Once Saved Always Saved???

[willychuck]

Ditto BEP

                    

Remember what Mary said after Elizabeth and her greeted one another?

"My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior..."

I am so blessed in your reply.  My heart can hardly contain it.  My.  God is so good!!!!!!!!


Thanks
your brother in Christ,
Bill

[nChrist]

Brother Bill,

This is a part of the joy that we share as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I'm thinking about many portions in the Holy Bible that either begin or end with "that your joy might be more full." This pertains to right now, even in this short life. It is my opinion that GOD wants us to have 100% assurance of Salvation so that we can live more victorious lives in JESUS. The key to everything is IN JESUS because "IN JESUS" means that the victory is already won.

Brother, it isn't just you or I, it's JESUS CHRIST. If our "JOY IS FULL IN JESUS CHRIST, that JOY is forever. There are many other beautiful examples to think about often and KNOW beyond any doubt. As another example, our STRENGTH is in JESUS - not ourselves. I'm thinking right now about those portions that begin or end with "that your joy might be more full", and it's a beautiful way to end the day. It's also a good way to begin each day - GIVING THANKS!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Matthew 25:35-40  NASB  'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

[ibTina]

"Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written:  "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  Yet in all these thing we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angles nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:35-39

[Brother Jerry]

AMEN Len and to all AMEN and Praise Jesus.

I am glad this is a forum....here it is 1am Sat Night...finished my lesson for tomorrow I read the great words spoken on this thread and darned near shouted it out...would have woke the house.  typy real fast to get it out

[doc]

Christian Greetings all,

This is, far and above, the most sound commentary on this controversial passage i have ever seen.

Armininists, will say "once lost, always lost !”

Calvinist's will say they were never saved in the first place - they were just "tasters" - see**

As usual, the truth lies in between.

Most importantly, however is the recognition that this is not about salvation, it is about repentance !

Expositors Bible Commentary - Leon Morris, Principal, Ridley College, Melbourne

 The writer proceeds to underline the seriousness of apostasy from the Christian faith and, indeed, of any failure to make progress. He does this by pointing to the impossibility of making a second beginning. It is impossible for a Christian to stand still. He either progresses in the faith or slips back. And slipping back is serious; it can mean cutting oneself off from the blessings God offers. The writer is not questioning the perseverance of the saints. As he has done before, he is insisting that only those who continue in the Christian way are the saints.

4 "For" (gar, omitted in NIV) indicates the reasonableness of what follows: Had they really fallen away, there would be no point in talking to them. Some see in the reference to being "enlightened" a glance at baptism, for this verb was often used of baptism in the second century. But it is not attested as early as this, and so it is better to interpret the term in the light of the general usage whereby those admitted to the Christian faith are brought to that light that is "the light of the world" (John 8:12; cf. 2Cor 4:6; 2 Peter 1:19). To abandon the gospel would be to sin against the light they had received.
    "The heavenly gift" is not closely defined. Some interpret it as the holy communion, though there seems little reason for this. It would fit well with the verb "tasted," but this verb can be used metaphorically; so the point proves little. The word "gift" (dorea) points to freeness but could be used of any one of a variety of gifts. The thought is of God's good gift and we cannot be more precise than this. The Holy Spirit is active among all believers and for that matter to some extent beyond the church, in his work of "common grace." It is clear that some activity of the Spirit is in mind. Yet once more our author does not define it closely.

5 The people in question have "tasted* the goodness of the word of God." While some limit this to the gospel, there seems to be no need and no point in doing this. Any word that God has spoken is a good gift to men, and those the writer has in mind here have come to hear something of God's word to men. They have also experienced something of "the powers of the coming age." The age to come is normally the Messianic Age, and the thought is that powers proper to the coming Messianic Age are in some sense realized now for God's people. "Powers" indicates that that age puts at men's disposal powers they do not have of themselves.   **(DCW note - “Tasted” is used of Jesus in Heb 2:9  =  “truly experienced”  - no Calvinist commentary will make this connection)

