So is it. Possible to lose your salvation. Or is it true that if you get saved
at some point in your life, you're always saved? This question can cause a lot of stress
because what if we really mess up? Can we sin so badly
that we lose our salvation? There seems to be a lot of disagreement
on this question, so I'd like to add to the discussion. By sharing seven thoughts
that, number one. Someone is saved because of their faith,
not their good works. Ephesians chapter two, verses
eight and nine four By grace you have been saved through faith
and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast. In this passage, Paul talks
to the church of Ephesus and he tells them that they are saved through faith,
not their works or good deeds. So I need to make this clear. What determines
someone's salvation is the fact of whether or not they have faith in Jesus
and his death for their sins. And like Paul said earlier,
a person cannot earn their salvation by filling their life
with a bunch of works or good deeds. Otherwise, people could. Be capable of boasting. That, number two,
Saving faith must have works. James Chapter two, verse 26 four
As the Body Without the Spirit is dead. So Faith Without Works is dead. Also in this passage,
James tells Christians that in the same way,
a body without the spirit is dead. Faith is also dead
if it does not have works. James, earlier in the passage, explains
how belief in God isn't enough because even demons believe in God
but are doomed for hell. And then James wraps up
the thought by explaining that faith must have good works. Otherwise faith is. Dead. Now, while this thought may seem
contradictory to thought, number one. It's not. Some people may think that faith and works
equals salvation, but in actuality it's faith alone
that saves people. And this faith is proved true
or made real by works. According to the Bible,
there is a difference between belief and faith and were saved through faith as seen
in Ephesians chapter two, verse eight. And at the same time,
if there's no works but only belief. Faith is dead
because demons. Also believe. Thankfully, though,
we have Hebrews Chapter 11, verse one, that gives us the definition of faith,
and it reads Faith is the confidence that what we hope for
will actually happen. It gives us assurance. About things we cannot see. And the definition for faith
that I've come up with from this passage is this faith is firm belief that results. And confident action. Because if you continue to read Hebrews
11, you'll find that people's belief always led them to do something. So let me try to bridge the divide
between faith alone saves and faith. What that works is dead. And here it is. A saving faith works. And that's it. Are we saved by the works
that come out of our life? No. But when a person understands
that Jesus loves them. That person will want to love him back. And that love looks like. Obeying his. Commandments. As seen in John chapter 14, verse 15,
which reads, If you love me, obey my commandments,
not number three. Grace should not be abused. ROMANS Chapter six versus one or two. What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin? That grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we? Who died to sin live any longer in it? In this passage, Paul
essentially is asking, Should we just sin? Because if we're saved by grace,
then does it matter what we do? Any response to that thought by saying no, If we're dead to sin,
why should we continue sinning? So here's the issue. Some people in the past have abused God's
grace, and this is what it looks like. Take Billy here, for example, and he
thinks, Hmm, I'm not saved based on works. I'm saved based on my faith in God. So I can sin right now
and ask for forgiveness later. Because at the end of the day,
no one's perfect. And my salvation isn't based on what I do,
so who cares? Now, while
many of us may not have verbalized these exact thoughts, some of us can live
like we believe It's true. And this thinking would put us in
dangerous territory because I would argue that if someone were to truly
think about Jesus, about his beatings, his lashings, his piercings, his agony,
his suffering, his cries and his death, I would argue
that someone who truly understands what Jesus did for them
would always try to get up. Despite their many failures
and try to fight against sin. As opposed to someone
looking at Jesus's sacrifice and saying, Oh, Jesus will forgive me,
and then dive right into sin for this person who is abusing
God's precious grace. I would probably make the assertion. That they do not have saving faith. Not number four. Someone can know they're saved. First, John, Chapter five, verse 13. These things I have written to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know
that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe
in the name. Of the Son of God. In this passage, John tells the Church
that the reason why he writes to them is so that they would believe in Jesus
and that they may know that they have eternal life and
so that they would continue to believe. And the key word here is no. And the observation I'll make
is that someone can know for sure. Whether or not they have eternal life. So for Christians, it shouldn't
be a guessing game of whether or not they're saved through
their personal relationship with God. Christians can know for sure if they are
saved, and this will lead to a. Godly peace that. Can look death in the. Eyes and smile. Because they know where they're going. Once they breathe their last breath. That number five. Nothing can separate God's children
from God's love. ROMANS Chapter eight versus 38 to 39. And I'm convinced that nothing
can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life,
neither angels and demons. Neither are fears for today
nor worries about tomorrow. Not even the powers of hell
can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth
below. Indeed, nothing in all creation
will ever be able to separate us. From the love of God that is revealed
in Christ Jesus, our Lord. In this passage,
Paul tells fellow Christians that nothing can ever separate them
from God's love, and this would include their own shortcomings and failures
when it comes to send. Because if their sin could separate them from God,
then this passage would be inaccurate. It's important to note, though,
that the book of Romans was written to Christians. So what Paul was effectively communicating
was this believers who have faith in Christ
and are justified in Christ. Nothing could separate them. From God's love. Not number six. Some people look like they have faith,
but don't have. Faith. First, John, Chapter
two versus 18 to 19 little children. It is the last hour and as you have heard,
that the Antichrist is coming even now, many Antichrist have come by
which we know that it is the last hour. They went out. From us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us,
they would have continued with us. But they went out. That they might be made manifest,
that none of them were of us. John here is explaining
that there are many Antichrist or people opposed to Christ that are present and
that they came out from among Christians but were never really Christian. And if they really were Christians. They would have continued in their faith. In the Christian walk. There's a lot of people who talk the talk
and can't. Even walk the walk
but were never truly saved. Judas Iscariot was one of these people. He was one of the 12 disciples
who served people and worked miracles. But he betrayed Jesus for money. And might I mention. That no one suspected him
until after Jesus's arrest. So for people who look at believers who left the faith, I would say that
there's probably two possibilities. Either they're like the prodigal son
and God is allowing them to make bad. Decisions
and is waiting for them to return to him. Or they never truly had faith and like Judas faked it and thought, Number seven, lives
should be examined for true faith. Second Corinthians Chapter 13, Verse five Examine yourselves
as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves
that Jesus Christ is in you. Unless indeed you are disqualified? In this passage, Paul commands
the Corinthian Church to examine or test their life. To see if they are actually in the faith. And this is something
every believer should do regularly. Why? Because we're sinners. And we should pay close attention
to passages like Matthew 721 to 23, where Jesus says,
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord. Shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
but He who. Does the will of. My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many
wonders in your name, and then I will. Declare to them,
I never knew you depart from me. You who practice lawlessness. So all that to say. If we're really Christian, we should really examine our lives
and ask ourselves questions like. Do I really have faith? And does Jesus really know me? And I'm not saying this to freak you out,
but to encourage you to know for sure. Whether you truly have saving faith. So for someone who asks the question,
can someone lose their salvation? My answer is this. If someone is truly a child of God
who is saved by faith, nothing can separate them from God's love. Therefore.
They cannot lose their salvation. But they should always examine their faith
until the day they die and. Are reunited with Jesus. Okay. Also, here's all the points that we shared in the video
so that you can see them all in one place. And I hope you remember today. Jesus loves you.
