Can a Christian Lose Salvation?

Many who inquire whether the Bible teaches Christians may lose their salvation start from the wrong frame of mind.

While it is very normal and natural to want to ensure where one stands with the Creator, the spirit of their understanding can be off.

Salvation is the most precious gift one can possibly receive, and it cost God the highest cost He could possibly pay. God had several desired outcomes in mind when He sent Jesus Christ to live a sinless life, teach people a new way, suffer for no wrongs of His own, and to die as a just perfect sacrifice for the sins of the unjust.

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and promised His true followers they could receive the same Spirit that empowered Him to hear God’s voice (Jn. 10), know God’s truth (1 Cor. 2), and live a life pleasing to Him (Jn. 14:15-18).

An overview of what God intended by sending His Son to die for our sins might first be in order:

The big picture is God is working an overarching plan – an eternal purpose – to right the wrongs of His creatures – both the angels that rebelled, and man who was led to fall with Satan. Within humanity, God wants to call a people to Himself.

1 Pet 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

In the process, God will restore order in a creation gone to rebellion, He Himself will be vindicated, and get glory, and – being love – He will receive the love of those who truly love Him which He desired from the beginning. The Church is all those saved sinful people who were washed by the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ, and declared righteous by their faith.

At the “Marriage Feast of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:6-9), Jesus Christ will receive the church as His bride, who came out from Him (Eph. 5:32) – just as Eve was derived from Adam. They will then live in heaven for eternity in a love story far beyond all others.

God is only good, but He has been misrepresented by many. He is blameless, and the greatest wrong in history has been against Him who never did anything but give love and do good.

Of course God foresaw the fall of His creatures, and before the fall, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it is believed, counseled to send Jesus to save man as the gospels tell.

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you – 1 Pet. 1:20 (see also: Rev 13:8)

No one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws Him, said Jesus (Jn. 6:44). God opens sinners’ eyes by the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. They repent, confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord and Savior, are baptized, and are to receive the Holy Spirit.

If anyone does not have the Holy Spirit, he is yet in his flesh, in his sins, and by definition not a Christian, and there is no biblical indicator this one will go to heaven.

Rom. 8:9 – But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Rom. 8:16,17 – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

The first question people should ask is whether this inner Holy Spirit witness is in them? Have they been awakened, born again, are old things passed away, have all things become new? (2 Cor. 5:17)

As this article started saying, often people discuss, debate, and fight over scriptural verses that they say paint the picture of who is saved and who is not.

Among verses used by those to support the assertion that once you are saved you can never lose it, are strong statements in Romans and Galatians that we are justified by faith apart from works. It is of course true one is justified by faith apart from works, but Bible verses must be taken in context, and balanced against all Scriptures on the subject, and we’ll have more on this further in.

It bears repeating: God paid a dear price – the life of His precious Son – who Himself paid a price for the sake of love, and love does not want to let people go. Love goes to immense lengths to gain and keep love, and this the Bible teaches is what God has done for His people.

That said, other Scriptures do not permit a water-tight view of statements not found in the Scriptures such as “all of your future sins are forgiven” – uttered without qualification.

A misunderstanding and abuse of grace is at risk here. At the extreme, from the pulpit, preachers have emphasized their points saying unrepentant Christians may persist in great evil, even gross sexual sins, illicit drug use, theft and murder, and their entrance to heaven is still guaranteed.

The Bible actually teaches Christ’s Blood is sufficient for all future sins, but the promise of its application is not unconditional.

We are called to keep the faith, run the race to the end, and not quit. We are called to prove our faith is real by how we respond, perform works “in the Spirit” – also an act of faith, and we’ll have more on this also further in.

The assumption of a condition-free blanket amnesty even for Christians who persist in sin with no further repentance is a false teaching. It is an inference, not explicitly stated in Scriptures, and this opens a can of worms: Christians can become very passionate over the debate whether salvation can be lost, or nothing can ever threaten it no matter what.

Again, let’s step back and catch our breath. Here is where many a believer will begin to lay out a “scriptural case” for one side or the other.

Case A: The Scriptures say you can never lose your salvation.
Case B: The Scriptures say you can lose your salvation.

A practice of focusing on scriptures to portray a thesis while ignoring or explaining away other scriptures that call into question said thesis is called “proof texting.” It can be spiritually (or intellectually) dishonest. It also happens to be a preferred way western civilization since Martin Luther (and before) has naturally approached knowledge of the Bible and God.

