Dear Perdonado, shalom!
Regarding the salvation issue, here's what I wrote a couple of years ago.
It may be a little too long, but if you are interested to find out, read on...
CAN ONE LOSE HIS SALVATION?
The salvation is issue is an important one since it can directly affect one's walk in faith.
When it comes to salvation, we usually come across 3 different schools of thoughts:
1- Those who teach we can loose salvation.
2- Those who teach we cannot loose salvation and that we can do whatever we want once we are saved. Their slogan is “once saved always saved”.
3- Those who teach we cannot loose salvation, but we can loose the rewards attached to salvation.
The above different schools of thoughts are in direct opposition between themselves. Although, they all claim to be teaching the truth of the Scriptures, we know that only one of them is true.
The question is: which one; the first one, the second one or the third one?
We personally belong to the school of thought N°3 and we invite you to have a look at the evidences we put forward to make our point.
“It is a faithful saying: For if we are dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
If we really belong to Yahweh (i.e. we are born of water and of Spirit), would a Just God and a Saviour ever take back the grace He once gave us?
Some people think that Yahweh can deny Himself and take back the gift He once gave us. They think one can lose his salvation.
As we shall demonstrate in this paper, our understanding of the Scriptures is different: we firmly believe that, if a man is truly born again, then it is impossible for him to lose his salvation. What we believe on the other end, is that one can lose the rewards that are attached to one’s salvation.
Before we start our demonstration, let us make the following statement: we categorically condemn those who teach that, “once we are saved, we are always saved, and so we can do what we want”. This teaching implies that whatever we do, whatever sin we commit, it does not matter since we are saved forever. Such thinking comes from the s.a.tan and directly contradicts the Bible, leading people astray. All throughout our sanctification life, the choice is given to us to abide in Him and to follow His prescriptions/His Torah or “to do what we want”. We have the free will to choose how we want to walk. However, Yahweh clearly wants us to know the consequences of not listening to His commandments. The Scriptures say: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31). Indeed, people are better be warned…
“if we deny Him, He also will deny us”.
Would Yahweh deny “a saved sinner” the entrance to Paradise or would He deny him in His very presence? There lies the whole issue of salvation and rewards.
WHAT IS SALVATION AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED
Let us start by first defining what a real salvation means.
“In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)
Salvation is a gift that is given to us. We do not deserve it. We are saved through grace after having heard the word of truth and having believed in it with all our heart.
The word of truth says because we are all sinners in the eyes of Yahweh; we are destined to go to hell. However, in His infinite mercy, Yahweh sent His only begotten Son to come and die for our sins.
If we believe in the word of truth with all our heart, if we recognize we are sinners and ask Yahweh for forgiveness, if we repent and make the clear decision to put an end to our sins and walk in righteousness, like Yahushua did (that is to follow Torah
), then a sincere prayer to God will seal us with His Holy Spirit. That’s when we are born again or born from the Spirit.
We did not need to do good deeds (
or follow Torah) to deserve the grace God granted us, but as soon as we are saved, that’s when the good deeds (
follow Torah) come into the play. The born again experience is just the beginning of our walk in sanctification with Yahushua and such sanctification depends directly on our very works and the fruit we bear.
The fruits we bear depend directly on our walk according to Yahweh's ways/Torah.
In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, those who are genuinely saved are the ones whose seed fell in the good ground (heart) and who bear fruits (good deeds).
“But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you [if we are truly saved/born again], he that raised Christ from the dead will also revive your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you [then we have everlasting life]. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh [we have a mission and it consists of living by the Spirit, following it and dying to ourselves]. For if ye live according to the flesh, ye shall die [this will be the outcome for all the people who will not have received salvation during their lifetime]: but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body [this is one aspect of salvation], ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:11-14) [My comments in brackets]
If we are saved, then we keep and follow Yahweh’s commandements. Not because of constraint, but because we truly adore the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Like a dear brother of mine states: “
Salvation in its most simple description is the restoration of sinful man to the state of sinless fellowship that Adam had with God before the fall. Therefore, before anything else, salvation is first and foremost, the issue of holiness”.
Holiness is the nature of God. It is absolutely sinless and perfectly righteous. “Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). Without the same nature, believers will not see YHWH.
WHAT DOES SALVATION INVOLVE ?
A true salvation must involve obedience and good works.
