Getting Closer to Jesus: Once you have committed your life to Jesus Christ, can you ever lose your salvation? For hundreds of years, very smart people have debated that question—with great and convincing arguments on both sides of the equation. That said, I am not going to resolve the question in this blog—I am not even going to try.
With absolute certainly, however, I can say this: If—and “if” is what is in question, so it is a very big “if”—if a Christian can lose their salvation, then to somehow manage to lose it would have to be the most difficult achievement in entire universe. Why? Because, according to John 10:28, Jesus is the one who gave you your salvation, and according to his own words, once he has given it, you will never perish. Furthermore, he said that no one can snatch you away from him. That is because, according to John 10:29, the Father is the one who gave you to Jesus. Now, since no one and nothing is more powerful than God—not by miles, not even close—tell me, who is going to pry you and your salvation from the grip of God’s unrelenting grace?
Now that is security!
I love how other New Testament writers got in on the discussion about your salvation. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6,
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Now that is some security you got there!
And what about Jude? Here is what he said about the matter as he closed out his letter,
“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. (Jude 1:24)
You see, if your salvation were all up to you, you would have good reason to be insecure about it. But your salvation is riding on some pretty big shoulders. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are at work right now to perfect what they have begun in you, and will exert the full power of their Divine Being to bring your eternal life to completion. Yes, as much as that seems impossible right now, one day, you will stand without a single fault because a joyful Trinity—they will make sure of it.
Now that is security!
I love the story of the flea that was riding on an elephant’s ear when they came to an old wooden bridge. And as they crossed the bridge, it wobbled badly and almost collapsed. When they got to the other side, the flea said to the elephant, “Phew, we sure shook that bridge, didn’t we!”
No, “we” didn’t! The truth is, you and I have crossed over the bridge of faith, riding on Someone else’s efforts. And as long as we put the emphasis on our role in both prompting and preserving our salvation, we will be eternally insecure. But when we lean into—or more appropriately, lean on the unassailable efforts of Jesus to save us—and keep us saved—we will live with unshakeable confidence in the God who saves.
Now that is some security!
Take the Next Step : In light of all that God has done to save you, and all that he is doing to keep you saved, doesn’t that make you want to offer yourself to him in even greater consecration? Perhaps you ought to tell him that.
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