Notice we keep using the word “natural.” This is deliberate.

1 Cor 2:14 – But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The “natural man” can mean one of a couple kinds of people. First, every unregenerate person (non-Christian, without the Holy Sprit), is in his/her natural state. But secondly, even one who is a Christian may act or think from the natural, or “carnal” (1 Cor 3) or fleshly side of them apart from the spirit; apart from the “new man” who is “made alive” in Christ. (1 Cor 15:22). Galatians 5:20 say “heresies” (false teachings) are a work of the flesh, and thus the fleshly mind may reason and conjecture about spiritual things, and get them wrong. Reasoning or sensibilities that are “natural” – while they may feel right – mean nothing when discussing spiritual truths that must be revealed by the real Holy Spirit, not a counterfeit (2 Cor. 11:4,14).

Prov 14:2 – There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

While God has given us minds to reason with, people run the risk of leaning on the “flesh” (earthly reasoning sans God’s illumination) to answer a question that can only be spiritually discerned.

The carnal intellect is that which is not guided by the still small voice of God’s Spirit. Further, spiritual and intellectual honesty demands balancing Scripture with Scriptures as did the Bereans who were commended for this:

Acts 17:11 – These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

The “flesh” (carnal “I”/ “old creation”) may also be the motivation in the first place for many who want to ensure whether they can never go to hell. This too is natural, as no right-thinking person wants to go to hell. It is natural to want to lock down that question.

And it may also be spiritual. Indeed, the Bible says we ought to know, and does give us assurances how to know whether we are God’s born again children or not (2 Cor. 13:5), but at issue is the spirit of the approach.

Frankly, a lot of Christians have learned nothing from the Pharisees in this way they come to God. Jesus rebuked them for missing the forest for the trees.

John 5:39,40 – You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

The watchword here is “come to Me.” Jesus wants us to come to Him spirit-to-Spirit and that first time coming to Him is supposed to be just the beginning of a beautiful love relationship. It is the beginning of sonship (or daughtership) with a child who loves his/her Father and the Lord, and wants to be with them always.

This speaks to the heart of the believer and this is of pivotal importance.

God wants our heart, and with that said, we may begin to discuss whether you can you lose your salvation.

 

Can A Christian Lose Salvation?

In short, the answer is yes.

At the risk of being accused of “proof texting” ourselves (not our intent) we will drop on the page several Scriptures. We’ll get to verses of Christ’s great salvation to those justified by faith, but first let’s get these out up front.

The following verses do not give warm fuzzy feelings for those who think of salvation as a life insurance policy they bought with one sincere prayer and nothing else for the rest of their lives.

The New Covenant in Jesus’ blood was a free-will love offering, and God does state He expects a response from us. Before anyone from the Once-Saved-Always-Saved crowd starts to say a right response is proof one was “really born again,” hold that thought.

People who say one who falls away from the faith merely proves he was “never really born again” do so without any Scripture that explicitly states this theory.

Beware of assumptions and theories that make inductive leaps beyond the tenor of all the Scriptures on the subject!

In fact, the Bible more clearly says people may be true Christians, but still have their name blotted from the Book of Life.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. – Rev. 3:5

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” – 1 Pet. 4:17

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’ – Rev. 2:10-11

Lk 12:46 – the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Heb. 6:4-6 – For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,[b] to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Rom. 11:19-22 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. – Matt, 10:22

“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.” -Heb. 10:36-28

“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul,” – Heb. 10:39.

For this you know: that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. – Eph. 5:5

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad. – 2 Cor. 5:10

[God] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life. – Rom 2:6,7

He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint. – Gal 6:8-9

Jn. 15:5,6 – I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

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. – 1 Cor. 9:27

But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. – Eze. 18:24

 

No Proof Texting

Again, please forgive us for seeming to contradict the dictate to not cherry pick Scriptures to paint an unbalanced thesis. The purpose for the above Scriptures is just to put them all in one place to show they are there.

Any honest believer will want to take pause. The whole problem we are combating here is the tendency by fleshly minded theologians who’ve gone in another direction to paint a picture of an irrevocable salvation not held from the beginning.

Indeed, the Ante-Nicene church leaders from before 100 AD-300 AD (pre-Constantine) universally said salvation was not a once-saved-always-saved proposition. This was not their extra-biblical opinion. Rather, it was their interpretation of the Scriptures and they were far closer to the original apostles than those who came in the 16th Century. Their teaching was actually a most-sincere attempt to preserve the apostles’ doctrine which had been personally passed along to some of them. It would have been abominable to them to amend or add to what was handed down to them in trust!