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9)
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man sayeth he hath faith, and hath not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14)
Are we genuinely saved if we do not bear Yahweh’s fruits in our lives?
Only He has the answer. We need to have the works otherwise; faith without the works is not the kind of faith required by God. Can such “cheap” faith grant us salvation? It is necessary to distinguish between a genuine salvation, one according to the Bible’s definition of it (one that bears fruit), and “a type” of salvation, that would not be a real one (with repentance). Many claim to be saved, but do not demonstrate their salvation by the good works that have to go along with it.
Are they saved then, or are we talking about a “second rate” salvation here? In people’s mind, they may claim to be saved, but in the eyes of Yahweh, they may well not be.
We can easily understand why some people think we can lose our salvation. If one thinks a true salvation is what we (unfortunately) mostly see in the churches today, then one can seriously think twice about this eternal gift. For the majority of people, sanctification life only consist of going to church two hours every Sunday and then once back home, live a worldly life without any genuine traces of sanctification.
Once again, we ask: are the people who behave in such way saved in the first place? If the answer is negative, then one needs to understand that it is impossible for them to lose something they never had (i.e. salvation).
In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, those who receive the seed into stony places, those who receive seed by the way side, and those into stony places cannot be saved (although they may look like it for a while) since to be genuinely saved, one need to bear fruit.
“And you hath he revived, who were dead in trespasses and sins; In which in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our manner of life in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others [describes our past state]. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus [our new state once we are saved]: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us, through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast [We did not have to do works to deserve our salvation. We got saved because we heard the Good News, we believed in it and asked for forgiveness]. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. [Once we receive Yahweh’s grace, this is when our mission really starts. We will be judged according to all the good works we are supposed to accomplish in His Holy Name]” (Ephesians 2:1-10)
“If ye then be raised with Christ [if you have gone through a born again experience], seek those things which are above [bear the fruit of the Spirit], where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth [die to yourself and walk according to the Spirit]. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then will ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts [give up our old life, which was fuelled by the flesh only] we should live soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world [let the Spirit of Yahweh take control of our life and lead us in the right direction]; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.[it is by our works we can see if we are really saved]” (Titus 2:11-14)
WHAT ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT SALVATION!
A genuine salvation (a new birth) implies a complete reshaping of our life, a change of status, a new condition and a new position.
To be saved means to walk with Yahushua with us and in us. We have His fullness dwelling in us. We are no longer depending on our past sins.
“But now being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22)
Sin cannot get hold of us since all we used to bear on our conscience was “cleansed” and forgiven by the sacrifice of Yahushua who died on the cross for us. Like Christ who was crucified, our “old man” was crucified on the cross. We are dead to sin:
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6)
This truth has amazing power; there lies the condition of our new life in Yahushua. His BLOOD and His CROSS, constantly remind us that we are dead to sin. As a result, sin should not have any more influence on us if we walk by the Spirit.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)
Identification with Yahushua in His death: our old sinful nature is on the cross. This old nature has lost it sovereignty in our new life. Identification with Yahushua for our new like: just as He was resurrected, our new nature has resurrected with His Holy Spirit in us. From now on, we can go forward in all confidence, knowing we have been set free and knowing we now have eternal life. We owe our new life to Yahushua for whom we have now become servants.
“For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“If ye then be raised with Christ [if you are saved], seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)
The link we have with Yahweh depends on our position in Yahushua. Thanks to His mercy, by our faith in Him, we have become children of God. We are co-hers of Christ and we will be for ever. This position can never change. Glory to Yahweh!
“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son:” (Colossians 1:13)
When a sinner comes to Yahushua according to His requirements, Yahweh identifies the repenting sinner with Christ in His resurrection, His ascension and in His exaltation.
We are set free from our old nature:
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)
Once we have been pardoned, we belong to Yahweh:
“What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Thus we see that by our POSITION, we have become sons of God. Our new relationship with Yahushua has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into His Kingdom. Such new position is both unchanging and everlasting.
Position versus Condition
Since the day of our salvation, two natures co-dwell in us: our “old man” nature (Adamic) and our new nature in Yahushua. Our “old man” nature is not dead to us, but we are dead to it. In our new nature, our new CONDITION, we have the responsibility to make sure we act according to the Word of Yahweh. It dictates what we can and what we cannot do. How we can behave and how we cannot.
