Is it possible to lose salvation?

[Wrangler]

what do you prefer personally, ill have a look. thank you.

I mostly prefer thought translations for readability. CEV, NLT, CJB, VOICE.

Also, for more literal ESV, NSRV.

 

[Christian Soldier]

It might be the Non-Denominational denomination. <smile>

Grace and peace to you, CS.

Bingo You hit the nail on the head there. I've been trying solve the mystery for a long time now, so you have saved me wasting any more time on this wild goose chase.

Wishing you a healthy, wealthy and happy new year

 

[Christian Soldier]

what denom has influenced indoctrinated you?

It's blasphemy to suggest that the Holy Spirit is a demon. I would fall on my face and repent if I were you

 

[Wrangler]

SOLA SCRIPTURA DOES NOT WORK.

Of course Sola Scriptura works! You're misapplying the principle.

For the record, I agree with you about OSAS. However, Sola Scriptura is a principle to thwart claims of supremacy by the Roman Catholic Church. Nothing more.

As for us God's children, we are free to pursue our faith, which Roman Catholic Church and others dismiss as 'private' interpretation - no matter how PUBLIC one makes their faith based pronouncements. As wrong as @Behold is about OSAS, I want him to have the freedom to pursue his religious faith.

@Behold, regarding OSAS, how do you reconcile this to the many Scripture verses that say otherwise? For instance, I recently came across Christ commanding us to abide in him and he'll abide in us. A premise of all good law is that it prohibits that which one can do. So, for instance, no government has ever passed a law prohibiting us from flapping our arms to fly to the moon. The main reason being is that we cannot do that.

And this puts Christ's command in proper OSAS perspective. He commands us to abide in him ONLY because we have the capability to NOT abide in him. (I pray your answer does not involve word games, e.g., claiming abide and salvation are not the same AS IF Christ will save those who reject salvation).

 

[Wrangler]

It's blasphemy to suggest that the Holy Spirit is a demon. I would fall on my face and repent if I were you

I haven't followed these exchanges between you and Ezra but don't you find it odd that people join an online community to refuse to discuss what brings the community together; In this case, his faith?

This short year, I've already noticed many people in this forum refuse to answer questions about their faith. I'm happy to discuss all aspects of my faith and this is a primary motivator for why I am here.

Questions have the power to reveal truth IF one is brace enough to honestly answer them. I find IDOLATRY is so rampant in Christiandom, that many abandon the truth, which obviously is akin to abandoning Christ. Now, this is different that, say, you and me not agreeing about what is true. My answer may involve giving more weight to something than you do. And I believe all this is well and good. But to refuse to answer questions of faith on an online forum dedicated to that purpose begs the question of why they are even here. Thoughts?

 

[GodsGrace]

Of course Sola Scriptura works! You're misapplying the principle.

For the record, I agree with you about OSAS. However, Sola Scriptura is a principle to thwart claims of supremacy by the Roman Catholic Church. Nothing more.

I understand that.
It was to show that only the bible is to be the authority and NOT the church, which was the CC at the time.
Some practices of the CC were, in fact, not biblical.

As for us God's children, we are free to pursue our faith, which Roman Catholic Church and others dismiss as 'private' interpretation - no matter how PUBLIC one makes their faith based pronouncements. As wrong as @Behold is about OSAS, I want him to have the freedom to pursue his religious faith.

To pursue which faith Wrangler?
Is there more than one?

IF Sola scriptura functioned well, then we'd all be in agreement as to whether or not salvation can be forfeited.
But we're not.

So who is right?

There cannot be two truths, as you well know.

I can have my own private truth...but it will not be the objective truth, but only my version of it.

There are members on here posting unchristian beliefs and yet they define themselves as Christian.
This is wrong.

Christianity must have a meaning that is the same for everyone.

I don't claim to know the solution for this since not only we, here, face this problem, but theologians themselves have differing opinions. I say opinions because if there is not one clear truth...we're speaking of opinion.

@Behold, regarding OSAS, how do you reconcile this to the many Scripture verses that say otherwise? For instance, I recently came across Christ commanding us to abide in him and he'll abide in us. A premise of all good law is that it prohibits that which one can do. So, for instance, no government has ever passed a law prohibiting us from flapping our arms to fly to the moon. The main reason being is that we cannot do that.

