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Is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation?
by
Fred Melchiorre
In Ephesians Chapter One, Paul clearly establishes a case for the
eternal security and everlasting hope of salvation for the one, who in
their heart, believes in Christ as the Messiah and the only Son of the
living God. Through the clear power of the Third Person of the Holy
Trinity, that being the Holy Spirit, Paul states to the believer, "In
him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy
Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire
possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Read the following chapter
of Scripture to enhance understanding for the context of Paul's inspired
teaching:
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who
are also faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before
him. 5 He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious
grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace 8 which he lavished upon us. 9 For
he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his
will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan
for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven
and things on earth. 11 In him, according to the purpose of him who
accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 we who
first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the
praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, who have heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were
sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 which is the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his
glory. 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the
Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to
give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of
wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of
your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he
has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the
saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who
believe
In reading and studying this chapter of Ephesians, the believer's hope,
stability of mind, confidence, and faith is strengthened and
regenerated. Notice the authority of Paul being an Apostle of Jesus
through the will of God Himself. Paul, through a divine vision from the
Lord Christ, holds authority through Christ to teach and proclaim the
inspired Word of God. In the text it states, in verse 4, that, "He chose
us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
blameless before Him." The only way a person on Earth can be holy and
blameless in the sight of God is through God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9),
His gift of salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus. In Romans
it is said that one who confesses with his lips that Jesus is Lord, and
believes in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, that person
shall be made holy, blameless, sanctified, redeemed and saved from the
punishment of sin and the ultimate wrath of the Living God. In verse 5
of Ephesians the text states that, "He destined us in love to be His
sons." We have eternal confidence of having been adopted by God through
the blood of His only begotten Son; adopted into the family of God with
all confidence and blessings in this life and in our ultimate home,
Heaven, as Paul describes in verse 3.
According to verses 7, 8, and 9, it is the will of God to secure the
promised salvation of His people. The believer is physically and
spiritually incapable of changing his or her position in Christ, for how
can a mere man or woman change the predestined will of God? Not even
Pharaoh (The Book of Exodus) or the great kings of the Ancient World
could change the will and plan of God, for no man possess the wisdom of
God. His purpose was made known through the redemptive work of Christ
the Son. Why would God send His only Son to a world, ravaged in sin and
corruption, only to renege on His own promises. Salvation was acquired
through a heavy and brutal price. This act cannot be wasted. God is
faithful in all promises to man.
Verses 13 and 14 it says, "In Him you also, who have heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were
sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his
glory." To be sealed through the Holy Spirit is to be authenticated. In
times of the Bible, sealed meant to be made valid and effective by
marking one's signature upon that person or action. Christ marks the
believer with the fire and conviction of the Spirit, which is God living
in us. Evidence of this is found in the Book of Revelation, where the
believer, marked with the seal of the Spirit, is raptured into Heaven
before the great wrath of God is revealed through the seal, trumpet, and
bowl judgments upon the Earth. There is no mention of the Church being
upon the Earth after Chapter 4 of that book of the Bible. Consequently,
unbelievers need to receive a seal during this Great Tribulation to be
saved from the violence of the Anti-Christ and to be conformed to his
system. That infamous number of a man is the seal 666. These people will
be possessed by Satan and not by the Holy Spirit, thus forever sealing
their souls to Hell. Scripture is clear that unbelievers are sealed to
doom, eternal death and the judgment of God. Even though God predestined
us, He created man with a will of his own. A will of belief, faith and
obedience to His word and commands acknowledges his divine work in us.
Why can't we comprehend, then, that the believer is forever possessed by
God? The answer is spiritual warfare. Satan, wants more than anything,
to hear and to see believers doubt their eternal security. It is another
tactic for him to use in order to cause further division within the
church. The spiritual battle has raged on through the history of the
world, starting with the fall in the garden. Look at all the
denominations there are as a result of divisions within the body of
Christ, the bride of Christ, that being the Church.
John, the beloved Apostle of Christ, states in his gospel starting in
verse 25, "Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The
works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; 26 but you
do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them
out of my hand. 29 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. Jesus
also says in John 14, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God,
believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were
not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3
And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will
take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Our salvation is not complete. We are still occupying the domain of
flesh. We will, at times, disobey God's commands, and sin because we
choose to live fighting the Holy Spirit. The fight will go on until our
physical bodies die. But then Christ will perfect us in His Spirit. The
baggage of our flesh will no longer hinder our relationship with Christ.
Again, the battle wages and we must live with an open heart for the
Spirit to work within us. Christ motivates the believer to live in
obedience. Eternal security in salvation does not cause the believer to
live any way he or she wishes. The believer produces evidence of
salvation through fruits of the Spirit. In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us
to, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against
flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers,
against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins
with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and
having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16
besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench
all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18
Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Hear the voice of Jesus. Believe in Christ, not the corruption of the
world system. Be sealed with the Holy Spirit and not the seal of the
flesh. Follow the Good Shepherd, the Christ. Let the hand of Christ and
the arms of His Father eternally bless and comfort your soul through the
sealing of His Holy Spirit.
Bible Verses used from
Bible.com
www.bibleontheweb.com
About the Author:
Fred Melchiorre teaches US History and has written many
articles related to current world events, Bible Prophecy and New
Testament Theology.
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