The good relationship between Yahweh and us directly depends on our temporal condition in the flesh. Just like in any father/son relationship, depending on the son behaviour, the relationship can be affected (i.e. when the son does something wrong). What can never be affected and can never ever change is the parental link that exists between a father and a son. It is the same between Yahweh and us: if we are sons of God, having gone through a GENUINE salvation, then it is IMPOSSIBLE we return to our former position (thus, it is impossible we lose our salvation). A father may repudiate his son and decide not to see him anymore; he nevertheless still remains his natural/biological father for ever.
ONE MISSION
The aim of our new life in Yahushua is our sanctification (“
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” 1thes 4.3). It is necessary to understand that if one really walks with the Holy Spirit of Yahushua dwelling in him, then his mission is to sanctify himself in order to become like Yahushua, our model. There is no other option. If someone has something different on his agenda, then it is likely this person is NOT saved.
Since it is Yahushua who is our sanctification, all we have to do on our side is to have faith and be obedient.
If we have been called according to His purpose, then we are “
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
This is the call of any person who has been saved. If a person claims to be saved and is not striving to achieve Yahweh’s call with all his heart, strength, soul and thought, then it is reasonable to question his or her salvation. Let us be quick to remind the following: it is impossible to lose something we never had in the first place…
CONDITIONAL REWARDS
Our walk with Yahushua started the day YHWH saved us and it will end the day we appear before Him. Scriptures clearly tell us that we will be judged for all the deeds we will have done since the day of our salvation.
Life we live here on earth is none other than a preparation for the one, which comes after, and which will be ever lasting. Once again, Scriptures are clear on the fact that all we do in this earth is an investment for the one after.
Glory to Yahweh for the perfection of His plan! Indeed, He gives each and anyone of us the possibility to be rewarded for our eternal state. The more we comply to the plan YHWH has for us, the more we will be rewarded.
Why was Paul telling us:
“I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) ?
Hebrews 9:27 says:
“And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Being saved guarantees we will forever be in His Kingdom (where there are many mansions…). What it does not guarantee, though, is the position we will have in it. This position will only depend on the deeds and the quality of the works we will have accomplished during our walk in the faith.
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)
We, saints, should all live with the fear of Yahweh (“
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13). We should all live to only do what is righteous and what pleases Him because we
“shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:5)
I do no know about you, but in my case, since I received His grace, all I want to do is
OBEY Him, bless Him, Thank Him, Praise Him and Glorify His name night and day!
I only want to do what is good to Him because I know He
“will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). I also know that my future and ever lasting situation/position in His Kingdom will directly depend on all the good deeds I have done in His name during my walk in faith.
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)
“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16)
Romans 14:12 further insists, saying:
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”.
When we know that Yahweh will judge us for all our deeds (whatever they may be), then it is wiser to be a “good and faithful servant”, isn’t it?
The Scriptures tell us we should only do the will of Yahweh and nothing else. If we walk according to the plan He has for each and every one of us, then we will be rewarded for our actions.
With the above in mind, it would be foolish for a believer not to do the will of his Heavenly Father (
follow His Instructions/Torah), for he has a direct influence on his future rewards:
“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:
CONTRARY TO SALVATION, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOSE OUR REWARDS !
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (2 John 1:
In case of disobedience, the Bible is clear with regard to the discipline and the rewards. We cannot lose our salvation, on the other hand, it is obvious that we can lose the rewards which are linked to it.
Like a brother says :
« Rewards are given for obedience and a lack of obedience will result in the missing out on one or more of these and others: crown of rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19), crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:, crown of life (James 1:10), crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4), ruling and reigning with Christ (Rev.3:21), dominion over one or more cities (Luke 19:17-19) and a better resurrection (Heb 11:35.)
Many believe that the judgment seat of Christ is like a big Christmas party for gifts with everyone; but the Scripture does not teach that. One must consider that some believers, because of bad behaviour, will stand in shame at Christ’s coming; will lose rewards (1 Cor. 3:15 and Luke 19:24-26) ».
“And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”(1 John 2:2
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3)
There are people who have gone through a real salvation, but who go back to their former sinning lives. Like we are demonstrating, they cannot lose their salvation, but they will be judged according to their deeds. One possible and terrible consequence of such behaviour
will be to be far away from Yahweh. These people will still be in His presence (unlike the unsaved people who will be separated from Him and who will go to hell), but ashamed before Him. Not the kind of position one would like to be in. Remember:
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31). Whatever position they will get in the Kingdom will be everlasting. Think about it.
