So, the Catholic Church teaches that you can lose your salvation
but according to the Bible we are assured that salvation if we only believe accept Jesus in our heart
and believe in Him, we are saved because believing in Him is all you need... Aren't we?
Let's look at what I have found on this matter. In the Bible the Apostles explicitly teach this. Here I will give examples to show that we must work through our salvation until the end if we want to remain in God’s grace. Are you saved? The correct answer should be “I am saved, I am being saved, and I have the hope that I will continue to be saved.” Salvation is a process that you must be diligent in the struggle to resist temptation and the near occasion of sin.
Matthew
10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth
to the end shall be saved.
Here we see Jesus
Himself saying that you must endure to the end to be saved. He did not say
“just believe and we’re cool”.
John
15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a
man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men
gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 10 If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy
might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you.”
It cannot remain if was not already there and it would be a useless statement
if there was not a chance of losing it.
Galatians
5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Galatians
6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.
In his letter to the
Galatians, Paul says not to get tired of doing the right thing because your
reward will come in time, unless you stop sowing for the Spirit. If you stop
sowing for the Spirit, you will have no reward because you will lose what you
had.
Matthew
5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit
adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy
right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut
it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Jesus does not say
these words are only for those who are not followers of Him. This is a blanket
statement that is intended for everyone. We still have our free will, we still
have the ability to sin, and if we do sin we suffer the consequences unless we
repent. If we die without repenting for our sins we are subject to the same
punishment whether you are saved or unsaved.
Matthew
18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever
therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my
name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which
believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his
neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world
because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man
by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee,
cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life
halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into
everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one
of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
“Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus is
speaking to the Apostles, telling them what they need to do to enter Heaven.
Then Jesus repeats what He had previously said to the crowd but this time He is
speaking directly to His Apostles. He said to them;“it is better for thee to
enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell
fire.” Jesus used the pronoun ‘Thee’, a direct reference to the people he was
speaking to, the Apostles. Had He meant only those that do not follow Him, He
would have used the word ‘They’. So, if Jesus is telling His Apostles that they
can fall away from His grace, how much more is it that we can fall away?
Romans
11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise
thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in
unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
Paul says that if you continue in goodness (belief) you will remain in
goodness otherwise you shall be cut off. You will be severed from the goodness
of God. Fortunately, he also says that you are able to return to God’s goodness
if you discontinue your unbelief.
Hebrews
6:4 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, 5 And have
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 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. 7 For the earth
which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs
meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that
which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose
end is to be burned.
Hebrews
10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer 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,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?
Hebrews
10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come
will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any
man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul.
In these sections from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews he uses the terms“If
they shall fall away”, “if we sin willfully after that we have received the
knowledge of the truth”, and “them who draw back unto perdition”. Again Paul emphasizes
that even if you are in God’s favour there is still the possibility of falling
from His grace.
Philippians
2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of
his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I
have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Wow! those are some strong words. If you cannot
lose your salvation why would you need to work it out? You do not need to work
on something that is permanent and cannot be lost?
1
Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron;
“some shall depart from the faith”, Yeah, I think this is pretty
self-explanatory.
1
Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth
for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under
my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Paul says he runs and fights in pursuit of the incorruptible crown
(salvation, the Heavenly reward). He runs and fights. Not sitting around singing 'la, la, la I am saved and you can't stop me'. He must keep his body into subjection
because even after he has preached to others he can become a castaway. He
fights for his salvation for he knows it can be lost.
Ezekiel
18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and
keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely
live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they
shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he
shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the
Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 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.
If a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and behaves as
the wicked man does, his previous righteous righteousness is of no concern to
God. God will focus on his trespasses and his sins and “in them shall he die.”
Ezekiel
33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The
righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his
transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby
in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be
able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall
say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own
righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be
remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 14
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his
sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the
pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without
committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his
sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that
which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 17 Yet the children of thy
people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not
equal. 18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
Again, the former righteousness of a man means nothing if he turns
away from that righteousness. “but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he
shall die for it.” Even if you were a good man you can die because of your sins
if you turn away from goodness therefore you are not in God’s Grace. If you
lose God’s Grace you have lost salvation. But the good news is that a wicked
man can turn away from his wickedness and receive salvation.
In closing, these few of many passages from both the Old and New Testaments
show very clearly that it does not matter how good or righteous you are, you
are at risk of losing your salvation. Even the Apostle Paul feared the loss of
his salvation.
Are you so bold that you think your salvation is
superior to and safer
from loss than the salvation
of the original followers of Jesus Christ?
+JMJ+