6 "If they fall away" means "fall away from Christianity." The verb parapipto is found only here in the NT, and its meaning is clear. The writer is envisaging people who have been numbered among the followers of Christ but now leave that company. Such cannot be brought back to repentance. Notice that he does not say "cannot be forgiven" or "cannot be restored to salvation" or the like. It is repentance that is in mind, and the writer says that it is impossible for these people to repent. This might mean that the repentance that involves leaving a whole way of life to embrace the Christian way is unique. In the nature of the case, it cannot be repeated. There is no putting the clock back. But it seems more likely that the reference is to a repentance that means leaving the backsliding into which the person has fallen. He cannot bring himself to this repentance. The marginal reading "while they are crucifying the Son of God" is attractive, but in the end it really amounts to a truism and scarcely seems adequate. The tense, however, does convey the idea of a continuing attitude.
    It is probable that we should take the verb rendered "are crucifying ... all over again" (anastaurountas) simply as "crucifying." Elsewhere it seems always to have this meaning. The author is saying that those who deny Christ in this way are really taking their stand among those who crucified Jesus. In heart and mind they make themselves one with those who put him to death on the cross at Calvary. Heautois ("to themselves"; NIV, "to their loss") points to this inward attitude. The final words of v. 6 stress what this attitude means.
    There has been much discussion of the significance of this passage. Some think that the author is speaking about genuine Christians who fall away and that he denies that they may ever come back. This view sets the writer of the epistle in contradiction with other NT writers for whom it is clear that the perseverance of the saints is something that comes from God and not from their own best efforts (e.g., John 6:37; 10:27-29). Others think that the case is purely hypothetical. Because the writer does not say that this has ever happened, they infer that it never could really happen and that to put it this way makes the warning more impressive. But unless the writer is speaking of something that could really happen, it is not a warning about anything. Granted, he does not say that anyone has apostatized in this way, nevertheless, he surely means that someone could, and he does not want his readers to do so. A third possibility is that the writer is talking about what looks very much like the real thing but lacks something. The case of Simon Magus springs to mind. He is said to have believed, to have been baptized, and to have continued with Philip (Acts 8:13). Presumably he shared in the laying on of hands and the gift given by it. Yet after all this Peter could say to him, "Your heart is not right before God....you are full of bitterness and captive to sin" (Acts 8:21-23). The writer is saying that when people have entered into the Christian experience far enough to know what it is all about and have then turned away, then, as far as they themselves are concerned, they are crucifying Christ. In that state they cannot repent.


*footnote  6   In the verb anastauro÷ (anastauroo) the prefix ana (ana) is usually taken in the sense of "up," "to lift up on a cross." In other compounds ana sometimes signifies "again," and this is why some take the verb here to mean recrucify. But as this sense is not attested elsewhere it seems better to take it as "crucify."

[Brother Jerry]

Doc

I find that some interesting reading.  But I do not know if I fully accept what it is saying. 

I know it is not talking about salvation so let me get that out of the way

But it only referring to repentance is something that I just do not see in those verses.  First let me ensure that what you quoted is referring to repentance as I know it (cause sometimes definitions can be different).

I see repentance as being remorseful of actions, in this case sins.  It is a changing of one's mind in that they would turn from that sin nature and turn towards God.  This also includes a continued effort to stay the course towards God and not that sin nature.

If this be same definition that the author is speaking of, or you are referring too then I would have to say that is incorrect.  I was saved when I was 18 years old.  When I was in my early 30's I fell into deep sin.  Lost my house and nearly lost my family due to gambling.  I knew what I was doing to myself, to my family, and most importantly I knew what I was doing to Jesus.  It mattered to me, but Satan had put me in front of everything, and I knew the I could get me and my family out of this mess, I got us into it and I could get us out (note that is what I was thinking...not what I truly knew).

By the author and the gist of what I think you were saying

when people have entered into the Christian experience far enough to know what it is all about and have then turned away, then, as far as they themselves are concerned, they are crucifying Christ. In that state they cannot repent.

If those that have been in the Christian experience turn away (commit sin and live a sinful life) then they are crucifying Christ.  I agree with that.  When we sin we may as well drive the nails in a little deeper.  In that state they cannot repent (cannot be regretful of their sin, turn from that sin and turn back towards God).  That is the part I disagree with.  If that were the case then no one would ever be repentive, because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  Even those who are saved.  We should try and live a sin free life that is true.  But it is not possible and so we must be continually repentive of our actions and always look to God.

If committing sin or living in a sin nature means you cannot be repent from that sin, then I am a walking contradiction.  Besides my run with gambling which the Lord broke me of there have been other times I have sinned.  And the Lord lets me know and I turn my heart back to Him.  So I really do not believe that these verses deal with repentance because I personally have been repentive many times over. 

[Len]

Yeah, I gotta go with Bro. Jerry on this. That is my understanding as well. I think it is possible to commit a sin, repent, commit it again, repent and be in a vicious cycle. That is what I understand to be the sin that leads unto death, be it drugs, alcohol, pornography or some other sexual sin, lying, stealing, or murder. Even Paul addressed this issue, I believe in Romans 7 (I don't have my Sword with me right now). Hopefully, we can, at some point, grow to where we are totally leaning on Him, totally focused on Him, totally devoted to Him and no longer have need of repentance. I think that is where Bro. Jerry has found himself (Praise God Almighty for His faithfulness).

