Is it possible to lose salvation?

[LoveYeshua]

??? I believe all of God's word is inspired by God, which is to say, by Jesus who is God. So, whether I reference words written by Paul or by Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, I'm referencing, ultimately, the words of Jesus. And remember: Jesus's words were written by the hands of these men, not by Jesus himself. They claim to render his words as faithfully as Paul does (1 Co. 2:10; Ga. 1:11-12). What makes their claims superior to Paul's?

these men lived with Jesus for ore than 3 years, while Paul was very busy persecuting the church. and approved of Murder. All paul sais was given to him in secret, we know Jesus always spoke publicly and never in secret;
Here are the verses you are asking for

John 18:20 (NKJV)

Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.”

He made it clear that His teachings were public, open, and available to all—not hidden or given only to a few in secret.
Jesus did warn about people claiming to have hidden or private knowledge about His coming or message. Here is one of the clearest warnings:
Matthew 24:26 (NKJV)

Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Jesus warns that when people say the Messiah or a message from Him is in a hidden place, or something only a few can access, do not believe it. This fits with His earlier point: His truth is not hidden, it is for all.

Together, these verses show that Jesus’ message is public, clear, and for everyone, not something passed down in private visions or secret teachings.

Why do you trust these men to have done a better, more faithful, job than Paul did in communicating the truth? Anyway, I think pitting Paul against Jesus as though they are in opposition to one another is a very unChristian (and spiritually dangerous) thing to do. The earliest Christians didn't do this. The apostle Peter even explicitly acknowledged that Paul wrote authoritative Scripture (2 Pe. 3:15-16). So, I don't ignore Jesus and continue to believe Paul. I give Paul's words and the words of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John equal weight in my thinking.



I don't see in this passage anything about a born-again Christian losing their salvation. Instead, it looks to me like Jesus is talking about the person who hears his words about the coming kingdom of God and ignores them. He was speaking to a primarily Jewish audience at a time when the Old Covenant was still in force. It's no surprise, then, that his remarks were reflective of that law-focused context.



See above.

I listen to Jesus as carefully as I'm able. And because I do, I refuse to accept contortions of what he's recorded as saying, such as the works-salvation, saved-and-lost contortion you're asserting.

Works are not for salvation, once saved you will want to do good around you as the Holy Spirit transforms the hearer of God's words. it's called to love God above all else and love our neighbours. it is showing others who we follow and who we serve, one day you will understand.

Jesus taught clearly that our actions matter. In Matthew 25:31–46, He describes what will happen at the end of time when He comes in glory. He will sit on His throne and gather all nations before Him. He will separate them, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. To those on His right, He will say:

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
(Matthew 25:34–36, NKJV)

The righteous will ask, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or in need and help You?” And He will answer:

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
(Matthew 25:40, NKJV)

But to those who did not do these things, He will say, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” because they saw others in need and did nothing.

The love for Jesus must be shown through actions, especially how we treat others. It’s not just about believing in Him, but about living like Him—with mercy, kindness, and service.

John 13:4-8 (NKJV)​

4 (Jesus) rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Jesus also gave the parable of the light and salt:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? … You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:13–16, NKJV)

Salt must have flavor—meaning, a follower of Christ must live a life that brings God’s truth and goodness to others. Light must shine—not hidden. This light is seen through good works, not just words. When people see these works, they see God in you.

This same teaching is repeated in many other parables and sayings of Jesus. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the one who showed mercy and helped was the true neighbor. In the parable of the two sons, the one who said “I won’t obey” but later did, was the one who truly did the will of the father (Matthew 21:28–31). In all these, Jesus shows that doing matters more than saying.

Finally, Jesus’ own brother, James, confirms this in his letter:

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? …
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
(James 2:14, 17, NKJV)

So from Jesus’ own teachings, and confirmed by James, we learn this truth: Faith without action is empty. True faith must show itself in love, obedience, and good works. Those who follow Christ must walk as He walked, live as He lived, and serve others as He did. Only then are we truly His disciples.

 

[Behold]

So from Jesus’ own teachings, and confirmed by James, we learn this truth: Faith without action is empty. True faith must show itself in love, obedience, and good works. Those who follow Christ must walk as He walked, live as He lived, and serve others as He did. Only then are we truly His disciples.

When James is teaching about Faith and Works......>Hes not teaching that works are reqjuired as Salvation.
James is teaching that if you have been saved, by "Grace through faith"......if you are SAVED, then you will have works that are the fruit of that Salvation......that God have already given you as "the GIFT of Salvaition".

Its also possible to be Religious but lost, never born again, and the person is trying to "be like Christ"....and do good works........ yet they are not a Christian......they are not born again.
They are just a disciple.

 

[mailmandan]

When James is teaching about Faith and Works......>Hes not teaching that works are reqjuired as Salvation.
James is teaching that if you have been saved, by "Grace through faith"......if you are SAVED, then you will have works that are the fruit of that Salvation......