CAN WE BE DOGMATIC ABOUT THAT?
Let us understand that a born again person finds himself before two choices:
1- Fulfil the mission Yahweh has called him for, and by which he will be sanctified. In order to achieve this goal, YHWH has given the person all he needs. All He asks this person is to agree with Him, believe Him and obey Him, and live a perfect life in order to grow at His image.
2- Instead of glorifying Yahweh, the person prefers to:
- Either never seriously take his mission into consideration (in this case, it is highly probable that this person was never saved in the first place),
- Or to abandon his mission and live according to the world to glorify his flesh (this happens when people who have gone through a genuine salvation, backslide).
This choice is purely ours…
It is possible that some of us may have backslidden. If such is the case, in the eyes of Yahweh, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness, repent and to return back on the sanctification track. God is merciful and will always forgive us when we turn back to Him with a sincere heart. The blood He shed on the cross has the power to cleanse us every time we turn to Him. Always remember, our mission is to be sanctified (that is why His Holy Spirit came to dwell in us for) and this we will always be able to do as long as we have breath in our lungs. It is a matter of waling in the light…
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
My dear friends, Yahweh loves us. He only wants what is best for us: whatever our state, He wants to forgive us and He wants that we pull ourselves back together and return to our sanctification path.
We are called to be transformed into His image. We are His spokesmen. The closer our relation with Yahushua, the closer we will get to Yahweh and the better He will act through us so that we bear His fruits. Never give up on Him…
IS OUR SALVATION EVER LASTING?
So now we have covered the above, let us see whether one can lose his salvation or not. What do Scriptures tell us on this issue? Can one lose something which is ever lasting ?
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall become old like a garment, and its inhabitants shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.” (Isaiah 51:6)
If we could lose our salvation, could we read the above affirmation:
MY SALVATION SHALL LAST FOREVER ?
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he hath not believed the testimony that God gave of his Son.
And this is the testimony, that God hath given to us eternal life: and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:9-13)
YHWH HAS GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE
“For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they who receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)
Righteousness is a gift of YHWH
“For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Eternal life is a free gift of YHWH
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians. 2:7-
Salvation is a gift of YHWH
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:14-15)
“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:28-29)
THE GIFTS AND THE CALLING OF YHWH ARE IRREVOCABLE
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood; he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:12)
Redemption is eternal
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
Life is eternal
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Heb. 5:9)
SALVATION IS ETERNAL
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoke, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
Questions:
Does Yahweh lie?
If a born again believer can lose his salvation, then the aforementioned verses absolutely cannot mean what they appear to say.
Your task is to find their alternate explanation. What is that alternate explanation?
In order to be fair, we are going to undergo the exact same task we the verses that seem to say we can lose our salvation…
ALTERNATE EXPLANATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES USED TO “PROVE” THAT SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL
The following Scriptures are used by people who think we can lose our salvation. They usually use them to demonstrate their point saying that from these verses, things are “obvious”. Well, they are not, as we are about to see. For each of theses Scriptures, we are going to give an alternate explanation to show that there are several possible readings.
Revelation 3.5
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
The argument saying that our name can be blot out from the book of life, is certainly one of the most used Scripture, together with Matthew 7, used by the people who think one can loose his salvation.
What can we say about it ? Can we interpret this verse (and the or 4 other which tell the same thing) in a different way ?
We see two main views to explain this verse:
1- Our name is written in the book of life when we are saved, and then blot out if we sin.
This is how people who are not secure of their salvation interpret the meaning.
2- Our name is written in the book of life since before the creation of the world, and then blot out if we do not accept Yahweh’s salvation plan (i.e. we do not accept Yahushua as our Saviour and master).
This is the way we interpret it! Why? Here are the arguments we put forward:
-Ask people who think we can loose our salvation the following questions: How many sins does it take to have our name blot out? One, two, three, ten, more? What are the worse sins? Is there a hierarchy amongst the sins? If yes, which one? Etc. Each person will have his or her own answer! In the eyes of Yahweh, how many sins do you think it takes to be separated from Him?
