Jesus suffered a cruel and unimaginable death to pay for our sins and offer us the gift of salvation and eternal life. In response, we can receive His gift, live for Him, and tell everyone about the salvation He offers.
Salvation is an incredible gift from God, but is it truly free? Do we have to do anything to ensure we keep our salvation? Once we receive Jesus’ gift, can we lose our salvation if we sin too much or fail to complete enough good works?
4 Reasons We Can Be Secure in Our Salvation
Christians have long debated whether a believer can lose their salvation because of sin, but the Bible is clear that God’s gift of salvation for those who trust in Him is a steadfast promise and not something that can be lost. God’s free gift of salvation endures forever. The Bible gives us 4 specific reasons why Christians cannot lose their salvation:
- Christians cannot lose their salvation because it is exclusively based on Christ’s work.
“…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” —Titus 3:5
As the Son of God, Jesus did not need any help from people to complete His earthly ministry or accomplish His work on the cross. He is the only one who can defeat sin and death and offer salvation. His sacrifice was all-sufficient, and nothing needed to be added to it.
Trying to add good works to Jesus’ sacrifice or implying that certain sins could negate His gift of salvation would be saying His sacrifice was insufficient. Our guarantee of salvation is solely based on Christ’s work on the cross, not on anything we do.
2. Christians cannot lose their salvation because it is not a reward for good works but a gift based on Christ’s work.
“For 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.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
Our best works would never be enough to earn or keep our salvation. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all the good things we do are like filthy rags compared to Jesus’ perfection.
If our salvation could be earned or kept based on our good works, how would we ever know what would be enough? It would be an endless pursuit. If we could earn our salvation through our good works, it would negate the significance of what Christ did for us. We cannot lose our salvation because it is a gift and promise that endures for eternity.
3. Christians cannot lose their salvation because the Holy Spirit seals them.
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…” —Ephesians 1:13
The same power that rose Jesus from the dead and defeated sin and death lives in us, providing the security of our salvation. Paul says in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who guides us and lives within us as a witness that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit never leaves us. We inevitably fail to listen to the Holy Spirit at times and sin, but He’s still there to convict, guide, intercede, and offer us renewed fellowship with God.
4. Christians cannot lose their salvation because God keeps His promises.
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” —John 10:28
The Bible is clear that salvation is found in Jesus, and those who genuinely receive Him as their Lord and Savior have eternal life. Jesus promises that no one will ever snatch His believers out of His hand. We are secure in Him.
How Eternal Security Impacts the Way We Live
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38-39
Eternal security frees you from worrying about whether you’ve done enough. Your sins are forgiven, and your position as a child of God is secure the moment you place your faith in Jesus. This means you do not have to fear the eternal consequence of your sins because Jesus already took the punishment for them.
Once you place your faith in Jesus, nothing can change your status as a child of God. Your relationship with Christ is everlasting, and your eternal destiny is secure. This knowledge allows you to focus on growing your relationship with Christ instead of keeping a list of things to do to maintain your salvation status.
Eternal security means we are free to follow Christ, obey Him, and deepen our relationship with Him. As our relationship with Christ matures, we will sin less and become more obedient to Him.
How to Respond When We Sin
Living in fear that sin could rob us of our salvation leads to a strained relationship with God and cheapens the significance of all Christ accomplished on the cross.
Even as Christians, we will still battle our sinful nature and give into temptation. Instead of being gripped by fear when we sin, we can run to God for compassion, forgiveness, and restoration. We will feel God’s loving discipline when we sin, but it is intended to bring us to repentance and draw us back to Him. Discipline helps us live lives that increasingly reflect Jesus.
In Romans 7, Paul grapples with the tension between his sinful nature and his desire to live for Christ. He expresses frustration at how he sometimes gives into sin but concludes in Romans 8:1 that “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” If we sincerely ask for forgiveness when we sin, we do not have to fear condemnation.
The Role of Good Works
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” —Ephesians 2:10
As we grow in spiritual maturity and draw closer to God, the way we live and the things we do will naturally reflect Him. If your faith is actively growing, you will naturally do good deeds out of the overflow of your love for God. However, those good works are not the substance of your salvation. Your service to the Lord and others demonstrates what God is doing in your heart, but only Jesus’ work on the cross offers salvation and eternity in heaven.
Takeaway
The thought of losing your salvation is unsettling, but you can be confident that Jesus’ sacrifice completely covers your sin. To receive His gift of salvation, He asks that you admit that you are a sinner, believe that He died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and confess Him as your Savior.
God promises that your eternal destiny will be secure once you trust Him. Nothing can separate you from Him. These promises give you the confidence to live boldly for Christ. You become an attractive witness who can draw others to Christ when you are filled with such security, confidence, and joy.