Perseverance of the Saints
Can true believers lose their salvation?
Many believers wonder whether a true saint can ever lose his or her salvation. One popular phrase tossed about in such discussions is "eternal security." In order to arrive at a sound position we need to reflect not only on the "yea" or "nay" of the question, but to ponder it in a biblical manner. Strictly speaking, no true believer can ever lose their salvation, but we must approach it as the biblical writers did. We prefer the phrase perseverance of the saints.
The Bible presents salvation as a complete package, with the emphasis on God's role in bringing and securing salvation for His people:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified" (Rom. 8:28-30).
Those elected to salvation will certainly come to Him, and God will never cast them out (John 6:37). They are given the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13-14), and throughout life these saints through the power of the Spirit are putting to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13). While believers never do this perfectly (see separate article on sanctification), they do progressively grow in Christ looking forward to the time they will be fully transformed into His image (1 John 3:2). In the words of Louis Berkhof:
". . .they whom God has regenerated and effectually called to a state of grace, can neither totally nor finally fall away from that state, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved."
The following passages provide clear and incontrovertable evidence that all believers do persevere until the end:
- 1 Pet 1:5
- 2 Tim. 1:12
- Phil. 1:6
- John 10:27-29
- Rom. 8:38-39
- 1 Cor. 1:8-9
- Heb. 7:25
- 1 Cor. 3:15
Some passages warn believers to continue in the faith, such as Col. 1:22-23, but the point is all true believers will continue in the faith, and where true faith and perseverance is lacking there is no salvation. The person in question may have made a profession of faith, but only a false one. They never possessed true salvation.
Other passages seem to imply the possibility of a child of God losing salvation. Objectors to eternal security cite passages such as Heb. 6:4-6:
"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt."
The writer identifies two classes of people here, those who continue in the faith and those who fall away. We need to remember that Judas Iscariot performed the deeds of a disciple and probably miracles as well, but was certainly not a believer. Looking at the context going back to chapter 5:11, many in the congregation refused to grow in the faith, so the leaders simply taught over and over again the basics (6:1-2). The writer of Hebrews responds that it is simply impossibly to save such people by repeating the same truths, teaching the same basic doctrines, and never moving beyond this. The reason is quite clear: some in the audience cannot grow because they do not belong to the faith. The writer goes on to say he is persuaded of better things of the true believers (6:9).
Other passages that fall in the same class include 1 Tim. 1:19, 2 Tim. 4:10, and 2 Pet. 2:20-22. Such verses do not teach a true child of God, regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit, can ever lose their salvation.
Summary
Those God calls to salvation will, to one degree or another, grow in their faith throughout their life. Where faith is lacking, we may conclude that salvation does not exist. God deals with His true children as a faithful parent would. If a child strays for a season, the faithful parent applies discipline or chastisement (see Heb. 12:5-11). In some extreme circumstances, God may even take a sinning child home to heaven early (1 Cor. 11:30-32). In most cases, the Christian does respond to God and grows in grace and knowledge throughout his or her life (2 Pet. 3:18).
Warnings found in Scripture to continue in the faith do not contradict the general truth that all true believers do persevere, but simply direct the believer to continue in the faith as a demonstration of true faith.
Christians can never finally fall away from the faith, though they can and do stray. God will hold them up, keep them through the power of faith, and not allow them to wander out of His hand. Some, however, never had saving faith. Jesus tells of a time when many will appeal to Him, declaring they did many good works in His name. Jesus, however, will reply He never knew them (Matt. 7:21-23).