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 | Matthew 10:22: "...he that endureth to the end shall be saved." The implication is that someone who does not stands firm to the end will not be saved. Some theologians dismiss this interpretation; they believe that a person who does not stand firm never was saved in the first place; thus all that are truly saved will continue in that state. |
| John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that that everyone who believes in him might not perish,
but may have eternal life." (NAB) The NIV translation of this verse (described above) implies that everyone who believes
"shall" have
eternal life. The Amplified Bible agrees. But other translations use alternative words:
"should," "may," or "might." These latter version of the
Christian Scriptures (New Testament) imply that saved persons may have eternal life or possibly may perish. Presumably they could lose their salvation by their actions. This is superb example of how Bible translators can select words which match their own theological belief systems. The NAB translation is used extensively by Roman Catholics who believe that an individual can lose their salvation may times during their lifetime, and frequently regain it by sincerely participating in church sacraments. Those conservative Christians who believe that one cannot lose ones salvation frequently use the NIV translation. |
| John 15:6: "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up , thrown into the fire and burned." (NIV) A person who "does not remain" in Jesus is apparently a saved person whose behavior or thoughts have become unacceptable. Throwing the formerly saved person into the fire and burning them is an obvious reference to Hell. |
| 1 Corinthians 15-2: "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." Paul apparently believes that a person is only saved if they continue to believe in the gospel. If they lose faith in the gospel, presumably they lose their salvation. Some conservative theologians believe that this verse also refers to those who were not really initially saved. |
| Galatians 6:8-9: "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in going good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV) This passage appears to make salvation dependent on an individual continually working towards their goal of attaining eternal life. If a person gives up prematurely, then they would lose their salvation. |
| 2 Timothy 2:12: "If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us." Elsewhere in the Bible a number of verses refer to saved persons reigning with Jesus. So, the "we" in this passage apparently means saved individuals. But if we "deny and disown and reject" (Amplified Bible) Jesus, then he will do the same to us, and presumably terminate our salvation. |
| Hebrews 6:4-6: "For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves
the son of God afresh and put him to an open shame." The first two verses define
precisely an individual who had being saved and was receiving the benefits of salvation.
The last verse states clearly that a person is quite capable of falling away from the
faith...and if they do so, that it is impossible for their salvation to be renewed. Christians who believe that a person can never lose their salvation may interpret this passage as meaning:
This passage has caused some theologians to doubt that Hebrews was written by an apostle. Some church leaders have been convinced to "refuse the right of lapsed believers to be reinstated in the church..." 1 |
| Hebrews 10:26: "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." The early Christians universally believed that this passage referred to persons who had been saved, had continued to sin, and had thereby lost their salvation. Some present-day theologians teach that this verse refers only to the unsaved. |
| 2 Peter 2:20-21: "For if after they have escaped the pollution's of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered onto them." The first verse appears to refer to persons who have turned away from the corruption of the world, have been saved, and later returned entangled in the world. The implication is that these people will be more viciously treated after death by God's wrath than those people who were never saved. |
Losing one's salvation through forbidden behaviors:
Three verses from the Christian Scriptures seem to imply that certain behaviors will cancel a person's salvation. Three passages declare absolutely that all persons who perform certain behaviors will not "inherit the kingdom of God". These verses seem to be absolute. That is, they apply to everyone, even to those who have been previously saved:
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such
were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."(ASV) St. Paul appears to state that some members of the church at Corinth were once following some of the behaviors listed and would thus not inherit the kingdom of God. But after they were saved, they changed their behavior. But the passage does seem to state unambiguously that all individuals who commit one of the forbidden sins after having been saved will go to hell. There are 11 activities listed here that can prevent an individual from going to heaven. We have studied these verses as they appear in 24 English versions of the Bible and found some curious results:
We agree with the Roman Catholic translators that St. Paul is probably condemning that small minority of male adults who are child rapists and the male children that they sexually abuse. This criminal behavior is not connected in any way with homosexual activity with a fellow adult within a loving, committed relationship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Galatians 5:19-20: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
(these): fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and
such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (ASV) The first sin, fornication, will cause most people to lose their salvation. The average age at which a youth in North America becomes sexually active is 16, whereas the average age at first marriage is over 25. This provides an opportunity for fornication which typically lasts for about a decade. Surveys show that in excess of 90% of young adults do not remain celibate before marriage. Add to this the 25 to 40% of married couples who engage in extra-marital sex, and just about the entire population is doomed to hell after death. And this does not take into account any of the other, very common sins of envy, jealousy, strife which are near universally expressed sometimes during each person's life. The Christian church has traditionally added suicide to these lists of behaviors, although there appears to be little justification for this move. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ephesians 5:5-6: "For of this you can be sure: No immoral,
impure or greedy person...has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God...God's
wrath comes on those who are disobedient." (NIV) This appears to be another blanket condemnation of people who will be denied access to heaven because of their conduct. No exception appears to be made for saved persons. "No...person" would seem to mean "no...person." God's wrath would imply permanent residence in Hell. |
Losing one's salvation by committing the unforgivable sin:
Three passages in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke discusses a unique class of sin which God will not forgive. Committing this sin would presumably prevent a person from being saved or would cancel the salvation of a believer. Unfortunately, there is no consensus about what the unforgivable sin is. More details.
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or Home > Christianity > Christian themes > Beliefs > Salvation > Lose it? > here |
References:
- D.W. Bercot, "Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity," Scroll Publishing, Tyler, TX, (1989), Pages 72-73.
- "If you can lose it," a Gospel tract at: http://www.lovejesus.org/salvndex.htm
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