How can one lose their salvation?

JOHN 10:28-30
(Jesus speaking) I give unto them ETERNAL life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any person pluck them out of my hand.
My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no person is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand.
I and the Father are one.
Ephesians 1:7
You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

 

I never said someone else could take a person's salvation away from him, which is what those verses are addressing.

 

Hasbeen..you must recognize this question has been the cause of splits within Protestant churches..and you may agree or disagree according to your own understanding.

Those who believe salvation can be lost through reverting to a sinful life ..likely don't understand that those of the faith who believe salvation is eternal recognize they are still sinners until sanctification is perfected in heaven.

Yes, if we are true followers..."my sheep hear my voice, and follow me..no one can pluck them from my hand". We may stumble and fall down, or we may fall into a ditch for a time, but true believers will always hear his voice and repent.



I downloaded this from RBC website which best explains our position:

Although the Bible doesn't teach that believers can lose their salvation, real believers can backslide and lose their joy. The New Testament gives us many examples of believers who drew back from their fellowship with Jesus Christ: the disciples ( Matthew 26:56 ); Peter ( Matthew 26:69-75 ); the Christians in Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 ); and the Asian churches ( Revelation 2:4,14-15,20 ).
But we should distinguish between backsliding and apostasy--departing from the faith. A true Christian can backslide, be disciplined by God, and repent and return ( Hebrews 12:6 ; Revelation 2:5 ). A person who has merely professed faith without a genuine encounter with Christ can depart, prosper outwardly, and never return. The apostle John said that some who had left the fellowship of believers and were now teaching false doctrine showed by their actions that they never really belonged to Christ ( 1 John 2:19 ). It may be impossible for us to make a judgment about whether the person is a backsliding Christian or an impostor. Sometimes, only time will tell.
The doctrine of eternal security as taught in Scripture is intended to comfort true Christians who want to live faithfully for Jesus Christ. People who once professed faith but are now living sinfully should not be comforted by the assumption that a profession of faith guarantees their salvation. We gain nothing by examining the nature of their past "decision." They need to soberly consider their lifestyle in the light of passages like 1 John 3:4-9 . If they are genuinely saved, God will discipline them ( Hebrews 12:6 ).

Dan Vander Lugt

 

It is a fact that Christians continue to screw up, after they become part of God's forever family. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian, really is. God knows who is and who ain't. Let Him be judge! If it was possble to be kicked out of God's family and I don't believe that it is then how bad do you have to screw up before being booted out? We do not have to end a person's life, to be guilty of murder! If you harm a child, you might as well be guilty of murder! Same consequence! If you stole a candy bar, as a child, you're still just as guilty of theft as someone who robs a bank.We have all screwed up in many different ways! There are plenty of people who would be on my hit list if I wasn't a son of God. But God has changed me in the way that only He can. I still live in a world full of people who don't give a damn who they hurt or kill. I still live in a world inhabited by some who think that to fly a jumbo jet filled with people and gasoline, into the World Trade Center, is service to God, upon which He will smile. God knows me, knows all about me, but loves me anyway! If we screw up, as Christians, we will have to deal with the consequences. Having screwed up and having to deal with the consequences does not mean that I have lost my standing as a child of God! It DOES mean that God will deal with me, but losing my status as His child, is not one of the consequences.

 

I disagree with your interpretation of this verse. I think when it says that no person can pluck you out that includes you. I believe there are different levels of reward in heaven for those who do live a good life and do good works but your salvation depends solely on your decision on whether to accept or reject Jesus. I also believe that when one does accept Jesus that he is imbued with the Holy Spirit and will from that moment forward have within him a voice that tells him to do the right thing and live a good life full of good works. That voice can be followed or ignored.

 

I didn't think I'd ever agree with Thelt on anything, but I find myself agreeing wholly.

Part of the problem is that often we put morality or societies will above God. God is not bound to morality or rights and wrongs. What is right spiritually is right because God ordains it so. For instance, we have the commandment not to kill or muder, but what did God tell the Isrealites to do after he gave them the commandment. Did God contradict himself? Of course not, societies laws are not God's laws and often we hold God to our standards, not ours to God's.

The problem is our fleshly nature likes to keep "status". It likes to order things according to our human nature. It's likes to keep scores and stats. In doing so, it often makes "sin" stronger than the power of God's sacrifice and love. It's like having an unlimited bank account and worrying if your overdrawn. Really, when we're saying there is a point we can't be forgiven, redeemed or justified, we're putting a limit on God's power. We're making the sacrifice that Christ gave limited.

I'd like to point out also that in James 2:14 that was quoted earlier, Paul gives two examples of deeds. Abraham didn't have the law, commandments or the teachings of any church, but his obedience to God was counted as righteousness. Rahab was even a prostitute which is a sin punishable by death under the law. This is often left out when this verse is quoted, but it says her acts counted to her for righteousness. What I believe this refers to is not blindly adhering to a lifeless code of conduct, but having a living relationship with God that compels us to act as he directs each one of us. That's what Christ's blood does. It brings us into acceptance to God. Like Jacob putting on the gaments and hair of Esau, when God passes our salvation to us he only acknowledges the broken body and bloodstained clothes of Christ.

As far as predestination, I like to think of Salvation as a trust fund. It's set aside for us, but it's up to us to accept it. Salvation was predetermined, our acceptance was not.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

 

http://www.bigtentrevival.info/


Just watch this guy preach . . . I think he will explain everything . . Right now (3/28/07 at 11:30 pm ET) is Pancho Juarez of Calvary Chapel-Montibello

 

That's very good. Imma use that in the class I'm teaching this Sunday.

 

This forum needs to be renamed to Christian Spirituality.

 

no one is stopping threads that discuss other types of spirituality or religion