And this puts Christ's command in proper OSAS perspective. He commands us to abide in him ONLY because we have the capability to NOT abide in him. (I pray your answer does not involve word games, e.g., claiming abide and salvation are not the same AS IF Christ will save those who reject salvation).

The above is for Behold....
but read John 15:2.
What can be more clear?
And yet it is dismissed by Behold and those that believe as he does.

 

[Lambano]

Let's try again:

SOLA SCRIPTURA does not work.

IF it did, both you and I would agree on (pick a topic, any topic) OSAS.

The fact that we do not...
PROVES that SOLA SCRIPTURA does not work.

“Mommy, the Emperor’s got no clothes on!”

 

[Christian Soldier]

I haven't followed these exchanges between you and Ezra but don't you find it odd that people join an online community to refuse to discuss what brings the community together; In this case, his faith?

This short year, I've already noticed many people in this forum refuse to answer questions about their faith. I'm happy to discuss all aspects of my faith and this is a primary motivator for why I am here.

Questions have the power to reveal truth IF one is brace enough to honestly answer them. I find IDOLATRY is so rampant in Christiandom, that many abandon the truth, which obviously is akin to abandoning Christ. Now, this is different that, say, you and me not agreeing about what is true. My answer may involve giving more weight to something than you do. And I believe all this is well and good. But to refuse to answer questions of faith on an online forum dedicated to that purpose begs the question of why they are even here. Thoughts?

I have found most professing Christians pluck verses of scripture out of their intended context and interpret them in a way that supports their private view. They're not interested in the truth of the matter, they're more concerned with promoting their own denomination.

There is only one true gospel, but there are 49,000 Christian Denominations, many of these have radically opposed interpretations of the gospel. Many claim to be the only ones who posses the correct interpretation and they claim that there is no salvation outside of their Denomination.

Many professing Christians have left their Church to be free from any obligations to the Church. They claim to have found faults with every Church they attended and they finally give up on the idea. They're offended if you mention

Hebrews 10:25 which states, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching".

This verse encourages believers to meet regularly for mutual encouragement in faith, love, and good works, especially as they anticipate Jesus' return.

The lone wolf Christians resent authority of any kind, they demand to have their way in all things, they are the masters of their own ship, which is being tossed about by every wind of doctrine.

A wise person loves you for correcting them, but a fool hates you for it. The true gospel message is not pleasant to those who are not truly converted, only true believers love it and embrace it.
Anyone who proclaims the truth of the gospel will be persecuted and attacked by those who don't know the truth.

 

[Paul Christensen]

Jesus had a lot to say about and this taught that the path to eternal life is narrow and that few find it. In Matthew 7:13-14, He said;

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."​

This shows that salvation is not guaranteed for everyone, and only those who stay faithful and follow His teachings will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.


Jesus also warned that some would hear the word and believe for a while, but eventually fall away. In the Parable of the Sower, He explained;

"But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles." (Matthew 13:20-21).​

This illustrates that some will start their walk with God but will not persevere when faced with trials or temptations.

In John 15:6, Jesus made it even clearer, saying;

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."​

Here, Jesus compares Himself to a vine and believers as branches. A branch must remain connected to the vine to stay alive and bear fruit. If a person disconnects from Christ through disobedience or unbelief, they wither spiritually and face eternal judgment.


The original apostles also confirmed this truth. Peter warned in 2 Peter 2:20-21;

"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."​

This shows that a person who was once saved and returns to sin is in a worse condition than before they knew the truth.​

James also affirmed this truth when he said;

"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."​

(James 5:19-20).​

This verse reveals that a believer can wander away from the truth and face spiritual death unless they repent and return to God.

The Bible does provide examples of those who lost their salvation. Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, yet he betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus Himself said about Judas;

"It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:24).​

This shows that Judas was once in the faith but fell away and was lost.

Another example is Balaam, a prophet who once heard from God but later led Israel into sin for personal gain. Peter referred to him, saying,

"They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor." (2 Peter 2:15). King Saul is yet another example; he was chosen and anointed by God but later disobeyed and rebelled, and the Spirit of God departed from him (1 Samuel 16:14)​

Jesus' words make it clear that salvation is not a one-time event but requires endurance and faithfulness until the end. As He said in Matthew 24:13, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Therefore, those who abide in Christ, obey His commandments, and remain faithful will receive eternal life. However, those who turn away from Him and return to sin risk losing their salvation and facing eternal separation from God: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."Rev 14:12

Blessings.

