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Can a Christian lose his salvation?

Q&A

Can a Christian lose his salvation?

Bible Q&A

Your Bible question was:
>>I have a question about Hebrews 6:4-6. This scripture would lead me to believe that one can loose their salvation. What is your take on this? We really would like some insight.<<

You have correctly understood your reading of God's word. Hebrews 6:4-6 does indeed describe the apostasy of the child of God. While many people teach that a Christian cannot so sin as to lose his salvation, the Bible (free from the creeds and confessions of faith which men have written) presents a very different picture.

That a Christian can turn from God and be eternally lost does not indict the love or sovereignty of God. Instead, it exemplifies the freewill which God placed within us all, and the fact that we "reap what we sow" (Gal. 6:7).

Following is material from the BIBLE ANSWERS web site which may be of help as you study God's word on this subject:
http://www.bibleanswer.com/apostasy.htm

Christians can live in confidence of their salvation (1 Jn. 5:13; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). However, this does not mean that the Christian has a license to sin without punishment (Rom. 6:1-2, 23). Christians are called to diligent watchfulness to avoid falling away from God (Heb. 3:12-13). Christians can fall away from grace (Gal. 5:4).

Apostasy literally means "a standing away," hence the concept of "falling away." It is "an abandoning of what one believed in, as a faith, etc." (Webster).

Since so many religious people have been persuaded that it is impossible for the Christian to so sin as to lose his salvation, we offer Bible facts which refute this doctrine of men.

THE POSSIBILITY OF APOSTASY
-Righteous can turn away from righteousness & die - Ezekiel 18:24.
-One who has believed can fall away - Luke 8:13.
-Christian severed from Christ - fallen away from grace - Galatians 5:2-4.
-An enlightened one can fall away & be unreachable - Hebrews 6:4-6.
See: 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; James 5:19-20)

EXAMPLES OF APOSTASY OF GOD'S PEOPLE
-Israel - Exodus 24:7; 32:7-8; Jeremiah 3:6-14 ("backsliding Israel").
-Simon Peter - Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; Galatians 2:11-14.
-Simon - Acts 8:12-13, 18-24.
-Fornicator in Corinthian church - 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.
-Hymenaeus and Alexander - 1 Timothy 1:18-20.
-Laodiceans - Revelation 3:15-19.

CAUSES OF APOSTASY
-Times of temptation - Luke 8:13.
-Worldliness - Luke 8:14; James 4:4; 2 Timothy 4:10.
-False doctrine - Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 6:3-5.
-Seeking justification by the O. T. law of Moses - Galatians 5:4.
-Hardened hearts against God's revealed will - Hebrews 3:12-13.

THE PREVENTION OF APOSTASY
-Spiritual growth to maturity - 1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 1:5-11.
-Don't love the world / Seek heavenly things-1 Jn. 2:15-17; Col. 3:1-3.
-Live in the doctrine of Christ - 2 John 9; 1 Timothy 6:3; 1:3.
-Know that salvation is only in Christ - Galatians 2:16; Acts 4:12.
-Do not harden your heart against God's will - Hebrews 3:7-8.

THE CHRISTIAN'S REMEDY FOR APOSTASY
-Repent of your sin - Acts 8:22; 17:30.
-Confess your sin to God - 1 John 1:9.
-Pray to God for His forgiveness - Acts 8:22.
-Conversion - James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1; Revelation 2:5.

If you have any further questions after you have studied this material, or I
can help you with other Bible matters, please do not hesitate to write back.

May God bless you with the courage of faith to follow the Bible in all
things.

Cordially yours,
Joe Price

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Joe R Price
joe@bibleanswer.com

Bible Answers
http://www.bibleanswer.com

Mt. Baker church of Christ
http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
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