What about once-saved-always-saved? None of them upheld it. Rather, it was the Gnostics who upheld a theory that salvation was irrevocable, and they were the heretics.

Coming back to the above Scriptures, they are for counterbalance to anyone preaching a lop-sided gospel, and once again: spiritual truth is spiritually discerned. We will also want to “test the spirits” (1 Jn 4:1, 1 Ths. 5:21) if we say we have an inner witness to something we think we received from God.

Again, human beings can be subjective. They can believe their deeply held feelings and personal sensibilities make perfect sense, and leap to conclusions upon reasoning from Scriptures that seem to back them up.

In modern parlance, it’s called “spin” on the truth. But what is the real picture? That biased, imperfect humans may passionately believe something does not prove their feelings are absolute truth!

This is a common problem, and the latest allegations of “fake news” and real “truth” in the U.S. point to an issue inherent in humanity since long before today’s polemic times. Human beings are so very fallible, and we always have been.

Please dear person reading this, consider that, and with this said, it’s understood how people could string together Scriptures to come up with a thesis of “once saved always saved.”

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. – Eph 2:8,9

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. – Rom 10:13

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. – Romans 3:28

[K]nowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” – Gal. 2:16

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Rom. 5:1

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. – Rom. 8:38,39

Undoubtedly the Bible has much to say about how precious God’s children are to Him, how devoted He is to them, how great a length He went to get them, and how great of a length He, being love Himself, will go to keep them!

Rom. 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God does know who will come to Him, and does promise to keep His people.

John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone 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 My Father’s hand.

Jesus spoke of tremendous security that no one would snatch a sheep from His hand, and those emphasizing once-saved-always-saved teachings rightly observe how great this spiritual security is.

However, Jesus did not say the the sheep itself could not step out of God’s hand, and this surely happens. God honors our right to make choices. Obeying and believing in Jesus was our first right choice, and we must – as in a biblical marriage – continue to love, honor, and obey (Jn. 14:15). God has promised us His own keeping power to stick to this choice (1 Pet. 1:5). But, sheep may disregard this, or give themselves to sin and lifestyles that pull them away – or lifestyles that never in the first place emphasize holiness unto God as the Bible calls for (1 Pet 1:6, Rom. 6, 12, etc).

God otherwise is the keeping power of Israel. He is the Good Shepherd, and has been known to go to great lengths in saving people, and bringing them to repentance.

Luke 15:4-7 – “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The picture the Bible repeatedly portrays is of God’s faithfulness and love. He will go after those who stray away, but what happens if sheep refuse to return when they hear the Master’s voice?

Answer: They stay outside the fold, and the Bible uses the term “lost.” As noted, sheep have a choice. A wise person sees this, and does not tempt the Lord, but runs to Him, hiding under the shelter of His wings.

This is not to say we are “working” as the Old Testament Jews, but God expects a response in faith and obedience. He is long suffering and kind, not willing any should perish, but He shall not always strive with man. A disobedient sinner can grieve God and quench His Spirit and “faith” is proven by actions.

As noted by the once-saved-always-saved advocates, the Scriptures do certainly teach we are justified by faith, not by works, but here is where some people can twist their minds in a zero-sum game, with fallacious understanding with their fleshly minds.

The truth is the truth – for all times – and the Ante-Nicene fathers did teach justification apart from works. They could be even more liberal about defining who was accepted in Christ than some of the post-Reformation teachers, but once in the “Door” (Jesus Christ), a proper faith and obedience in God’s power was expected.

Yes that’s right: once a person became Christian, he was expected to maintain faith, pursue holiness (Heb. 12:14), daily look to Jesus, and do works worthy of repentance (Mt. 7,8).

Col 1:21-23 – And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

We are commanded in the Bible to keep the faith to the end. Grace and forgiveness are there as needed as we look to Jesus.

Heb, 12:2 – looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God is ever ready to forgive and forget our sins. He gave His Son just for this to get us through this life, and His security is great, and He does promise heaven after this life.

In Sum

God’s gift is awesome, and there is “eternal security.” It is “conditional eternal security” however, and not “unconditional eternal security.”