If a person has genuinely embraced Christ, he or she is born again of the Spirit of God. Once eternal life is received, it cannot be lost. That is the foundation. But Paul says that that once the foundation is laid, it is important what we build on it. It depends on how we live the Christian life; whether we build wood, hay, or stubble, or precious stones, gold, or silver. The former will be burned up, but the latter will remain. What remains is the reward we will get from the Lord. If all has been burned up, the person will be saved as of by fire. There will be those who made their decision for Christ, but remained one talent Christians who build just wood, hay, and stubble on the foundation. They will suffer loss, but will be saved.

I don't believe in the Arminian view that one can be saved today and lost tomorrow. That is faith in personal works and not faith in what Christ has done for us on the Cross. The Scripture is quite clear that we are saved by the grace of God, and the righteousness of Christ is given to us as a free gift, not of works lest any should boast. We are not saved or lost according to our works. An unbeliever is lost because he refuses the Gospel and turns his back on the grace of God. A believer is saved, but can suffer loss if he builds his life on wrong theologies, humanism, faith in experiences and feelings, instead of faith in Christ through obedience to Gods written Word. Basing faith in God's written Word and His promises builds up treasure in heaven which will pass through God's fire undamaged and the believer will receive his reward from Christ.

 

[Christian Soldier]

If a person has genuinely embraced Christ, he or she is born again of the Spirit of God. Once eternal life is received, it cannot be lost. That is the foundation. But Paul says that that once the foundation is laid, it is important what we build on it. It depends on how we live the Christian life; whether we build wood, hay, or stubble, or precious stones, gold, or silver. The former will be burned up, but the latter will remain. What remains is the reward we will get from the Lord. If all has been burned up, the person will be saved as of by fire. There will be those who made their decision for Christ, but remained one talent Christians who build just wood, hay, and stubble on the foundation. They will suffer loss, but will be saved.

I don't believe in the Arminian view that one can be saved today and lost tomorrow. That is faith in personal works and not faith in what Christ has done for us on the Cross. The Scripture is quite clear that we are saved by the grace of God, and the righteousness of Christ is given to us as a free gift, not of works lest any should boast. We are not saved or lost according to our works. An unbeliever is lost because he refuses the Gospel and turns his back on the grace of God. A believer is saved, but can suffer loss if he builds his life on wrong theologies, humanism, faith in experiences and feelings, instead of faith in Christ through obedience to Gods written Word. Basing faith in God's written Word and His promises builds up treasure in heaven which will pass through God's fire undamaged and the believer will receive his reward from Christ.

• The Foundation is Christ: The core of the passage (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) emphasizes that the only true foundation for faith and the church is Jesus Christ.
• The Nature of "Works": The "works" refer to the quality of the service, teaching, and actions that a Christian builds upon that foundation during their life (metaphorically described as "gold, silver, precious stones" for good works and "wood, hay, straw" for poor or worthless works).
• The "Fire" is a Test of Quality: The "fire" is not a reference to purgatory (a Roman Catholic doctrine that Reformed theology rejects) but rather a metaphor for the final judgment or the "Day" of the Lord, which will test the quality of each person's work.
• Salvation is by Grace Alone: The fact that the person "himself will be saved" underscores the tenet of sola gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone)*. Salvation is secure for those who have put their faith in Christ as the foundation, regardless of the quality of all their works.
• Loss of Reward, Not Salvation: If a person's works are found to be worthless (burned up), they will "suffer loss" of rewards or "wages," but not the loss of their salvation itself.
• "Saved as Through Fire": This phrase is an idiom for a narrow escape, like someone barely fleeing a burning building. It emphasizes that while salvation is secure, the experience of having one's life's work revealed as of little value will be a painful "loss".
• There will be different rewards in heaven, as you rightly stated, those who returned the one talent will receive a small reward and they will be seated in the back row of tables at the heavenly feast. Likewise, those who's deeds were exceedingly evil, will suffer more fire in the pits of hell, and those who sinned less will receive lesser forms of punishment.