When preaching on against the idea of losing your salvation in Christ, John MacArthur would say, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.” What a simple and yet true statement. If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ as Savior, you know there is nothing you did or could have done to be saved. Your salvation was completely up to God. Since you were not saved by your own strength, abilities, or works, it is obvious that you can’t remain saved by your own efforts. God is responsible for saving you and keeping you saved from now throughout eternity.
Now, with human reason out of the way, let me show you the evidence from Scripture.
You belong to God and nobody can take you away from Him:
Read these verses and take note of how God protects you.
And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up on the last day. (Jn 6:39)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (Jn 10:27-29)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)
These verses show the following points. You belong to Jesus and He will not lose you (Jn 6:39), He will not allow you to be condemned (Jn 10:28a) and nobody can snatch you away from Him (Jn 10:28b). Jesus gives you eternal life and promises that you will never perish (Jn 10:27-28a) and that He will raise you up (save you) on the last day (Jn 6:39). The Father is the Greatest of all and nobody can snatch you away from Him (Jn 1:29). Nothing in all creation (physical and spiritual realm) can separate you from God’s love (Rom 8:38-39).
Salvation is a gift from God that comes with a guarantee from God:
Read these verses and take note of how God guarantees your gift of salvation.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8)
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:13-14)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30)
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (2 Cor 1:21-22)
Your salvation is a gift (Eph 2:8) and that comes with guarantees. Those guarantees come by the promise of God and Him placing His seal on you. A seal from a king in ancient times meant that the decree sealed by the royal seal could not be broken by anybody. God who is the greatest and strongest Being in all creation has placed a seal of salvation over you. His seal cannot be broken by anybody or anything. The Father has placed His Seal on you which is the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). God’s Seal on you guarantees you are in Christ (2 Cor 1:21-22), guarantees your inheritance in Heaven until you actually receive it (Eph 1:13-14), and guarantees your redemption (Eph 4:30).
God keeps you saved by His power:
Read these verses and take note of how God keeps you saved by His power.
He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pe 1:4-5)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy (Jude 1:24)
I give thanks to my God … who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:4-9)
Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25 – NASB)
God Himself guards you with His infinite power for salvation so you do not lose it (1 Pe 1:5). He keeps you from stumbling spiritually (Jude 1:24) and sustains you to the end (1 Cor 1:4) so you are guiltless (1 Cor 1:4) and blameless (Jude 1:24) before Jesus and the Father.
Think about it
You cannot lose your salvation because you belong to God and nobody and nothing can take you away from Him; and because your salvation is a gift that He guarantees with the Seal of the Holy Spirit; and because He is the One guarding you, keeping you from stumbling, and sustaining you to the end of your life so you are guiltless and blameless before God.
“If you could lose your salvation, you would.” When you first hear that quote, does it feel discouraging or liberating? Do you agree with it?
Examine your life – daily thoughts, actions, and shortcomings. Does you life confirm the idea that keeping your salvation is entirely out of your own hands?
Why do you think people struggle with the idea of a gift we cannot lose? Why is our default setting to feel like we have to “earn” or “maintain” our standing with God?
In John 6:39, Jesus says it is the Father’s will that He should “lose nothing.” If a true believer were to lose their salvation, what would that say about Jesus’ ability to fulfill the Father’s will?
In John 10:27-29, Jesus says no one can snatch us out of His or the Father’s hand. Do you think you can snatch yourself out of His hand or wiggle out?
Romans 8:38-39 shows nothing in all creation can separate you from God’s love. Do you think your own failures can separate you from God?
Does knowing your salvation is secure in Christ change your motivation to obey God? (Do we obey out of fear of losing your salvation, or out of gratitude for what He’s done?)
How does the truth that “God is responsible for saving you and keeping you saved” comfort you when you are going through a time of spiritual dryness, doubt, or trial?
Do you think that not being able to lose your salvation (having “eternal security”) means you can live a sinful life as you want to live? Why or why not? Do you think a ‘true believer’ would live an intentionally sinful life knowing they won’t be condemned? Why or why not?
