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Can a saved person ever be lost?

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“Can a saved person ever be lost? Can a Christian, a person who has received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, sin to such a degree that he will lose his salvation, go to hell or Hades at death, and eventually be consigned to the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment?” [1]


What does it mean to be lost?

Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). What does it mean to be a lost and guilty sinner in the eyes of God? Why is it that the non-Christian is under the wrath of God? (John 3:36)

The essential reason that we all were once lost and guilty sinners under the wrath of God was our relationship to sin—any lack of conformity to the character and will of God.

Are we sinners because we sin, or do we sin because we are sinners? Both are true. The Bible says that we are all guilty of personal acts and attitudes of sin (Romans 3:23; cf. 3:10-18; Mark. 7:20-23). It also indicates that we are guilty because we are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), ultimately inherited from our ancestral father, Adam. The Bible even shows that all humankind is viewed by God as having sinned in Adam's initial sin (Romans 5:12).

The penalty that is the result of our sin is death…

Physical death (the separation of the soul from the body), which affects humankind as the result of Adam's sin charged to our account (Romans 5:12-14)

Spiritual death (the separation of the soul from God), a condition transmitted to us from Adam through our ancestors (Ephesians 2:1,5)

Eternal death (the culmination and extension of spiritual death), the eternal separation of the soul from God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14)

Scripture describes our condition before believing in Jesus Christ as being under the wrath of God:

     -John 3:36

What does it mean to be saved?

"Salvation is from the LORD" (Jonah 2:9). It is both negative and positive (Colossians 1:13), for we are saved from a lost condition (our sins are forgiven), and we are brought into a saved condition that provides the believer with several dozen positive blessings the moment we trust Christ.

These blessings are very comprehensive, for our "salvation includes every divine undertaking for the believer from his deliverance out of the lost estate to his final presentation in glory conformed to the image of Christ." [2] Paul declares that God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Some of the principal blessings of salvation include:

Regeneration, which is an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit in originating a new nature in the believing sinner so as to transform the believer from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life (cf. John 3:5, 10:10,28; 1 John 5:11-12)

Justification, by which God declares the believer righteous since clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26)

Freed from the domain and dominion of sin (Romans 6:2-14)

Given as a gift from the Father to the Son (John 17:2-24)

Placed as a member in the spiritual body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)

and many, many more positive acts of God that would have to be reversed if a saved person could ever again be lost.

Can a saved person ever again be lost?


     -John 10:28 (NKJV)




The eternal security of believers rests on the Father's purpose in choosing us to salvation in eternity past and predestinating us to sonship in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Further, God's power is promised to keep us secure in salvation (Romans 8:28-30), for the ones that the Father foreknew, predestined, called (effectually to salvation, cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21-24), and justified are the very same ones he “glorified”. (Paul uses the past tense since in God's sight it is “good as done” that we will one day be conformed to the image of Christ in heaven).

Further, Jesus Christ guaranteed that we are secure in His and the Father's hand, and so He will keep safe each one who has received the gift of eternal life (John 10:28-29).



     -Charles Ryrie

The “curative” aspect of Christ's present ministry is indicated in 1 John 2:1. When we do sin as believers, He acts as our Advocate before the Father, forgiveness and cleansing of all our sins.



Can a saved person ever be lost?

"For a believer to lose his salvation would demand a reversal and an undoing of all the preceding works of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The key issue in the discussion of the believer's security concerns the issue of who does the saving. If man is responsible for securing his salvation, then he can be lost; if God secures the person's salvation, then the person is forever secure." [4]
     -Paul Enns



  • What is the "unpardonable sin?" How does sin become "unforgivable?" How can one know whether or not they have committed "the unforgivable sin?" Can a Christian commit "the unpardonable sin?" - Answer
  • How can I be sure of my salvation? - Answer
  • How can I be and feel forgiven? - Answer
  • If God forgives me everytime I ask, why do I still feel so guilty? - Answer
  • Assurance of salvation (definition) - Go
  • If a Christian commits suicide, will he go to Heaven? - Answer
  • How can I get to heaven? How to be saved. - Answer
  • Is circumcision a requirement for salvation for Christian males? - Answer
  • Can a gay person go to heaven? - Answer
  • God's sovereignity, election, and man's free will - What does the Bible say? - Answer
  • Are you good enough to go to heaven? - Go
  • Teach me ABOUT THE BIBLE - Go
  • Read God's Story to better understand who God is, who humans are, the nature of sin, and God's plan, etc. - Go
  • Salvation (definition) - Go
  • Redemption (definition) - Go
  • Regeneration (definition) - Go
  • What is the eternal destiny of an infant who dies? - Answer
  • What does God expect of me? - Answer
  • Aren't all religions basically the same? Why do Christians insist that one must believe in Christ alone to be saved? - Answer
  • What does the Bible mean when it refers to the "Baptism of the dead?" - Answer


  1. Asked by Robert Glenn Gromacki, Salvation Is Forever (Chicago: Moody Press, 1973), p. 9.

  2. L. S. Chafer, Systematic Theology (Dallas: Dallas Seminary Press, 1948), 3:6.

  3. Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1986), p. 331.

  4. Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989), p. 341.


Author: Dr. Duane Lindsey.


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