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Paul Smithson
Many believe and teach that once and individual is saved he
cannot be lost. However, the Scriptures clearly teach that a
child of God can forfeit his salvation and be eternally lost.
Many passages speak of the conditional nature of our future
salvation. The apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth
of the gospel by which they were saved "if " they held fast to
the word which was preached to them (1Cor. 15:2). The word "if"
places a condition on salvation for the child of God. To the
children of God in Galatia Paul wrote, "And let us not grow
weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do
not lose heart" (Gal. 6:9). The word "if" here implies if we as
children of God do lose heart we will not reap the reward. The
writer of Hebrews declared we are of Christ's household "if we
hold fast our confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto
the end" (Heb. 3:6). Why do the Scriptures make these
conditional statements about salvation if once we are saved we
cannot be lost?
The Scriptures point out the conditional nature of our
future salvation by giving solemn warnings against apostasy
(falling away as to be lost). The apostle Paul in warning the
Corinthians against apostasy realized he too could fall away and
be lost. He said "But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified." (1Cor. 9:27).
Certainly, if there was a possibility for the apostle Paul
to be rejected, then we too could be. Right after that statement
he used the example of the Israelites who fell from God's favor
by their disobedience and were not permitted to enter the
promised land. Paul's conclusion was, "Therefore let him who
thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1Cor. 10:12). The
Hebrew writer declared, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise
being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem
to come short of if" (Heb. 4:1). These are solemn warnings
against falling away and being lost. Why give the warnings if
once one is saved he is always saved?
The Scriptures also speak of examples of those who did fall
away. Among some who became Christians at the preaching of
Philip was a man by the name of Simon. When he later became
covetous of the apostles' power, Peter told him, "Thy money
perish with thee...for thy heart is not right in the sight of
God...I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in
the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:12-24). Paul wrote to some who
had at one time been faithful, but now had turned back to
Judaism. He said "You have become estranged from Christ...you
have fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4)
These are but a few of the many passages where the
Scriptures plainly teach that salvation is conditional based
upon our faithful obedience. Only if we are faithful unto death
will we receive a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
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