Salvation Safety

Although the Bible teaches that salvation can be lost by turning away from God, it also encourages us with teachings about how the Lord loves us and keeps us safe in Him if we remain in Him. There are also verses showing how He will accept us back from deserting Him, if we repent and return.

Continuing and standing firm

The following passages make it clear that a condition of salvation is our continuing in Jesus. Notice how every one of these quotations shows that ongoing commitment to the Lord is necessary, not just belief that occurred in the past. We can see this by the continuous sense of the words used, like stands, keeps, continue, abide, remain, practice, watch, persevere, and believes. If we do these things, we will remain in the Lord and be with Him for eternity.

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:10-13 (NIV)

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death." John 8:51 (NASB^®)

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25 (KJV)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11 (ESV)

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

Again, more than a past belief in Jesus is needed for our salvation.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NASB^®)

God keeps us safe

As well as being told to continue in the Lord, we are also taught in the Bible that God Himself keeps us safe.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)

It's amazing to think that we hopeless humans are looked after so wonderfully by God! If we just follow Him, He will keep us from falling. Let's not forget that this safety is conditional on us seeking Him though.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:4-11 (NIV)

Paul was confident that the Philippians' good work and partnership in God's gospel would be completed through the Lord. It doesn't seem unreasonable to think that if God would complete their partnership in the gospel, He would also bring to fruition their salvation through Jesus. Paul's reason for feeling confident is that he would have them in his heart. This seems to mean he would pray for them. His prayer for them alludes to the Philippians' salvation, by hoping for them to be blameless and pure until Jesus returns. God is definitely involved in sustaining us in Him. It's not up to us to somehow be able to remain His children after salvation by sheer willpower! However, many other Bible passages show that it isn't correct to say God's sustaining of us removes our ability to walk away from Him again if we wish.

Another passage which shows that God keeps us safe and that we have a sure salvation through faith is 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ASV)

God Himself guards us through our faith. What more could we need in life? Let's make sure we don't stop having that true faith. At the risk of harping on, being guarded by God is no excuse for not living a righteous life. Just a bit further on in that Bible chapter we are urged to be holy (v 15) and to live with fear (v 17). We have been purified through obedience to the truth (v 22). We need to keep on doing these things, repenting when we sin, so that we can be called God's children.

The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. Psalm 145:20 (KJV)

Repentance

Transgressions lead to death even for those who once followed God, but their subsequent repentance leads to life.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.
"Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?
"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NASB^®)

You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Romans 11:19-23 (NASB^®)

God can bring people (in the above passage, disobedient Israelites) back "again" if they return to Him. A person only returns to something they once knew (the Lord) - they don't return to something they never knew. In contrast, the one who isn't cut off is the one who continues in the Lord's kindness and has faith. This is a warning that we will be cut off if we fall like Israel. At the same time, this passage shows how fallen people can be brought back to the Lord, which is very comforting. We can repent. And if we understand correctly, Paul goes on to say that Israel as a people are going to repent.

As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:28-33 (ESV)

This is hard to understand! We don't understand it very well. It seems Israel will return to God. He can even use disobedience for our eventual salvation. Isn't it wonderful? We can repent. It's also worth noting that the irrevocable nature of God's calling doesn't preclude an individual from falling into sin and death - as is amply demonstrated elsewhere in the Bible. It's hard to understand how this can be. We certainly don't understand it. Maybe this is part of the amazing way that God guards us (see God Keeps us Safe, above) and how He is so patient and merciful. But we need to believe everything the Bible says, and not leave out parts which don't agree with our understanding.

Jesus' sheep and Peter

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:27-29 (ESV)

John 10:27 above describes the ones who cannot be snatched away as Jesus' sheep who follow Him, in the continuous tense. This agrees well with the above passages which show it is those who continue to persevere in the Lord who are safe from being snatched away. It doesn't appear to say believers can't stray under their own steam. Jesus Himself even said His sheep would fall away:

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.' Mark 14:27 (NIV)

A description of some of them leaving is given in this verse.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66 (KJV)

Jesus knew His followers could fall away from Him, and spoke to them to prevent it.

"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. John 16:1 (ESV)

Another example is Simon Peter, one of Christ's apostles, whose steadfastness in faith He prayed for.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:31-34 (NIV) (the first 'you' is plural)

Peter did fall away from Him (e.g. Mark 14:66-72). Being a follower of Christ didn't prevent that. In the above Luke passage, Jesus says Peter will turn back. This shows that he fell away, implying spiritual death until he returned. It also shows God's mercy in bringing him back. In fact, Jesus is a shepherd who searches for any of His lost sheep!

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
"When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
"And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7 (NASB^®)

It's not somehow all up to us to be saved. We have a Lord Who not only keeps us safe in Him, but Who spoke and prayed to help His followers remain faithful, and Who seeks out His lost.

Famous assurance from Romans

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (ASV)

Isn't this a wonderful comfort to know? But we need to understand that these amazing assurance passages link in with the whole rest of the Bible. Other passages make it clear that we can fall away and walk away into sin if we don't stand firm in Christ. The above passages from Romans don't mention our own unfaithfulness being unable to separate us from God's love. Rather, they confirm what we have been saying. Safety and justification are for people who love the Lord (v 28) and are called by Him (v 30). It is then that the Lord keeps us safe from being snatched away. But, if we remember other verses in this article, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible for us to walk away. It's things which are outside of us, powers and creatures and so on, which are mentioned as being unable to separate us from God's love. This is greatly in accord with John 10:27-29 above, which shows that our security exists in tandem with us following Jesus our Saviour. It's a two way street.

Thus far...

We can see from the above verses that those who end up in Heaven certainly have persevered, by the help of God. He really does help us and bring this about in us. But that doesn't mean we are unable to turn our backs on Jesus, and so lose our salvation. Instead, we are counselled to remain in the Lord, to persevere in doing so, and that if we do we will be saved. If we don't, we are in danger. Thankfully, we can also repent and return to Him if we do fall, and He searches for us to bring us to Him.

So if we can lose our salvation, what exactly does it take to lose it? Is it only a lifestyle of sin, or can just one instance kill us spiritually?

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