Article - Saved Christians Can Lose Their Salvation
John Calvin’s doctrine of perseverance of the saints (a form of which is also known as once saved, always saved; eternal security; unconditional assurance) teaches that once a person is truly saved, he cannot lose his salvation. The Bible teaches the contrary: (1) A Christian who commits unrighteous acts without repenting of such will “not inherit” the Lord’s everlasting kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 5:11-13; Ephesians 5:3-5; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 1:10-11); (2) A Christian can be “cut off” from Jesus the Vine IF he does not bear fruit/continue in God’s goodness (John 15:1-6; Romans 11:19-22); (3) A Christian can be “estranged” from Christ and “fall” from God’s grace (Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 6:4-8; 12:14-17; 1 Corinthians 10:12); (4) A Christian who continues to sin willfully/walk in darkness ceases to benefit from the blood (forgiveness) and fellowship of Jesus (Hebrews 10:26; 1 John 1:7, 9); (5) A Christian can be “disqualified” or “defrauded” of his eternal reward (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 3:11); (6) A Christian can “depart, stray, wander” from the faith and the living God (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 6:10; 1:19; 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 2:18; Hebrews 3:12; James 5:19-21; for a reference to “death,” see Revelation 20:14); (7) For a Christian to remain part of Christ’s house, a partaker of Christ and one whom Christ presents holy to God, he must follow the “conditions” of continuing in the faith and holding fast the confidence firm to the end (Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 3:5-6, 12-14); (8) A Christian who transgresses and no longer abides in the doctrine of Christ no longer has the Father and Son (2 John 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 4:16). In fact, the condition of his soul is worse off than an unbeliever’s who is hell bound (1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 21:8); (9) A Christian who does not overcome temptation or who takes away from God’s word is “blotted out from” the Book of Life and from the Holy City/Heaven (Revelation 3:4-5; 22:19).
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