By: Kyle Austin

1. Salvation is a gift of God.

A gift illustrates what salvation is so very clear to you and I. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." This means that there is nothing that you and I can do to earn our salvation. If we cannot earn our salvation, then on the flip side of that, there's nothing that you and I can do to lose our salvation. If we could lose our salvation, this would mean that salvation is based upon our works in order to receive salvation. Therefore, if we're going to lose our salvation, it would be based on us doing bad works for which God would take our salvation from us. With this thinking, salvation is based on works or your human merit which is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture. Also, if you can lose your salvation, then it is not a gift of God as the Bible describes it. Rather it would be borrowed. So if we have the teaching that we can lose our salvation, we would have to read this verse this way, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is "borrowed" of God and it "is of works." But that's not what this verse says!

2. If you can lose your salvation eternal life was never eternal.

Think about that!  Salvation is a present possession. For how long? For eternity! It's eternal life. It's not meant to be just for a week, a month, a year, or until you do "whatever" it takes to lose your salvation. We would also have to consider what Jesus taught Nicodemus about being born again. When we call upon Jesus Christ to save us we are born again. So if I can lose my salvation, am I born again, again when I receive it back? And then if I lose it again am I born again, again, again when I receive it back? Again this is contrary to the clear teachings of scripture.

3. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.

Ephesians 1:12-14 teaches this, "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom after that you believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Notice the progression there. We hear, we believe, and we receive the Holy Spirit which is God's promise and also His down payment to us. The Holy Spirit is given to us as God's seal and there's nothing on earth that can break that seal.

4. Ask yourself this question, "What do I have to do to lose my salvation?"

What is the action? What is the attitude? Where is the line that is drawn that we step over in order for us to lose our salvation? On the flip side of that, what must I do to get my salvation back? Scripture gives no teaching as to what you have do to lose your salvation nor what you have to do to get your salvation back. Why? Because losing your salvation is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

5. We can know with 100% certainty that we possess eternal life.

1 John 5:13 is a powerful verse and is very clear. It says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life." God tells us we can have 100% assurance! We can have 100% certainty of our salvation! So you and I not knowing when we're going to cross the line to lose our salvation would render this verse false. You and I can know without a shadow of a doubt that we possess eternal life. Why? It's a gift of God and as a gift it cannot be taken back. Also we're sealed the moment of our salvation with the Holy Spirit that God says is His promise and His down payment. Salvation is eternal and there's nothing you could do to even give it back even if you wanted to.