PART 6

Let’s consider a few more passages that will continue to show we can indeed lose our salvation…

Acts 8:18-24 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone he will receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart isn't right before God. So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you're turning into bitter poison and that you’re being chained by wickedness!" Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me."

Here we have the story of Simon who was already saved (Acts 8:13 tells us he believed and was baptized). The apostles were laying on hands to give spiritual gifts. Simon saw what was happening and wanted to purchase this same ability to lay hands and give others these gifts. No doubt this was a huge mistake. Even Peter was unsure if Simon's sin could be forgiven when he said, "if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you." Simon was also worried and ask them to pray for him so that he would not lose his salvation.

Revelations 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Here we have those who have been added to the Book of Life when they were saved... but we clearly notice that we must "overcome" in order to keep our name in the Book of Life. We must be careful to not fall away and lose our salvation.

2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

John wrote that we must watch ourselves so that we "do not lose what we have accomplished". What is it that we have accomplished? Salvation!

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and somebody brings him back, you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his wrong path will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

It is very evident that James is writing to Christians, “My brothers”. He warns them that if any of them wanders from the truth and loses their salvation, and then someone converts them back from the error of his ways, they would be saving a soul from spiritual death. Notice James wrote "brings him back". There is no doubt that this person’s soul is headed for spiritual death and must be brought back to repentance.

I believe it is very clear that we can fall... unless we endure…

Matthew 24:6-13 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will hand you over to suffering and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many people will fall by the way and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus clearly says that "many people will fall" and that "the love of many people will grow cold." Then He said, "But the person who endures to the end will be saved." What will happen to those that DO NOT endure to the end? Obviously if it was not possible for us to NOT endure to end, then Jesus would not have had to warn of it.

Acts 20:28-31 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's church, which he acquired with his own blood. I know that when I'm gone savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock. Indeed, some of your own men will come forward and distort the truth in order to lure the disciples into following them. So be alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning each of you with tears.

Jesus purchased the church (the saved people) with His own blood. We must always be on watch for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Even some Christians will distort the truth in order to lure others to follow them. We must be alert! Paul warned these Christians for three years, night and day... he never stopped warning them, even with tears. We must do the same.

2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

In order to play by the rules, we must know the rules. We must study God's Word to show ourselves approved and know the truth!

God will help us through His Word, which is the truth... but, we must be willing to study it and learn the truth. If we are truly saved, how much does our salvation mean to us? Are we simply going to listen to someone else and not even bother to study God's Word to see if what this person is telling us is true? We place our souls in the hands of man when we do this, and man cannot save us. We should be like the Berean’s and receive the preaching and teaching of the word with eagerness, but also examine the Scriptures to verify what we hear is in fact the truth (Acts 17:11). We must put our trust in God, not man!

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'