Tag: Eternal Security

Losing My Religion

Revelation 3:1-6 delivers a stark warning to the church in Sardis. Though they had a reputation for being alive, they were spiritually dead. Jesus exhorts them to wake up, strengthen what remains, and repent—or risk losing what little they have left. This passage, among others, raises an age-old question: Can salvation be lost? Christians have debated this for centuries, and while it isn’t an essential issue of faith, understanding it can shape how we live as followers of Christ.

The two most common views on this issue are Eternal Security and Conditional Security.

Eternal Security teaches that once someone is truly saved, their salvation is secure forever. Proponents point to John 10:28-29 (“no one will snatch them out of my hand”) and Romans 8:38-39 (“nothing can separate us from the love of God”) as proof that God’s promises cannot be thwarted. The strength of this view lies in its confidence in God’s faithfulness. However, it struggles to reconcile the many warnings in Scripture about falling away (James 1:13-15, Hebrews 6:4-6, Revelation 3:5). Critics argue it can lead to complacency, downplaying human responsibility in maintaining faith.

Conditional Security, on the other hand, emphasizes the believer’s responsibility to continue in faith. This view teaches that salvation can be lost if the believer does not work to maintain good standing in their relationship with Christ. This view cites passages like Hebrews 10:26-27 and 2 Peter 2:20-22. Its strength lies in its recognition of free will and the relational nature of salvation. However, it can create anxiety for believers, leaving them unsure of their standing with God and overly focused on their performance rather than His grace.

Where do I land? Somewhere in between. I believe salvation cannot be stolen or accidentally lost, as Eternal Security affirms, but I also see the clear biblical teaching that believers can willfully reject God. I have labelled my view Covenantal Security.

Covenantal Security holds that salvation is relational and covenantal, much like a marriage. God is absolutely faithful and keeps His promises, but He chooses not to override our will. If we choose to break the covenant, He honours that choice. Ephesians 1:13 describes believers as being “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This seal is not like a bank vault that locks down its contents, but rather like the seal on an envelope, signalling that the contents are under the ownership and protection of the seal-er, Christ in this case. Yet such a seal, by nature, can indeed be broken—but not by accident, and not by external forces. Only the one sealed can choose to break it, and only then through deliberate rejection. This view balances the assurance of Eternal Security with the accountability of Conditional Security. It also explains why Scripture warns us so seriously about falling away while also offering immense assurance to those who abide in Christ (John 15:4-6).

Both Eternal Security and Conditional Security, while helpful frameworks, fall short of fully integrating the breadth of biblical teaching. Eternal Security rightly emphasizes God’s sovereignty but tends to neglect the relational, covenantal nature of salvation. Conditional Security captures the importance of human responsibility but can err toward insecurity and legalism. Covenantal Security bridges this divide, affirming God’s faithfulness and our free will without falling into extremes.

Ultimately, the message to Sardis reminds us that salvation is not static. It is not a one-time transaction but an ongoing relationship. Jesus calls the church to wake up and repent, showing that even those who are on the brink of losing everything can return to Him. This isn’t about living in fear but about taking seriously the incredible gift we’ve been given. Love requires both assurance and responsibility, and salvation is the ultimate expression of love.

Whatever view you hold—Eternal Security, Conditional Security, perhaps I have won you to Covenantal Security, or maybe you land somewhere in between these options—let’s agree on this: salvation is God’s work, and He invites us to participate in it. Let’s encourage each other to remain steadfast, abiding in the love and grace of the One who is faithful to the end.

Perseverance of the Saints: A Redefinition

There are few questions in the Christian life more significant than that of salvation: How secure is it? Is salvation something that can be lost, or is it a permanent state once we come to faith? This question touches on core aspects of how we understand God’s love, our responsibility, and the very nature of grace. The Bible seems to offer both the assurance of salvation and the call to persevere — two realities that we must hold in tension.

1. Security in Christ: A Precious Assurance

Throughout the New Testament, we find comforting passages that speak of the security we have in Christ. Verses like John 10:28-29, where Jesus declares that no one will snatch His sheep from His hand, or Romans 8:38-39, which assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, offer believers a profound sense of peace. These Scriptures reveal God’s sovereign protection over those who belong to Him. Just as a shepherd guards his sheep from predators, God watches over His flock with unfailing care.

Yet, in these same texts, the language emphasizes God’s protection against external forces. There is no mention of what happens if a person chooses to walk away. As comforting as these verses are, they do not paint the entire picture of salvation security. Scripture never suggests that God overrides our will or that we lose our agency once we are saved.

2. The Call to Persevere: Warnings Against Falling Away

In contrast to the promises of security, other Scriptures issue strong warnings to believers about the dangers of falling away from faith. Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of those who “have tasted the heavenly gift” and “shared in the Holy Spirit,” yet later “fall away.” The passage implies that a genuine experience of God can be abandoned, resulting in the tragic loss of salvation.

Similarly, Colossians 1:22-23 reminds us that Christ’s reconciliation is for those who “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast.” This conditional statement implies that perseverance is required for salvation to be ultimately secured. In Matthew 24:13, Jesus Himself says that “the one who endures to the end will be saved,” pointing again to the importance of ongoing faithfulness.

3. Balancing Grace and Responsibility

How, then, do we reconcile these two threads — the assurance of salvation and the warnings about falling away? The Bible teaches both. God’s grace is powerful, and His protection is complete. Yet, the same Bible calls us to take responsibility for our ongoing faith and walk with Him.

This tension can be best understood through the lens of covenant relationship. God’s grace initiates and sustains our relationship with Him, but like any relationship, it requires response and faithfulness. God will never abandon His covenant with us, but Scripture warns that it is possible for us to abandon the covenant ourselves through disobedience, willful sin, or neglect.

To clarify, this does not mean that every momentary struggle or doubt puts our salvation at risk. God’s grace is far greater than our weaknesses. The Bible affirms that believers will struggle and stumble, but this is vastly different from a willful, persistent turning away from Christ. The Perseverance of the Saints, as many theologians describe it, suggests that true believers will continue in their faith precisely because God is at work within them.

4. What Does This Mean for Us Today?

The practical implications are profound. If you have trusted in Christ for your salvation, you can have confidence that God holds you in His hands. You are secure, not because of your own efforts, but because of His grace and power. No external force can snatch you away from Him.

At the same time, the Bible calls you to remain faithful. Salvation is not a ticket to complacency but an invitation into a living, active relationship with the God of the universe. Faith is dynamic, not static. It grows through obedience, prayer, fellowship, and immersion in God’s Word.

Take comfort in knowing that God is at work within you, both to will and to act according to His purpose (Philippians 2:13). Yet, also take seriously the call to persevere, to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), trusting that God will supply the strength you need.

5. Conclusion: A Promise and a Warning

The good news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, and held secure in Christ. However, the Bible is equally clear that perseverance is required. The evidence of true faith is a life of ongoing trust and obedience. Those who truly belong to Christ will demonstrate this by continuing in their faith — not because of their own strength, but because God empowers them to do so.

In a world full of distractions and temptations, may we heed the call to remain faithful, knowing that our salvation is secure in Him — but also recognizing that our faith is meant to be lived out daily in dependence on His grace.