I think a believer (Christian) can have an area in his/her life that has not been relinquished totally to Christ for disposition and satan has a foothold. That person can be demonically oppressed (note: not "possessed") and he/she is ineffective in the service of His Kingdom. This is why we should allow ourselves to be held accountable to a brother/sister. This will provide a means of running off that ol' demon and hopefully result in spiritual growth.

I don't know what Bro. Jerry's testimony is in detail but I would imagine a sweet brother in Christ was there to help him along. One of God's gifts to us is each other.

[Soldier4Christ]

One of God's gifts to us is each other.

Amen!



Jam 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jam 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jam 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.



Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

[doc]

BJ,

"If committing sin or living in a sin nature means you cannot be repent from that sin, then I am a walking contradiction."

What Leon is saying is that if your frame of mind does not care if you repent or not - you are enjoying your sin and have hardened your heart to the call of God - you cannot repent - you have no interest in repenting.

The verse says "If they shall fall away, (it is impossoble) to renew them again unto repentance..."

Question folks,

Who brought you to repentance in the first place?  Your folks? Your pastor?  Your wife or husband?

I suggest it is none of the above.  They may have helped, but only He who truly knows your heart can prompt you to repent - sincerely - of all your sin.  Only He knows when you have properly cleaned your house of sin.  Jesus brought you to repentance in the first place - and IF you fall, He will do it again.  It is impossible for me, or any of the above mention folks to do it if you don't desire a clean heart again.  You may even resist Him like you did at first - many have and still do.

The "taster" issue is paramount.  Geuomai is used 3 times in this great book - same author, same word - same meaning.  Jesus did not simply sample death - He really died - (for us all, PTL?)  Those fallen folks were really saved.

I will state that OSOS is a destructive doctrine - not supported by scripture when context is considered - and provides a false sense of security for lip professing folks    It is the primary reason why a lifestyle of true holiness is ignored by many Christians.

[Len]

Do I understand you, doc, that you think salvation can be lost? If you do, my friend, please review Scripture. Christ Himself said that we can never be plucked from the hand of God. Was He lying or mistaken? If He was either, then Christ is not God, His Word is a lie, and you and I are wasting our time talkling about all of this.

Holy Scripture is replete with the assurance of salvation. Christ said we can know that we have eternal life. If we can lose our salvation, how can we know we have eternal life?

[doc]

Ken,

These are verses I apply to the assurance of salvation we all enjoy - simply by avoiding the bad decisions referred to herein.


Col 1:21-23
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard."   Some Calvinists change “if indeed” to “since” here to preserve 5 point Calvinism.  The Koine does not allow for this spin.

Matt 24:12-13
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”   Yes, Ken, I believe “once saved, always saved, but you have to stay saved !”

Heb 10:36-39
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while,  And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.  Now the just shall live by faith;  But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”    To draw back in Koine means "to reduce sai"l - sometimes to the point of loss of forward motion.  Green says “the Christian life is like riding a bicycle, if you stop pedaling, you fall off.”

2 Peter 2:18-21
“For when they* speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.   For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."

I see no reason to limit the application of this verse to *false teachers - it applies to us all.  Do we truly know the way of righteousness?  Have we escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  Have we actually escaped from those who live in error?  Well Ken, what happens if we tire of these victories and go back to our old ways?  God will accept our repentance from our fallen position - He forgives all sin if He sees sincerity in our hearts.  We will be reinstated just like Peter was.  This is what the Holy Spirit  is trying to communicate to us thru the Hebrew writer.

These are but a few examples of the Biblical fact that our salvation is conditional upon our abiding in Him and remaining faithful and obedient as long as we breathe. Most every time there is an "if" in Scripture it states a condition for the object.

As far as snatching is concerned:"... I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.   My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."  John 10:28-29  NKJV - I agree Ken, we are protected from all outside influences when we are truly dedicated to loving and following Jesus.  But please notice above the choices we all continue to make re:following Him !  We can always jump out of His hand if we choose to be so foolish.  Christians do it all the time.

[Len]

Ken,

These are verses I apply to the assurance of salvation we all enjoy - simply by avoiding the bad decisions referred to herein.


Col 1:21-23
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard."   Some Calvinists change “if indeed” to “since” here to preserve 5 point Calvinism.  The Koine does not allow for this spin.

Matt 24:12-13
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”   Yes, Ken, I believe “once saved, always saved, but you have to stay saved !”

