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I have heard a number of sermons lately on the “security of salvation” in Christ. One of the core components of the New Testament Gospel is that God’s grace is sufficient to cover all sins and sinners and the fact that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness that only comes through the sacrificial love of Christ who as God submitted Himself to the cross to die in our place for our sins. This plan was God’s from the beginning of time…not something that He “just came up with” because of man’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.

A friend recently asked me if I think I lost my salvation during my 35 years of rebellion and apostasy against God after growing up in a “born again” Christian family and faith. It is a very good question that demands some examination…both from a Biblical and personal sense.

There are so many scriptures related to vagarities of faith versus living in sin, and at this point, I don’t see a purely black and white Biblical answer to whether a believer can lose their salvation. This past year’s return to studying God’s word has given me a greater sense of “eternal security” of salvation than I had in the theology of my forefathers.

The Christian church is a diverse body of experiences and scriptural interpretations that can seem very confusing even to believers, let alone non-believers. Ever since the early churches that were developed by Apostle Paul and Christ’s original disciples, there have been these theological debates over faith versus works.

It would seem that progressive Christians today tend to be strong on grace covering a multitude of sins and that once you are saved, you are always saved no matter what you do thereafter. In these circles, there is very little emphasis on sin, and many conveniently throw out Biblical statements on various inconvenient sins that seem to run rampant in our decadent society today. God’s laws to these believers have been replaced by unlimited grace so that no matter what we do, “nothing can separate us from the love of God”. Unfortunately, many preachers tend to leave out the qualification “for those who are called according to His purpose” and who do the will of the Father! The darkness of separation because of our sin is a daily battle we Christians must face…albeit God has promised to provide the faith we need for that battle.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:11)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galations 3:26)

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (Ephesians 2:1-5)

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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)

From these scriptures, it is pretty clear to me that our faith and salvation are not based on any good we are or the works we do. We did not choose God. He chose us…before the beginning of time. So, if by grace we are saved, we cannot take any credit even for the choice of believing…because He chose us and not based on anything we did or didn’t do in our past.

But alas, before we get too smug or self-secure, we must take into account these additional Biblical principles regarding our role in the faith…

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. (John 14:23-24)

And probably the scariest scripture that should keep our views on “cheap grace” in check is in Hebrews…

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)

So, based on all of this scripture, my considered answer to my friend’s question on whether I lost my salvation or not is…

I DON’T THINK ANYONE KNOWS BUT GOD.  It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks. It is God’s to judge based on His perfection and almighty will. I can only trust and believe in what He has revealed to me up until now.

While we have so many assurances that faith is enough for salvation, not works, the historical Bible keeps us in check when it comes to judging one’s salvation.  While it says “by their fruits you shall know them”, it also says His grace is sufficient and that nothing can separate us from His love.

But then again, it says if we continued to live in deliberate sin, we will pay the penalty, and “God will be our judge”. Do we really want to take a chance of losing God’s grace by deliberately living in sin? Do you think sin no longer has a penalty? Do you buy into cheap grace or do you believe we are to be “slaves to Christ” because we were bought with the price of His shed blood on the cross?

It is always tempting to take one or two verses from the Bible and build our own theology, but on this and many other subjects, I believe God does not reveal everything to us at any given time. We must continue in faith growing in the knowledge and wisdom only God provides. We are not to be judged by others…only by our own conscience and a Holy God.

My new simple response to people who question their own salvation or relationship with God is…”close your eyes and try to pray”. Do you sense God’s spiritual presence?  Do any sins, anger or bitterness cloud any good sense of God’s presence? If so, I suggest you stay bowed and humble before God and ask Him to reveal Himself once more and to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness through the atonement of the shed blood of Christ for your sins. This is the only way I know towards a new beginning and connection to God’s Spirit.

As for the experiential aspects as I lived them, I can honestly say that I was never fearful of death or misfortune during my “dark decades”. I also never felt like I fit into the worldly activities and relationships I chose to pursue these past decades. Even though I was questioning and mad at God, I always had the feeling of purpose for everything that happened, good or bad. To that end, I might suggest that even with my attempts at being a successful prodigal/Secular Humanist…I now see there was always a kernel of God’s grace and knowledge somewhere deep in my being.

I know this comes off arrogant to people outside of faith, but based on the Bible and what I have always felt, I have been lucky in this life to be called and protected by God…even from the beginning of time. I don’t know why God chose me, and I know I can take no credit for His love and grace towards me. All I can do is live the rest of my days nurturing the faith He restored in me and to live grateful for the spiritual relationships he put into my life that have continually challenged me to seek truth and justice.

I don’t think I lost God’s salvation or forgiveness…even while I was choosing sin over serving Him. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, God never disowned me just because I was angry and wanted to leave. He knew what He wanted me to know and allowed me to learn. He knows how He is going to use it…I am not sure at all.

I do understand the principle that “to whom much is given, much is required”. I would also suggest that who has been forgiven much loves more in return. Those who smugly believe they are good and have nothing to be forgiven or humble about are the truly lost ones of this world with no understanding of the holiness and perfection of God versus fallen man. We should be working out our “own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phillipians 2:12).

My prayer is that we would be sure of our salvation based on faith, grace, and the word of God. May we not live disobedient lives to test the grace and mercy of Almighty God with willful sinning. Even if we don’t completely lose our salvation based on the promises of God, we cannot escape the cause and effect of sinning against God in our lives. If we love Him, we will obey Him. If we disobey, we will pay a price even if it is only the darkness and hopelessness of living in the flesh against the Spirit.

More than ever, it is time to grow beyond salvation’s grace, and fully plug into and accept the gift of God’s love and forgiveness that can restore you to full fellowship with God…and His imperfect church. If we are plugged into the perfect eternal God through His spirit, we will have no doubts regarding our salvation and we will not be relying on “perfect Christians” to fellowship with.  Instead, we will be living daily in the love and forgiveness God has gifted us through His expensive and expansive grace and mercy.

Jesus paid it all…unto Him I owe…everything!