Its also possible to be Religious but lost, never born again, and the person is trying to "be like Christ"....and do good works........ yet they are not a Christian......they are not born again.
They are just a disciple.

Good point. Moral self-reformation is not a substitute for regeneration. There are numerous "nominal" Christians in the world who are "religious, but not right with God."

 

[Behold]

Good point. Moral self-reformation is not a substitute for regeneration. There are numerous "nominal" Christians in the world who are "religious, but not right with God."

True.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

It is an impossibility, to be given a gift, you didn't ask for it, you did nothing to get the gift and to think man can rise to the level of God to lose it.

God is the one that gave man free will.. Man certainly can walk away from this gift and God has to let them walk away if they refuse the leading of the Holy Spirit to repent and come back to him.

If it were actually true that man has no responsibility in his own salvation and God literally controls everything, then in the following scripture reference Jesus must have been uninformed:

Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Jesus would not be saying people need to find the path that leads to life

If what you are saying is true then Jesus would have said God only chooses a few to be saved

 

[Behold]

God is the one that gave man free will.. Man certainly can walk away from this gift and God has to let them walk away

Reader,

Becoming a "Christian" is caused by God, and completed by God, on behalf of a SINNER.

Salvation is not Temporary.......Its "Eternal LIFE".... and was completed by Jesus on The Cross, and He said so from The Cross..=.>"IT (Salvation) Is FINISHED..(Accomplished)""

So, a SINNER........gives God their Faith in Christ......and God gives to them, what Christ has FINISHED........that is ETERNAL.

WE, you....us....we dont DO THAT........so, that is not something we KEEP.......its something we RECEVIED That GOD's Son has completed on The Cross..

Now, if later your "head", your "thinking"......becomes, serious screwed up......seriously DECEIVED, because some Liar on This Forum who can't understand God's Grace has lead you to falsely believe that you can "lose your Salvation".....then if you believe you have......
= God doesn't.
So, that is YOUR OWN HEAD.........doing that to you......you have been deceived.

Or, lets say you have some issue in life...and you are crushed...and you blame God like this.....>"why did you let that happen to me".

So, now you HATE GOD.

Now........How does that affect what JESUS has FINISNED 2000 Yrs ago on The Cross, that is given to you by GOD already..., as "the GIFT of Salvation"?

A.) It has no effect,.......zero.......none.

You are just become an angry bitter Christian..who has serious animosity against God who has ALREADY forgiven all your sin, and has given you "the Gift of Eternal Life".... and who lives inside you as "Christ in you", while you are so very upset and filled with hate.

Here is something for the NOOB diaper baby .. Hebrews 6:1 "christian".......to understand.., if possible.

God knows everything that is going to happen next.....as that is "God's Fore-Knowledge".

So, on the Day that God saved you.......He KNEW you would blame Him later, and hate Him.......and yet, He saved you anyway, because God's Salvation is not based on you, or your later behavior.........its only based on the finished work of Jesus on The Cross that is applied to you, for ETERNITY,, the instant you gave God your Faith in Christ.

 

[LoveYeshua]

When James is teaching about Faith and Works......>Hes not teaching that works are reqjuired as Salvation.

agree!

James is teaching that if you have been saved, by "Grace through faith"......if you are SAVED, then you will have works that are the fruit of that Salvation......that God have already given you as "the GIFT of Salvaition". you have verses from james that say this? I would like to see. but you might be right. Jesus also spoke that he is the shepherd and his sheep.

Its also possible to be Religious but lost, never born again, and the person is trying to "be like Christ"....and do good works........ yet they are not a Christian......they are not born again.

Yes, there are many on this forum ( I am not speaking of you)

They are just a disciple.

Well to me a disciple that proclaims the gospel of Christ has the holy spirit and is saved, but I could be wrong. it is complex and God knowlwdge of mens heart will prevail on judgement day.

We know through scripture that some like Balaam who was a true prophet did have a change of heart and was lost.

 

[Behold]

Yes!


Yes, there are many on this forum ( I am not speaking of you)

Well to me a disciple that proclaims the gospel of Christ has the holy spirit and is saved,

There is one Gospel......that Christians are to "preach"

Let me show you how the greatest Christian who ever lived....... understands this, perfectly.., so that we may also.

​

""""""For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.""""" New Living Translation For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. English Standard Version For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Berean Standard Bible For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Berean Literal Bible For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him having been crucified. King James Bible For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. NASB 1977 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Amplified Bible for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].

A.) Its the Gospel of the Grace of God..or the......."Preaching of the Cross".

So, im not certain what you are trying to present as the "Gospel of Christ".

However, Paul's Gospel is...>"Justification by faith"..without works or water baptism.

Paul Gospel is "Grace Through Faith"... or Trust in the finished work of Jesus on The Cross.

John 3:16., is another way to explain it.