Heb 10:36-39
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while,  And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.  Now the just shall live by faith;  But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”    To draw back in Koine means "to reduce sai"l - sometimes to the point of loss of forward motion.  Green says “the Christian life is like riding a bicycle, if you stop pedaling, you fall off.”

2 Peter 2:18-21
“For when they* speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.   For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."

I see no reason to limit the application of this verse to *false teachers - it applies to us all.  Do we truly know the way of righteousness?  Have we escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  Have we actually escaped from those who live in error?  Well Ken, what happens if we tire of these victories and go back to our old ways?  God will accept our repentance from our fallen position - He forgives all sin if He sees sincerity in our hearts.  We will be reinstated just like Peter was.  This is what the Holy Spirit  is trying to communicate to us thru the Hebrew writer.

These are but a few examples of the Biblical fact that our salvation is conditional upon our abiding in Him and remaining faithful and obedient as long as we breathe. Most every time there is an "if" in Scripture it states a condition for the object.

As far as snatching is concerned:"... I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.   My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."  John 10:28-29  NKJV - I agree Ken, we are protected from all outside influences when we are truly dedicated to loving and following Jesus.  But please notice above the choices we all continue to make re:following Him !  We can always jump out of His hand if we choose to be so foolish.  Christians do it all the time.

Colossians 1 O.G., is "if indeed you continue in the faith having been founded and steadfast..." We are not likely to continue in any faith if we are not founded and steadfast, no? You kinda have the cart before the horse in your interpretation.

In Matthew, Christ is speaking of a result of salvation, not a cause.

In Hebrews, He is talking about the Heavenly reward to be received at the Bema. O.G. says "recompense". Salvation is not recompense. Reward at the Bema is recompense for good works done in His power and name. God is indeed not pleased by us if we shrink back from His will as believers. But we do not lose our salvation due to not doing good works. We lose reward at the Bema. You should have started at least at verse 35 which says, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."

2 Peter is talking about those who have heard the plan of salvation but reject it for themselves. Those people are never saved if they don't change their minds.   

Now, I would refer you to

Romans 8:1,2. "There is therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death."
When we are saved, we no longer are under the law but under grace.

Romans 8:38 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I am in creation. My works...good, bad, and indifferent...are in creation, all things afre in creation. Yet none can separate me from His love.
 

John10:28,29 This one you seem to want to ignore at face value.

Ephesians 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
Our good works do not lead to salvation. As far as salvation, they are as filthy rags.(Is. 64:5,6) They only lead to reward as mentioned in Hebrews 10:35.

2 Corinthians 1:21,22 "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ ands anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge".
If we are sealed but can lose our salvation, the seal is not a seal. Are you saying the seal is not really a seal?

These are just a very few that come to the mind of a lay person. I am not a pastor. I am no Bible scholar. I have no degree in theoology. I am just a working stiff who is in the trades. But I know that when God says something, i can lay my life in it and rest secured in the knowledge that He backs his word with action, and always to my joy and celebration.


I would appreciate anyone else's help on this. Feel free to jump in anytime. I knwo there are countless verses that show clearly that once salvation is ours, it never is lost and never has to be gained again.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Len,

Yes there are many verses that establish the eternal security of Salvation. I'll point out some of those that pertain to this subject in a minute. First I would like to quote an unknown person on this very subject that is a favorite of mine.

If salvation can be lost, then one does not claim "salvation" - they can only claim "probation."

Mat 15:13  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

One of my favorites on this subject is the parable of the sower. (Mat 13 ). If Salvation is not founded in good soil then it will not have good roots and will soon fail. We see this also with the story of the foolish man that built his house on the sand. (Mat 7 )

Salvation that is in truth built on and in Jesus Christ will stand through all sorts of trials and tribulations.

When Jesus makes us a promise He does not go back on that promise:

Joh 10:26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

:And I give unto them eternal life", that is eternal, forever, not temporary. Throughout Scripture it is taught that we shall have everlasting Life and Eternal Life if we are Born-Again. Note that Everlasting and Eternal mean the same thing.


Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We are sealed, that is a promise not an if or a maybe and we are sealed until the redemption of the purchased possession.

Phi 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We have the promise that He will continue the work in us that He has begun and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

If we can lose our salvation because we fail in our walk with the Lord by committing a sin then we are saying that salvation is based on works. To say that we must do good works in order to maintain salvation is to say that His works on the cross were not complete.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,


I KNOW whom I have believed....and I TRUST that HE IS ABLE to deliver that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

[doc]

Len (sorry about the k) and PR,

Colossians 1 O.G., is "if indeed you continue in the faith having been founded and steadfast..." We are not likely to continue in any faith if we are not founded and steadfast, no? You kinda have the cart before the horse in your interpretation.

