Let Me Tell You What God Says...

   I have been thinking and praying on this for over two weeks now. I have debated on whether to even approach this topic because it is a cause of borderline arguments among denominations. God has continued to deal with me about it and I feel compelled to explain to you and show you scripture what God says about "losing" your salvation.
   No one has ever asked me personally "show me scriptures to back up your doctrine. Tell me what God says". Honestly, I don't think anyone would let me get it all out without arguing. I know, I was one of those people. This is a chance for God to speak through me without interruption. An opportunity for God to get HIS Word in without pause. I want to come at this from a Q&A angle. I grew up believing once saved always saved and now from studying the Word I believe Truth and I'm secure in that.


First let me say this... we don't actually believe you can loose it as in misplace it, the better word is forfeit it.

So then you believe that you are saved through works?
   No. The Bible is very clear that we aren't save through works but by the grace of God through faith in the Work that only Jesus could do. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8 & 9.

   There is a difference between obtaining salvation and maintaining salvation. Neither of these can we do apart from God. I can not live the life of a sold-out Christian completely devoted to God and His Kingdom without HIM. The Bible does says over and over again that we must "continue" "maintain" or "abound" in good works and "endure" to enter Heaven (Mark 13:13, John 8:31-35, Romans 11:21-23, Titus 3:3-11). The Bible also says, how can we escape hell if we "neglect" our salvation (Hebrews 2:2-3) and that if we overcome (you can't overcome something until that something is over, and in this case... human life) that we will be rewarded with Heaven (Revelation 2:7 & 3:5).

Hypothetically, you have a bout of road rage and curse the other drivers and then get in an accident and die... you are saying you'll go to hell?

   Nope. There is a difference between committing a sin and sinning (living in sin). Sinners can not enter heaven (Revelation 27:21, Matthew 7:21, II Peter 1:1-11) and a sinner by definition is "one that sins" (merriam-webster.com). That is in a present continuous sense. Sinning comes from an unrepentant heart. If I were to smoke a cigarette, that won't "send me to hell" but if I do not repent of that sin and turn away from it, it could (not necessarily will) lead me to start drinking which could lead to fornication and presently/continuously doing that is living in sin and will merit hell.

But the Bible says "no man can pluck me from the Father's hand" (John 10:28-29)

   That is truth. No man can remove us from God and likewise God can not/will not remove us. He will never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). BUT, God is a gentle God and He holds us in His hand, not a clenched fist. Just like God didn't snatch us up in the first place, we freely walked into His open hand and we can freely walk out of it. Free will works both ways. If we have free will to come to Him, we also have free will to leave Him. Why any would want to is beyond me, but if once we are saved we are always saved then that does away with free will and that makes God a liar and a liar He is not.

Aren't you scared you won't make it to heaven?

   Are you? I'm secure in my salvation that if I obey what the Bible says about continuing in the faith, maintaining my salvation and abounding in "good works" I'm promised Heaven. I am aware that if I were to fall back into sin there is nothing God can do for me except offer forgiveness and restoration just like someone coming to Him for the first time. Again, God is not unfair. He will take me back any time I ask Him.

   There are so many misconceptions about exactly HOW we believe and after hearing the comment made " I don't want to be living scared 'If I die right now will I go to heaven or hell. Oh I just don't know' " God started working on me to not keep quiet. I felt it was said in a mocking way and it saddened me that this person and so many others actually don't know "we" don't live with that fear. I pray this is met with an open mind and not shouts of "you're wrong" without actually looking into the Bible. This change that I made was not instant. God started bringing people into my life at the age of 16 to share with me this truth and it wasn't until I was 23 that I finally allowed GOD to show me what He says not what man says He says.

   I'm not saying if you believe "once saved always saved" you are going to hell, I'm saying if you believe that and still live as worldly as the worst sinner than you might want to check with God on that point. If you are saved by grace believing in what Jesus did on the cross than you are saved! 

   The moment ANYONE asks for forgiveness and repents they are immediately saved. 
 Romans 10:9&10 says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." It's how you live after that that matters just as much as believing.