- Knowing that it takes only ONE sin to be separated from Yahweh (i.e. Adam), and knowing that Yahweh is the same today as He was yesterday and as He ever will be, if one saved person commits one sin, then she is automatically separated from Yahweh. Those who think that our names can be blot out of the book of life, belong to the category of people who find themselves in the permanent state of saved/no saved anymore, where one name is in the book, and then blot out every time one commits one sin, whatever it may be. Knowing that Yahweh is forgiving, if we repent, then our name would be written again, until the next sin where it will be blot out etc. We see that this interpretation is absurd!
Scriptures are read by saved and unsaved people. We believe that Revelation 3.5 and the other verses that mention our name can be blot out, are clearly directed towards the non saved readers of the Bible. If their respective names which are in the book of live are likely to be blot out of the book, IF they do not turn to Yahushua, then we see a clear warning for them from Yahweh.
Matthew 7.21-23
“Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
This verse is probably the one which is the most commonly used to prove one can lose his salvation. It is true that at first reading, it seems to say so. But if we look closer then we have to come to the conclusion that it is impossible to for it to mean so. Here is why:
We have two questions to our readers: 1- would you be able to tell us the day you received your salvation? 2- In that day, did Yahushua come to know you?
If you are just like me, then you should be able to know exactly when and how Yahushua came to you life. For me it was December 3, 2005. I could even give you the hour: around 21h30! That evening, there is one thing that I am CERTAIN OF: Yahushua came to know me. Therefore, I can claim with a DEFINITE CONVICTION that I will never hear Him say to me: “François-Xavier, I never knew you”. For if I heard Him say that to me, then my whole life since that day, would have been based on a lie. I know it is not. YHWH does not lie, but s.atan does…
Dear reader, does Yahushua know you? If this is the case (which I sincerely hope for you), then rest assured, for He can never say to you: “I never knew you”.
So to whom is Yahushua talking?
The answer is quite simple: unsaved people. People whom He never knew. There are many people out there who preach “Jesus”: what about the Mormons? What about the Jehovah's Witnesses? What about the Scientologists ? What about the Muslims ?
Do not they all preach about Jesus, the good guy, the prophet etc (but not the One who came and died for us to set us free) ?
When they all appear before Yahushua, will not we hear them say "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name ?" We know what the Master will answer to them.
A brother of mine recently came back to me with the relevant comment saying that the above people cannot cast out demons nor do true healing miracles in Yahushua’s Name, like the people mentioned in the verse did.
Whatever the validity of this comment, it still does not refute the main point we raise: Matthew 7.22 cannot be used to prove that one can lose his salvation. We have refuted this interpretation showing that Yahushua cannot be talking to people who are truly saved. It is impossible, otherwise that would make Him a liar, which HE IS NOT.
Who ever these people, He is talking to, are; one thing we know for sure, is that Yahushua never knew them. Therefore, we know for sure they are not saved. They preach another Jesus:
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:4)
To prove further our point, Matthew 7.21 says:
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Who are the ones that do the will of the Father, if not those who are truly saved? And what is the Father’s will?
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
The will of YHWH is that we have everlasting life, not that we think we can lose our salvation…
Hebrew 6.4-8 :
Here is another well known and used Scripture to demonstrate one can lose his salvation. Does it really say so? Let us see:
“For it is impossible for those who have been once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit. 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 to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs fit for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh to cursing; whose end is to be burned.”
Here the key word is «to renew ».
One again, what one needs to understand is that the day of our salvation, all our past sins are washed clean. We become as white as the snow.
The question is: do we remain in such clean state continuously? The answer is negative.
By His grace, somewhere down the line of our life, at a “moment T”, Yahweh erases all our sins and makes us pure. As life goes on, so do our sins (as it is impossible to remain in a cleansed state in our flesh).
As soon as we receive the Holy Spirit, Yahweh counts on us to let Him lead our life and to act exactly according to His plan. His plan excludes sin. Unfortunately, we are carnal humans made of imperfect flesh…some of us walk in the spirit full time, some of us part time, and some of us don’t (“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25)
Some born again people happen to backslide and go back to a life of deep sin.