With scriptures noted above and others not noted, those who have concluded “once saved always saved” have described a picture of the Christian life not attested to by the understanding of the early church. They have used some of the truth but gone beyond the spirit of the truth, at times, like a lawyer trying to hold God to a word spoken in a way He did not mean. They have stretched the bounds of scripture and this was not new. The early church saw such abuses of scripture.

This is the interpretation by a few of the ante-Nicene fathers:

Tertullian (c. 203), 3.661 Ante-Nicene Fathers
“Some think that God is under a necessity of bestowing even on the unworthy what He has promised [to give]. So they turn His liberality into His slavery. . . . For do not many afterward fall out of [grace]? Is not the gift taken away from many? These, no doubt, are they who, . . . after approaching to the faith of repentance, build on the sands a house doomed to ruin.”

Clement of Alexandria (c. 195), 2.602 Ante-Nicene Fathers
“God gives forgiveness of past sins. However, as to future sins, each one procures this for himself. He does this by repenting, by condemning the past deeds, and by begging the Father to blot them out. For only the Father is the one who is able to undo what is done. . . . So even in the case of one who has done the greatest good deeds in his life, but at the end has run headlong into wickedness, all his former pains are profitless to him. For at the climax of the drama, he has given up his part.”

Epistle of Barnabas – (c. 70-130), 1.138, 139 Ante-Nicene Fathers
“We ought therefore, brethren, carefully to inquire concerning our salvation. Otherwise, the wicked one, having made his entrance by deceit, may hurl us forth from our life. . . . The whole past time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger. . . . Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called, we fall asleep in our sins. For then, the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, will thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord. . . . And you should pay attention to this all the more, my brothers, when you reflect on and see that even after such great signs and wonders had been performed in Israel, they were still abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found to be, as it is written, the ‘many who are called,’ but not the ‘few who are chosen.'”

Tertullian (c. 197), 3.244 Ante-Nicene Fathers
“No one is a Christian but he who perseveres even to the end.”

###

These are but a few of many other writings, and the numbers from the Ante-Nicenen volume set are for your reference, if you want to look them up.

Disregard them at your peril. If you choose to listen to teachers who give a new interpretation dreamed up 1,500-2,000 years later, you risk entering into their spiritual arrogance and self deceit. You have been warned.

But, you may ask, where is the line drawn? Who is lost? Are you wanting to know the limits so you can push God’s longsuffering to the limit as many who name Christ do?

If so or not, the answer is God is the just Judge, and the Bible says we do not judge before the time. We should lose our peace however if we clearly cross lines, and if we are following God by His word, we ought to know parameters to steer far clear from.

May God have mercy and grace upon you!

 

An Obedient Love-Faith Relationship

We can know for our whole lives that we are on the right side of God, but it helps to know what this Christian life is really all about (not a self-focused insurance policy).

Put as simply as possible: Salvation is an obedient love-faith relationship.

What stumbles fleshly minds is the question of “works.” False teachings abound on this subject.

In short, God does expect something from us and it’s supposed to play out like this: We (old man in Adam, crucified with Christ) are not required to do works, but we (new man in Christ) are expected by God to do works, and we shall be judged for them. The Scriptures say this!

As explained by Paul (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 8, etc.), the works we do are done in Christ by His enabling, empowering, guiding Holy Spirit. This is the other aspect of grace!

1 Cor. 15:10 – But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Works done in us are not works to be done by the “old man” to “earn” salvation.

“Works” (done by God through us) are however required!

This is a mark of true faith and obedience, and Colossians 2:6 says “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” which speaks of that continued obedient, persevering walk in love, in God’s Spirit.

Unfortunately for Martin Luther who also tripped over this idea (and set the tone for generations after him to be equally confused), the Epistle of James does NOT so clearly spell this out.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26

Luther stumbled over this, and thought it was a direct contradiction of what Paul taught of justification by faith (and Luther added “alone.”)

As with many issues of confusion, there is misunderstood truth on both sides.

Salvation is by faith. A person is required to do nothing but believe, and he (Old Man in Adam/flesh) is then counted as crucified (Rom. 6, Gal. 2:20) and out of the picture in the Christian life.

This said, the New Man (in Christ/spirit) walks on the ground of Christ’s resurrection, and all of his works are done “in Christ” by faith.

The Christian is called to live (and act and do) by faith.

