Can a Saved Person be Lost?

by Charles E. Murray

I recently heard a popular televangelist talking about the security of the believer. On his television program he proclaimed boldly that a saved person cannot be lost. He argued that when one is in a saved condition, nothing that person can do will cause him to be lost. I must admit that this is a very comforting doctrine. If, it is true, a saved person does not have to worry any more about sin, because sin can no longer bring about spiritual separation from God. If I am saved, I can live anyway I want to and my eternal salvation will not be in jeopardy. Again, this is a very comforting doctrine, if it is true. But the problem is it is NOT true and those who believe it will indeed lose their eternal souls, because a saved person can be lost.

Does the Bible teach that a saved person can not be lost? Consider, first this observation. In order for this doctrine to be true, it is necessary for a person to lose his ability to make a moral choice. Think about it! If we cannot be lost, then we no longer choose. I heard one preacher state that a child of God could not be lost even if he wanted to be. The Bible teaches that every person not only can choose, but will be responsible for the choices he makes in life. Notice what God says in Ezekiel 18:20:

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (KJV)

God says a soul that sins will die. This death is a separation from God. Now one of two things has to be true. If a child of God cannot lose his eternal salvation, then this means it is impossible for a child of God to sin or that sin will not be charged to him. Is this what the Bible says? Notice these passages: Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (KJV).

The Bible teaches that ALL have sinned. But, you might say, this verse does not talk about Christians, but those who are in the world. What does the Bible say to Christians about the possibility of sinning? Notice carefully: I John 2:1

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (KJV)

John is writing to children (Christians) and is saying that he is writing to them so they will not sin. Are they capable of sinning? Yes! If not, there would have been no need for John to write to them so that they sin not. Note also that is says "and if any man sin…" John thought that a Christian could sin and told Christians that if they did sin they had an advocate with the father (verse 2).

The Bible says that all men sin, even Christians, and points out what the Christian must do when he does sin. So it is not true that a child of God cannot sin.

But is a Christian held responsible for sin? Again, let's call attention to what the Bible teaches: 1 Corinthians 6:8-10

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God? (KJV)

Verse eight indicates that Christians are being addressed - they are accused of defrauding their brethren. Then the writer points out that those guilty of the listed sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. Now, if a Christian cannot be held responsible for his sins, what could this verse possibly mean? The verse plainly states that those guilty of these sins cannot be saved.

But let's look further into God's word: 2 Corinthians 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (KJV)

This scripture tells us that all men, including Christians, will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of the things done in the body. According to this passage, a Christian will be held responsible for the sins of the body.

This means that the doctrine that a child of God cannot be lost is a lie. We have seen that all men sin, therefore a child of God can sin. We have also seen that all men, even Christians, will give an account, (be judged) because of the things done in the body. Therefore, a child of God can sin and that sin, if unforgiven, can keep one from being saved eternally.

But are there not passages which teach that a child of God cannot sin? Let's examine some verses that are used in an attempt to justify this erroneous doctrine: I John 5:18

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (KJV)

Does this verse teach that a child of God cannot sin? Look at another translation of this verse:

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; (NIV)

18 No one who has become part of God's family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, (TLB)

Notice that these two versions suggest that the sinning is a continual practice. A child of God does not continue to practice sin. This does not say that he cannot sin! It says that he does not continue to practice sin.

But granting that it can mean the impossibility to sin, notice that there is a key to the proper understanding of this expression in the last part of the verse. Notice carefully in the KJV that the one born of God "keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not." As long as the one born of God keeps himself, he does not sin - the devil cannot touch him. But what happens if one born of God does not keep himself? He sins - the devil touches him! The question of sinning not is conditional. It is conditioned upon keeping oneself.

Notice one other passage in I John used sometimes to suggest the impossibility of a Christian sinning: I John 3:9

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (KJV)

Again, we need to look at this some other versions of this verse: I John 3:9

9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (NAS)

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (NIV)

9 The person who has been born into God's family does not make a practice of sinning because now God's life is in him; so he can't keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him-- he has been born again. (TLB)

These versions make it plain that the verse is talking about a Christian making a practice of sinning, or continuing in sin. A child of God cannot keep on sinning after being saved.

But again, notice the condition stated in the verse itself. One cannot sin as long as the seed remains in him. Can anything happen to the seed once it is planted? In Luke 8, Jesus tells the parable of the sower who went out to sow seed. The different soils represented the various conditions of the hearts of men, into which the seed was planted. Notice beginning verse 12 and continuing through verse 15, what can happen to the seed: It can be taken away; it can have no root; and it can be choked out. If any of these things happen to the seed, the following results are seen: one cannot be saved; in time of temptation one falls away; and no fruit is brought to maturity.

I John 3:9 teaches that as long as the seed remains, one does not sin. But if the seed is taken away, or choked out, or no fruit is brought to maturity, the person falls away and is lost.

Friend, the doctrine that once saved, always saved, is not comforting - it is damning. A child of God can sin and when a Christian sins, those sins if unforgiven will keep one out of heaven.

How can a Christian deal with the sin problem? Notice what the scriptures say: I John 1:7-10

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (KJV)

An acknowledgment of sin and a confession of sin and the asking of God for forgiveness results in the blood of Christ cleansing from all sin.

Friend do not be deceived. A Christian can be lost. May we each "walk in the light" so we can be saved eternally.