Part II - Satan's final trick...

Welcome back!  Last week I discussed Satan's tricks and deception and focused on my belief that the Rapture will not occur until after the Tribulation, meaning Christians will not be taken up beforehand, but will have to endure it like everyone else.

On the surface, this may just seem like an unfavorable circumstance and that the outcome will still be the same, but I fear there is another issue to address to ensure you are ready, should I be correct.

Today's discussion is on whether you can lose your salvation.  I've had many discussions on this topic before, and I'd like to first just clear the air on some of the arguments I have been presented.


1) It is a gift, you can't earn it or lose it.  You can only accept it, therefore you can do nothing to lose it.

Yes it is a gift.  But, I don't totally agree with the "earn it" statement.  I agree you cannot earn it by doing good deeds, donating money, or working in a ministry.  None of those things will grant you salvation.  But that statement has morphed into something akin to "you don't have to do anything for salvation".  Totally untrue.  You do have to do something.  You have to believe that Christ is your Savior.  You have to have faith that His death paid for your sins.  You have to accept that gift.  And we know full well you can deny this gift.  You can refuse to accept Christ as your savior.  Why do we draw the line there and refuse to believe you can give the gift back?  Why do we refuse to believe you can lose faith?

2) It diminishes God's power/sovereignty if you can lose your salvation.

Not in the remoteness is that true.  Why would turning your back on Christ diminish his power any more than you denying him in the first place?  From the beginning of all time, God has known your path.  Whether that path would be full belief and salvation, full denial and damnation, or wishy-washy flopping back and forth.  He knows already.   He's not going to make you love Him and he's not going make you stay faithful to Him.  It is your choice He has given to you to make.

3) Well, then those people didn't really have faith to begin with.

This one drives me the most crazy.  I tell people this answer.  Never try to see into someone else's heart.  Only Jesus can do that and it is a poor defense to claim someone's faith or belief wasn't real to begin with in order to try and protect yourself.  It can happen, see Matthew 13;21 - the parable of the seeds. "they quickly fall away."

Now that I've commented on some of those arguments, let's look at the root of Salvation.  There are two distinct verses that set the ground work of establishing what you must do.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)  (underlined for emphasis).

Acts 16:31 - "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (NIV) (underlined for emphasis)

I feel belief and faith go hand in hand regarding salvation.  Both verses clearly state believing in Christ is the foundation.  The Greek translation of  'believe' is 'pisteuo', which means to commit to and trust.  Faith is commonly and frequently used to describe one's internal dedication to that belief that Christ is your Savior.  The Greek for 'faith' is 'pistus', which means to have conviction towards God and his truth.

The two words are not interchangeable and I will concede that faith is not a synonym for salvation.  However, I will not concede that the loss of faith is completely separated from your salvation.

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV) 

Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

So how does this all play into my opinion that one can lose their salvation?

In the previous blog you learned I believe Christians will endure the Tribulation which means we will go through the most horrific events the earth has ever, or will ever experience.  We know that Satan will not stop trying to deceive us until his final defeat.  He will try to do everything in his power to sway us into not believing Christ is the Savior.  In the last blog I also asked what the mindset of people might be who have waited to be Raptured, yet suddenly find that didn't happen.  They could feel betrayed, confused, lost and afraid.  And who is going to be there filling their minds with answers?  Satan.  And Jesus strictly warns of this in Matthew 24:4, "Watch out that no one deceives you."

Why do I believe one can lose their faith and thus their salvation?  Below are some verses that have led me to this belief.  Each one is just a portion, but the reference is there for you to look up the whole verse and read for yourself.

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life
Matthew 10:22 - but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved
Matthew 12:31 - blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Matthew 13:21 - When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away
Mark 3:29 - whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.
2 Peter 3:17 - be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
Revelation 13:10 - This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people
Matthew 24:10 - many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other
Matthew 24:13 - but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved
Matthew 24:22 - If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Here's the tie between the two points.  If (I'm still letting you doubt...) the Christians are not raptured before the tribulation, then all of Revelation and Matthew 24 is referencing the 'already' Christians and it is clear that some will fall from the faith.  It is clear that sins against the Spirit are not forgiven.  And it is clear that 'standing firm' is a requirement, not a suggestion.

Let's wrap this up and I pray you seriously consider what I've laid before you. If this does nothing else for you but strengthen your resolve to remain faithful to Christ, then it has accomplished its purpose.  If you get nothing out of this except a memory that comes to you during the Tribulation and you remain faithful, then it has accomplished its purpose.  And if I'm wrong about these things, then I will gladly concede my ignorance as we make our way to the Lord!

Peace and Love,
Rob
www.starvt.com