Put bluntly for emphasis: We are called to do works, but we (alone) are not the ones doing it. It is to be God working through us – the “new” us, not the “old” us. That is, the “new creation” with power and guidance from God does foreordained works (Eph. 2:10); it is not the “old creation” called to do anything (like an Old Testament Jew trying to work for God’s favor without the indwelling Holy Spirit).

The “old man” is crucified; judged, and buried through baptism, remember? (Rom. 6). So, there’s no contradiction even if it could seem like it: “We” (old man in Adam) are not required to do works, but “we” (new man in Christ) are called to do works! Thank God even then it won’t be “us” (independently) even doing them, but God by His grace wants us to be in position and meet the heart conditions to do them in Christ. (2 Cor. 3:5, Phil. 2:13)

But here is the kicker: none of this automatic. The Bible says it is possible for Christians to either walk “according to the spirit,” or to walk according to the flesh.

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Gal 5:16 – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

So, walking in the Spirit, as the “new man” in Christ is a choice and a learned practice that God must lead you to truly know.

Our responsibility is to believe and obey and be vessels of honor through whom God may work. We are called to be in such a place in this relationship through our spirit so as to be usable by God, and this is grace in action.

Rom 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Col: 1:24-29 – I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which[a] is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Note Paul says the mystery of the revealed gospel is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” That speaks of spiritual indwelling and empowerment to those who obey!

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,” said Paul.

And, he added, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

Hallelujah! Thank God for the full meaning of “grace.”

Grace is not just “unmerited favor.” Grace is also the gift God gives us to be empowered by Him to do all He requires! He’s the Lord, and Peter called himself a “bond slave.”

Under this true biblical paradigm, God will get all the glory! On the day of judgment, those who meet these conditions will be only able to say, “I couldn’t have done it without You.”

So what was James trying to say that Luther could not reconcile?

James was speaking of the past faith that did save you – he would have agreed with Paul on that – but he was saying faith that does not produce works is dead. Works are a fruit of faith, but the Scriptures say we are required to bear fruit, thus works.

How you parse this can lead to heated debates, but as Christian History For Everyman points out, the Apostle Paul who spoke of “justification by faith” also spoke of works as what we’d be judged by.

With reference to salvation in the future tense, Paul consistently speaks of works.

For this you know: that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. 5:5

The word “works” is not stated, but the context is clear the conduct of the person is to be measured determining whether a man has an inheritance in the kingdom of God. There is no “by faith alone” here as emphasized in the wrong spirit by Luther and other verses say the same.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad. – 2. Cor. 5:10

[God] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life. – Rom 2:6,7

He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint. – Gal 6:8-9

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. – 1 Cor. 9:27

Note the great apostle says after he preached to others, if he lapsed, he could be a “castaway.”

In the future tense, Paul always refers to the life of Christ working in us — by the Spirit and by grace — and he always refers to works as required.

The apostle also speaks of consequences of not doing right. Paul is absolutely consistent on the life of faith for a Christian requiring works, and the Word of God gives many more Scriptures besides exhorting, encouraging – and warning – God’s people to obey and do His will.

Christians are not exempt from judgment for their actions. Christ’s “life” is to enable us to do well. Yes we have grace to find our way, and catch us if we fall, provide forgiveness when we repent, but if we willfully and persistently sin or utterly abandon godly pursuits and life, then what?

No where does it say we may deliberately and continually sin, live as to ourselves, and we are instead called to seek the fullness of God’s Spirit to live this life.

 

Baptized into death; newness of life

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Mt. 10:39

Through death comes life in a spiritual existence that is spiritually perceived, known and lived.

Flesh has no part or portion in this!

The Scriptures paint a picture of a glorious life and covenant (2 Cor 3:7-18) that was more glorious than Moses’ covenant.

It speaks of a restoration of a broken relationship between God and new, Spirit-filled believers bought by the blood of the lamb whose sole intent is to love God and bring glory to Him.

They are those who let Christ live through Him.

Gal. 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Anyone who teaches or even implies that we have a license to sin misses the whole point and runs the risk of selling a cheap and unscriptural salvation by Jesus Christ as an insurance policy while ignoring God’s will and intent.

Rom 6:1-6 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

True, the “handwriting of requirements that was contrary to us” (Col. 2:14) has been taken and nailed to the cross, but the Bible does NOT stop there!

It commands we abide in Christ (John 15), respond in kind to God from a new heart (Eze. 36:26) and reciprocate a free-will love offering in return – not from the flesh which was crucified – but by those who by faith walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-8 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

May God have mercy on you and open your eyes!