expresses this same truth in the following verse:</div> <bR> <div> Romans 12:1</div> <div> I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.</div> <bR> <div> Paul pictures here an altar of fire upon which flesh is placed to be consumed. He urges the saints to present themselves to God that He might consume everything within them that is unrighteous and unholy. In the Old Testament we read of a free will offering and a mandatory offering. The free will offering was not compulsory, but as its name implies, it was offered up freely as a gift to Yahweh. This offering was mixed with incense, indicating that it arose as a pleasing aroma in the nostrils of God. The mandatory offering was NOT mixed with incense. This was a compulsory offering, and because it did not arise of a free will it was not pleasing unto God.</div> <bR> <div> What Paul is urging the saints to present to God is a free will offering. In the book of Revelation we read that there will be many Christians that fail to present themselves to God for cleansing and purification in this age, and they will therefore be cast into the Lake of Fire for cleansing. This equates to the mandatory offering. Those who present themselves as a free will offering will receive reward. Those who resist Yahweh's purification, those who cling to their idols and the love of the world, will lose their reward, yet they will not escape God's fiery cleansing. They will be cleansed in the Lake of Fire.</div> <bR> <div> Our Lord revealed this truth in the following words:</div> <bR> <div> Luke 12:45-48</div> <div> But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.</div> <bR> <div> In this parable our Lord begins by speaking about a great house in which there are different types of servants. The great house is the Kingdom of God. The servants are those who have been called, and born again of the Spirit of Christ. Yet we read that only some of these servants are faithful. The faithful ones receive reward and are granted access to Yahweh's presence and to all of His most holy things. The wicked receive a different end. The wicked servants have not submitted themselves to the cross, but have sought a life of selfishness and personal pleasure. Symbolically we see this represented as mistreating others, and acting as a glutton and a drunkard. This reveals that these wicked servants are not motivated by love, but by selfishness. They are focused on consumption, getting as much of the things of this world for themselves as they can. Their end is to be "assigned a place with the unbelievers." Where is this place?</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 21:8</div> <div> "But for the cowardly and <I><B>unbelieving </B></I>and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, <I><B>their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death</B></I>."</div> <bR> <div> Again, our Lord brings out the same truth in the following verse:</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 3:5</div> <div> "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life..."</div> <bR> <div> All saints are called to overcome the flesh, the world and Satan. All are called to embrace the cross where their soul is brought to a place of death where all self-will is cast down and there is a perfect surrender to the will of God. This state is called "Sabbath Rest" (Hebrews 4). However, many Christians stubbornly cling to their own will and desires and they act as "enemies of the cross," even denying that God would call them to such a death to their will and desires. These ones do not walk as overcomers, and they will have their names erased from the book of life. At the judgment they will find that their name is no longer written in the book of life, for it has been erased. They will share a place with the unbelievers, being cast into the lake of fire to be purged of the sin and selfishness that they stubbornly clung to.</div> <bR> <div> This then is what it is to lose one's salvation. Christians are all initially destined to escape the second death, having their names written in the book of life. Yet those who refuse to walk as overcomers will have their names erased from the book of life. They will receive the death of the lake of fire. This is a scriptural understanding of what it is to lose one's salvation.</div> <bR> <div> A saint can lose all reward.</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 3:15</div> <div> If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.</div> <bR> <div> A saint can have their name erased from the book of life.</div> <bR> <div> A saint can be cast into the lake of fire.</div> <bR> <div> The lake of fire will be the last enemy to be destroyed. It is not eternal.</div> <bR> <div> At the conclusion of the ages all persons, and all created beings, will be summed up in Christ, and then Christ will Himself be summed up in the Father Who will be all in all. The plan of God is exceedingly wise and merciful, yet He will not be mocked. He offers life to multitudes. This life is arrived at by following the narrow pathway of the cross. He gives great grace to those who would follow the Lamb wherever He leads in this age, and as difficult as this path of suffering may seem, it is far easier than the portion of those who refuse it. Many are called, but few are chosen. There will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for multitudes who arrive at the wedding supper of the Lamb without a wedding garment. Many who preferred the temporary pleasures of this world over the sufferings of Christ will realize too late that they have cast away an inheritance that far surpasses anything the world could offer.</div> <bR> <div> This is the teaching of Scripture when it is rightly divided, the Spirit bearing witness to these truths.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>