(Let me just open this parenthesis to say that we are all sinners and that we will remain in such state until our dying day. We need to bend toward Yahweh on a daily basis to ask for forgiveness for the sins we commit everyday. For some of us, many of these sins may only be unintentional. Yahushua died for all our sins, past, present and future, so if we confess them to Him, He will forgive us)
If we take our mission seriously, we should conform our behaviours to the Word of Yahweh and follow His teachings. YHWH gave us all we need in order to live a perfect sanctified life (forgiven/washed/made new men/equipped with the Holy Spirit/given our instruction manual: the Bible)
The above verses in Hebrew 6 are directed to saved people who have backslidden/who go back to their previous life of sin and remain in such state.
« For it is impossible for those who have been once enlightened… to renew them again to repentance”
Here Paul is not talking about loosing one’s salvation. He is talking about the state of those who sin, telling them that it is impossible for them to come back to the “moment T” in their lives, when they were made perfectly clean. What they have done will have to be taken into account and can no longer be erased (like all their sins were erased the day they got saved).
“For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
The day those people appear before Yahushua to be judged, all that they have done will be taken into consideration and they will receive what they deserve accordingly to their walk. Some will receive rewards, some won’t. Some will be in Yahweh’s very presence, some won’t. Some will be overwhelmed, some will be ashamed. Such state directly depends on our walk in righteousness, whether or not we follow Yahweh’s plan in our lives.
A good illustration of the above Scripture is the following: let us imagine a virgin girl who is due to get married. Before the wedding, she has an affair and loses her virginity. The day of the wedding, this girl will not longer be a virgin. How ever hard she tries, it will be impossible for her to return to her previous virgin state. The evil would have been done and no renewal is possible.
Hebrew 10.26-31
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful apprehension of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much more severe punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Have you ever noticed that the letter to the Hebrew is the only book amongst all the apostolic writings that does not start with salutation addresses? All the other were addressed to saints. We can then deduce that it is directed to the Hebrew people in general. They include saved ones and unsaved ones. Therefore, all we read in the Hebrew letter can be seen under two angles: the perspective of the one who has received the grace, or the perspective from the one who has not yet been saved. If we use such approach, then we can interpret the meaning differently depending on which perspective we look at the text. Let us not forget that the Bible is read by both saved and not saved people. And just like Hebrew 4.12 states, the Word of Yahweh is alive…
In essence, the above Scripture is similar to Hebrew 6: it does not say we can lose our salvation, but it talks about the judgements to come. The underlined question and point Paul wants to make is the following: as saints, are we heading to the right direction or are we fooling around?
We are talking extreme serious business here, because at the end of the day, we will have to stand before the throne of judgement, and just like the above verses says, it is a fearful experience…We will be judged and rewarded according to our walk in sanctification.
Scriptures cannot contradict themselves, can they? If the above Hebrew verse was actually telling us we could lose our salvation, then it would directly contradict the following verses which set the point once and for all one the issue:
“According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth upon it [Once we go through a genuine salvation and receive the Holy Spirit of Yahweh, we receive the foundation. Then our role is to build upon this foundation]. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it [watch out how you build on the foundation: watch out what you do with your salvation]. For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man buildeth upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble [What we build on the foundation (which is Christ) is in direct correlation with our behaviour and our good deeds. We are the ones who choose what we want to build: a strong building or not]; Every man’s work will be made manifest [we will all be judged for our walk in sanctification, i.e. how we have built on the foundation]: for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will try every man’s work, of what sort it is. If any man’s work abideth which he hath built upon it, he shall receive a REWARD. If any man’s work shall be burned, he will suffer LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED [can one be any clearer than this? one cannot lose his salvation]; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
The above Scriptures clearly and without any possible doubt tell us that whatever we build on the foundation we receive (when we are saved, this foundation is the Holy Spirit of Yahushua), may it be gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay or stubble (these represent our deeds: the more we do in His name, the better), we will still be saved.
The whole issue of salvation is NOT loosing it, but the rewards we will or we will not get when we get in His presence.
One cannot lose his salvation. What one can lose is his rewards.
Romans 11.22
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou shalt continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
Does Paul want to tell us we can lose our salvation? The answer, once again is negative.
