"Can a Christian lose out on salvation?
Some Protestants would answer no because they believe a doctrine commonly called “once saved, always saved.”
Technically, this belief is called the doctrine of eternal security (meaning the saints’ eternal salvation is completely secure). It is also called the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (that God’s saints will persevere).
This doctrine is commonly found in the reformed Christian tradition that was heavily influenced by the theology of John Calvin. Here’s how The Westminster Confession of Faith describes this doctrine:
“They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved” (chap. 17, sec. 1, “Of the Perseverance of the Saints”).
But did Jesus Christ teach that all who believe in Him are guaranteed salvation?
Jesus likened His disciples, both then and now, to salt to make two points.
*First, He showed how Christians are to metaphorically season this world through their character and good conduct (verse 16).
*Second, He warned Christians of the danger of losing their flavor—in other words, falling away from their faith and no longer seasoning the world.
He warned that if that happened, just like bad salt they would be “thrown out and trampled underfoot” (verse 13).
Those who hold the “once saved, always saved” doctrine acknowledge that saved Christians can backslide for a time and reap temporary physical consequences of their sins—but they believe they can never truly fall away and lose salvation.
However, there are some very serious scriptural passages that say the exact opposite.
Paul said he disciplined himself lest he “should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Some of the strongest warnings to true Christians are found in the book of Hebrews. The author uses a large portion of the book to warn Christians about the danger of drifting away and neglecting their salvation (Hebrews 2:1, 3).
He warns that we can only stay in God’s house (or God’s family) “if we hold fast the confidence … of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6). Yes, the short two-letter word if completely disproves the doctrine of once saved, always saved.
The book elaborates more on the specific danger: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (verse 12).
The apostle Peter reinforced this warning in 2 Peter 2: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of … 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” (verses 20-21)."
LH&T
Some Protestants would answer no because they believe a doctrine commonly called “once saved, always saved.”
Technically, this belief is called the doctrine of eternal security (meaning the saints’ eternal salvation is completely secure). It is also called the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (that God’s saints will persevere).
This doctrine is commonly found in the reformed Christian tradition that was heavily influenced by the theology of John Calvin. Here’s how The Westminster Confession of Faith describes this doctrine:
“They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved” (chap. 17, sec. 1, “Of the Perseverance of the Saints”).
But did Jesus Christ teach that all who believe in Him are guaranteed salvation?
Jesus likened His disciples, both then and now, to salt to make two points.
*First, He showed how Christians are to metaphorically season this world through their character and good conduct (verse 16).
*Second, He warned Christians of the danger of losing their flavor—in other words, falling away from their faith and no longer seasoning the world.
He warned that if that happened, just like bad salt they would be “thrown out and trampled underfoot” (verse 13).
Those who hold the “once saved, always saved” doctrine acknowledge that saved Christians can backslide for a time and reap temporary physical consequences of their sins—but they believe they can never truly fall away and lose salvation.
However, there are some very serious scriptural passages that say the exact opposite.
Paul said he disciplined himself lest he “should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Some of the strongest warnings to true Christians are found in the book of Hebrews. The author uses a large portion of the book to warn Christians about the danger of drifting away and neglecting their salvation (Hebrews 2:1, 3).
He warns that we can only stay in God’s house (or God’s family) “if we hold fast the confidence … of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6). Yes, the short two-letter word if completely disproves the doctrine of once saved, always saved.
The book elaborates more on the specific danger: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (verse 12).
The apostle Peter reinforced this warning in 2 Peter 2: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of … 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” (verses 20-21)."
LH&T