Where did the “having been” come from Len?  I can't find that reading in any version I have.  It is not in any Koine Greek mss. either.  It seems to me to be editorialized by the same kind of folks that say “since” instead of “if indeed” in this same verse.  OSAS is so powerful a desire in mankind that many assurance verses have to be adjusted to comply with this misinterpretation of Scripture.   (What is O.G., Len?)

The issue of continuing to be faithful after our salvation is demonstrated in Romans - in a good translation - where Paul says: “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  Romans 7:25-8:2  NKJV

As condemnation is the opposite of justification, we can see what Paul is trying to say here.  Any true Christian who intentionally and habitually turns his back on Christ and chooses to “walk in his flesh” jeopardizes his justification.  Now, because God is our only judge, He knows how long and how much of this behavior one must commit to before he has changed his destination.  The contrast between life and death (Spirit/flesh  - Law of God/Law of sin) is unmistakable here.  Paul is not talking of initial decisions here, he is addressing our post-salvation life styles.

Flesh or Spirit walking is a day to day choice all Christians must make.  As we mature as born again Christians God desires we progress in our sanctification - become more holy - more set apart for His work.  Grow up in Him.  The Hebrew  writer says: “... we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”    Hebrews 5:11- 14 NKJV

By the way, we do not “loose our salvation” as if we lost a coin thru a hole in our pocket - we decidedly give it away by turning around again (reconvert) - turning our backs on our savior - “...trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”   Hebrews 10:29 NKJV

Why do you folks think these verses are in our Bibles.  Jesus said the Way is narrow and few are on it !  Being a true, heartfelt and obedient Christian is not an easy thing.  A.W. Tozer said the teaching of a “Smooth Cross” was shame in his day.  His cross has many splinters and it hurts to get up on it daily.  Didn't Paul tell us to do that?

[Soldier4Christ]

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Psa 145:14  The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 

1Jo 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Heb 10:14  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

1. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the nature of salvation: (1) Salvation is eternal (Jn. 3:16,36). (2) Salvation is a present possession (Ro. 5; 1 Pe. 2:24-25). (3) Salvation is by imputation and substitution (2 Co. 5:17; Ga. 2:20; He. 9:10; Ro. 3:24). (4) Salvation is positional (Ep. 1:3 -- “in Christ”; Ro. 6:7; Col. 2:10; 3:1-4,12). (5) Salvation is not of human merit; it is a free gift of grace which cannot be mixed with works (Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:3-7; Ro. 3:19-28; 4:4-5; 11:6).

2. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the results of salvation: (1) Eternal life (Jn. 3:16). (2) Justification (Ro. 5:1; 3:19-28). (3) Peace with God (Ro. 5:1). (4) Sure possession of future glory (Ro. 5:2; Col. 3:1-4). (5) Salvation from future wrath (Ro. 5:9). (6) Raised up with Christ (Ro. 6). (7) Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ep. 1:3). ( Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ep. 4:30). (9) Passed from darkness to light (Col. 1:12-14).

3. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the teaching of election: Election does not destroy human responsibility (2 Th. 2:10-13; Ac. 13:46,48), but election does promise security for the believer (Ro. 8:28-39; Ep. 1; 1 Pe. 1:2-7).

4. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because lack of good works involves loss of rewards and fruitfulness, not loss of one’s eternal relationship with Christ (1 Co. 3:15; Tit. 3:14; 2 Jn. .

5. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the believer’s union with Christ. The believing sinner is placed “in Christ” and stands or falls with Him (Col. 1:14; Eph. 1-3 -- “in Christ” mentioned 25 times; He. 9:10; 1 Pe. 1:18-23; 2:6,24-25).


THE DISOBEDIENT CHRISTIAN DOES NOT LOSE HIS SALVATION, WHAT DOES HAPPEN TO HIM?

(1) The sinning Christian is out of fellowship with the Lord and his people (1 Jn. 1:3-7). (2) The sinning Christian is helped and loved by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 2:1-2). (3) The sinning Christian is chastened by the Father (He. 12:5-11). (4) The sinning Christian loses irreplaceable opportunities for service and fruit (Ep. 5:14-17; Mt. 9:36-38; 1 Th. 5:4-10). The sinning Christian can be forgiven, but he cannot regain the lost opportunities and the hurt he has caused by his sin. (5) The sinning Christian will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Co. 3:11-15; 2 Co. 5:10; 1 Ti. 6:17-19; 1 Jn. 2:28).