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Can
A Child of God Sin
So As To Be Eternally Lost?
"What does the Scripture say?" (Romans 5:3)
Is it possible for one who has been “born again“ (saved) to lose his
salvation? Many in the religious world would have us to believe that one
who is “truly saved” cannot sin so as to be eternally lost. Some would
say that "once a person is saved, he is always saved." But that which we
all ought to be interested in is what the Bible, the word of God, says
about this matter. “What does the Scripture say?" (Romans 4:3).
Consider the following passages:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- In running the “race” to “obtain” the
“imperishable crown” of heaven, Paul “disciplined” his body “lest,” he
said, “when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified.” Though an apostle, Paul knew it was yet possible for him
to lose his crown.
Colossians 1:21-23 -- Paul told the Christians at Colossae that
Christ would present them “holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in
His sight” “if” they continued in the faith and
were “not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” Their salvation
remained conditional.
Ephesians 5:3-7 -- Paul wrote to some whom he described as being
“saints,” “chosen” in Christ, and “predestined... to adoption as sons”
(1:1-5). They had been redeemed through the blood of Christ (1:7). They
were saved. Yet he warned these same people against “fornication and all
uncleanness or covetousness,” reminding them that “no fornicator,
unclean person, nor covetous man... has any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and God.” If it were not possible for one to lose his
inheritance, why then the warning?
Hebrews 6:4-6 -- “Brethren” in Christ were warned that those who
were “once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have
become partakers of the Holy Spirit” could reach a point to where, if
they fell away, it would be “impossible” “to renew them again to
repentance.” They could be lost. (See also Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:26-31.)
2 Peter 2:1, 18-22 -- Peter wrote of some who, though they had
been “bought” by the Lord, were behaving in such a manner that “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.”
When a baptized believer sins, he must confess such to God and “repent”
(turn from) his sin (Acts 8:9-13, 18-24; 1 John 1:8-10). Yes, a child of
God can sin so as to be eternally lost. It is a serious matter.
--Mike Noble
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