Many professing Christians believe they have been saved and thus can never lose their salvation. This doctrine, called “Perseverance of the Saints” or “Eternal Security” is a product of Calvinism and grew out of the reformation. It has been taught since the 16th century. It asserts that once a person is truly born of God and regenerated by the indwelling holy spirit, nothing can separate them from the love of God.

Two points come to mind here, the first being that to this date no one other than Jesus has been born of God. This process occurs at the first resurrection. The second is the statement by Paul in Romans 8:38-39 “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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” While this statement is true, the love of God and eternal salvation are two separate issues. God may love you but he will not permit willful sin following repentance. The following passages attest to that:

Ephesians 1:11-14 (KJV)
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

Paul is clear that receipt of the Holy Spirit is a down payment until the final redemption.

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (KJV)
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

Here Paul makes it obvious that even he worries about losing his salvation.

 

Hebrews 6:1-8 (KJV)
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

 

We don’t know for certain who wrote the book of Hebrews; some think it was Paul, others believe it was one of his understudies. Whomever wrote it is warning of willful sin after receiving the Holy Spirit and makes it very plain that it will not be forgiven

 

Hebrews 10:23-27 (KJV)
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

Here the author uses words like us and we, meaning he is including himself as one who could lose his salvation as a consequence of willful sin after receiving knowledge of the truth.

 

James 5:9-11 (KJV)
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

Here we have James warning his brethren and uses Job as an example while stressing enduring to the end.

 

2 Peter 3:15-17 (KJV)
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

 

Peter is now stressing the importance of staying on course because they have knowledge received from Paul’s letters which could make them vulnerable to committing the unpardonable sin.

 

Matthew 24:13 (KJV)
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

Finally we have Jesus preaching the importance of enduring to the end in order to be saved.

 

Mark 13:13 (KJV)
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

Are you willing to gamble away your life because tradition taught you this false doctrine?

Independent investigation and study can put you on the proper path!