The Premise of Salvation Undone

***Note: The idea of "losing one's salvation" often causes a stir, and rightly so as such is impossible in light of the eternal security of Jesus' own (John 10:28; 2 Cor. 1:22). I clarify in the article that a more appropriate phrase is to "reject salvation." However, in my experience those who swiftly object to the idea of rejecting salvation are frequently a bit insecure concerning their own state of salvation and are quite reluctant to admit such. I find that when challenged even lightly such persons are quick to recite the "once saved always saved" mantra which, while basically true, does more harm than good as it unfortunately promotes a loose view of God's grace that results in loose living, intentional or not.

...The apostle Paul admonishes us: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Cor. 13:5) These words are meant to challenge individuals who may be convincing even themselves that they are Christ's own because they adopt new and better behaviors, begin going to church, and simply believe that God exists and have no quarrel with the apostles' doctrine or the Bible overall- but even the demons believe, and tremble (James 2:19).

...Clearly, being saved is more than just believing there is a God and striving to be a good person, for there is no one who is righteous of themselves (Romans 3:10). One who receives the Gift of Salvation from Christ will determinedly and joyfully take up one's own cross of discipleship and pursue Him wherever He leads, they do not suddenly rest on their laurels or pursue the American dream instead (Matt. 10:38). We are never promised an easy or peaceful life on earth once we become a follower of Christ, though we are surely promised life and life abundantly accompanied by a deep-set joy that we are no longer of this world as our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Yet it is this very "life and life abundant" that so many people mistake for the corrupt ideals of prosperity gospels that assert any type of suffering as entirely unnecessary for the Christian, which counters the very words of Scripture:

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us..." (Romans 8:18)

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." (2 Cor. 1:5)

 ...Admittedly, the circumstance of someone rejecting salvation after accepting it is undoubtedly rare but, as you will see, did (can) occur. Rather, most who seem to be faithful Christians that "backslide" into oblivion and/or decide to vehemently reject Christian truth and unashamedly proclaim disbelief or anger toward God were likely never actually saved but had intellectually assumed they were (for various reasons) and/or had undergone a prior emotional experience but failed to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ unto true salvation (2 Peter 3:18).

...My purpose and prayer is for this article to challenge the reader to examine their faith and any personal claim to be a follower of Jesus. Does your discipleship evoke the biblical model of wholehearted love and devotion to Christ, or does it closer resemble the halfhearted pretenses of nominally self-centered ideals of Christianity? Those of us who are truly saved can forever rest in our eternal assurance in that Jesus Christ is truly God in our lives. For those who are uncomfortable reading the truths herein, perhaps repentance is all that stands between you and true love for Christ.

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Within my areas of influence I have encountered the inquiry concerning whether or not one can "lose their Salvation." In September 1999 I delivered a message at Woodland UMC entitled Saved... Or Not? I received numerous positive responses from those who had pondered the subject yet had never found (or thought to search out) a satisfactory disclosure. This in itself is disheartening, for it does not reveal a healthy study ethic of those individuals professing to be Christians, not to mention a lack of even the serious desire to study at all (2 Tim. 2:15). How can one profess to having a relationship with Christ, when they do not know His Word? For the Word was made flesh in Christ Himself, thus to know One is to know the Other. Yet such logic is ever undermined as Christians the world over fight unnecessary battles due to improperly balanced spirituality, i.e. intimacy with Jesus Christ.

...Initially, one must realize that the phrase "to lose one's Salvation" is flawed. One cannot lose such in the same way one would misplace a garment or something else of value to their person. And the Gift of Salvation is an eternal situation that eternally shifted the paradigm of existence for all. However, the key to understanding the premise of Salvation undone is simply this: Salvation can be rejected. 

...As with anything, especially that which is freely offered, rejection is a result of human choice. Furthermore, rejection can either avoid acceptance outright or it may follow initial acceptance; hence, one who has accepted Christ's free Gift of Atonement can later choose to reject it, and such rejection may occur through blatant verbal or mental attestation or through more subtle avenues of compromised lifestyles in that our actions may undo our intentions and confessions toward being a true believer. This is why intimacy with Christ must be pursued, achieved, and ever increased. There are some who experience the acceptance of Salvation only to fail in their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This failure results in unfulfillment, disappointment, dissidence, cynicism, and ultimately despair and/or rejection of one's (possible) Salvation, by word or deed(s). The condition of the heart determines where we stand with Almighty God, and, of course, only God can ultimately judge our heart's standing.

...Proverbs 21:16 states, "A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead...," i.e. hell. See also James 5:19-20. In order to wander from the truth one must first walk in truth. The context of truth here is expressed as "the way of understanding," understood as the way of Salvation. In the parable of the faithful steward (Luke 12:41-48), the antithesis to the point of the parable rests in the actions of the unfaithful steward who wanders from the way of understanding by partaking of illicit behavior in his master's absence, thereby undermining his master's trust and reserving unto himself judgment as a result of rejecting his master's good will. As Christians, we must realize that our Master is never away. We cannot afford to assume that we have ample time until He returns, or that He will look blindly upon our "humanity" as we take advantage of His grace. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus speaks of those who follow Him only for the benefit of Salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, riding His coat tails so to speak. Such persons begin their relationship with Christ legitimately enough, but a lack of commitment eventually reveals itself, going from hot to cold repeatedly in their desire to serve the Lord, and unless they genuinely repent unto true Salvation, Jesus will say to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me..."

...Neglecting study of God's Word, prayer with Him, praise and worship of Him, and forsaking fellowship with other Christians will cause one to (even unintentionally) wander from the True Path. Spiritual idleness (laziness) renders one's spirit exposed to devouring darkness, often resulting in one falling victim again to worldliness. 2 Peter 2:20-21 is a warning to those who take their Salvation and faith lightly, stating that if "after they have escaped the pollutions of this world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, 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."

Crucifying Christ Again

...The writer of Hebrews, in exhorting the need for spiritual maturity, clarifies that such maturity is necessary in order to avoid the tragic decision to "crucify Christ again" by way of apostate responses to persecution, as this particular epistle was written during a time when the Church found itself heavily and horrifically persecuted. Many new converts were denying Christ to save their own lives, and for a believer to recant his/her faith in Christ under threat of death meant that he/she actually loved their life and momentary comfort more than their Lord. Even when this is not the intention, it ultimately is the reality. To choose simple existence instead of faithfulness to Christ strikes a devastating blow to the Church and exposes the recanter as a charlatan.

...The essence of one's faith rests in the maturity of one's faith at the moment it is truly and sorely tested. And this principle is expressed in Hebrews 6:4-6, one of the harshest texts in Scripture:  

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame."

...God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, in fact, His desire is for the wicked to turn from their doomed way so that they may live (Ezekiel 18:23). Yet the Lord God is just and "when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?" (Ezekiel 18:24-25) The reverse of this, a turning away (repentance) from unrighteousness, will result in no less than the Lord God's saving grace and forgiveness, whereupon the surety of Salvation brings forth a fount of joy to the new or restored believer!

...It is only when the backsliding believer fails to repent, ignores conviction, and tramples on that saving grace continually that the heart inclines not unto God, but unto self, thus culminating in a rejection of the Salvation freely offered by Jesus Christ. This of course muddies the claim of "once saved, always saved," rendering it a nefarious example of truthful ambiguity that the enemy uses to ensnare those who practice spiritual idleness and laziness, hearkening unto facades and intentions rather than unto the true spiritual disciplines of study, supplication, and application toward loving obedience to Jesus Christ.