The following verses will enlighten us on the real meaning of the phrase “you shall be cut off”:
“It is reported commonly that there is lewdness among you [here Paul is addressing people who are born again], and such lewdness as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who hath done this deed might be taken away from among you [Paul describes the acts committed, which are serious]. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are assembled, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh [Paul calls this person to be PHYSICALLY cut off i.e. “thou also shalt be cut off”], that THE SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED in the day of the Lord Jesus.”[one cannot lose his salvation] (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
Does the Bible report any such thing happening? Yes it does. We can see two concrete examples with Anamias and Spahira in the book of Acts 5. These two born again people sinned and were physically cut off to set an example. Their punishment was immediate, but this does not mean that they have lost their salvation (because that would contradict what Paul says in the above Scripture). What they have lost is the benefits of it and the possibility to build upon their foundation something made of Gold. According to the Bible, they are still saved.
Ezekiel 18.24
“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”
Does the above mean we can lose our salvation? Once again, the answer is negative. The interpretation of this scripture is in a way similar to Roman 11.22.
“All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned”. People use this sentence to say that Yahweh can take back his salvation. The question that arises is: shall not be mentioned before whom? The answer has to be before men, and not before YHWH, since we know that when we are judged, He
“will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil” (Ecc 12.14).
When it says he shall die, again we see that YHWH has the power, if He wants, to stop our track on earth and have us die. Please refer to the above explanation with Roman 11.22.
ONE LAST THOUGHT ABOUT THE SALVATION ISSUE
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth, is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:1
Let’s take two people: to one we are going to tell that if he is saved, he can never lose his salvation (this does not mean we tell him to do whatever he wants. Like we have expressively made it clear in this paper, we condemn such teaching as being from the s.a.tan. On the contrary, we explain to him all his commitments and possible rewards). To the other one, we are going to tell him that if he sins, he will lose his salvation.
Which one of the above two people is most likely to have a daily fear in his heart? The one who has eternal security or the other one?
Whom of these two will grow in love? Will it be the one who trusts His Master with all his heart, soul and strength, knowing that He will never let him down or will it be the other one who does not know how many sins it will take him to be lost again?
The above questions may look silly, but when we come to seriously think about it, the issue is a very important one. What testimony the one who thinks he can lose his salvation will give to people who are not yet saved?
If before I accepted Yahushua in my life and understood the plan He had for me, I had met a person telling me to turn toward his god, and that his god was the real one that can save me, BUT who would not guarantee me my salvation, since we can lose it, I am not sure I would have listened to him.
The point is this: presenting the gospel in this manner does not differentiate it from what all the other religions have to bring, since there is absolutely no security attached to it.
I thank and praise YHWH everyday, thanking Him from the bottom of my heart for having put on my path a saint who told me that THE real God would guarantee me ETERNAL life. This is one of the reasons I gave my life to Him.
No man made religions can offer these two major blessings:
- The first one is the exclusivity of a salvation that is given once and for all and forever (you do not need to do good works to obtain it).
- The second one is the exclusivity of a salvation granted through faith.
From the above two exclusivities, there is one fundamental difference between us (saved by the blood of the Lamb) and all the other religious adepts (whatever their religions are). If you ask me: “If you if you die tomorrow, do you know for sure where you will go: paradise or hell”?
Not only would I be absolutely certain of my answer, but I would also be willingly ready to die for it, if I had to!
Ask the same question to any religious adepts in the world; 99% of them will be unable to answer for sure, yet die for what they believe (except a minority of fanatic Muslims!)
Teaching that one can lose his salvation is the same as putting Yahweh’s grace at the very same level as all the world religions. Such teaching can also prevent Christians from growing in unity with Yahushua, since the simple thought about the issue and believing the eventuality of losing YHWH’s grace can take away our confidence in Him.
How can we sincerely thank God for having delivered us from the wrath to come if it is quite possible we may yet be cast into Hell?
It is impossible, in the above condition, to make His Fruit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance) grow in us, simply because the thought of losing our salvation will always take over. Our flesh is weak and s.a.tan knows it. He knows exactly where to attack us and how to play with our anguish. His job is to dishearten us on an everyday basis. One of his best ploys is making people believe they can lose their salvation.
CONCLUSION
Like my friend concludes: “
If salvation can be lost, then…
- God has reduced His standard for holiness…
- There are some sins that Yahushua did not die for…
- The blood of a goat is better than the blood of Christ…
- Salvation is a reward for good behavior…
If you do not agree with these statements then it is impossible for you to believe that you can lose your salvation."
Grace, mercy and peace to all who read this paper. May Yahweh bless you, may He enlighten you and direct you in His truth, may His SHALOM be with you and may He shine His face upon you.
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