There are a number of factors that can combine together to make losing salvation more possible . The enemy of our soul knows these, and works hard to cultivate such in the lives of Christians . And then to combine them in the perfect storm to destroy us .
1 ) Double – mindedness ; James 1:8 and 4:8 :
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
We need the singular mind of Christ . Not a mind, for example, that loves and resents God at the same time . We must vigorously discriminate against the voice of the enemy .
2 ) Hyper – grace ideation in the extreme . The notion that no sin that a Christian could commit is too great for God to forgive, or that a Christian could not commit the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit , losing salvation . Many Christians do not know that speaking to Jesus a certain way, if from the heart , can accomplish this sin in round – about fashion in the believer who has experienced the gifts of heaven . See the article about Nearly Losing Salvation . With the free will , Christians sometimes prune themselves from the True Vine, Jesus . It is a heart sin .
3 ) Belief in once saved, always saved / eternal security . I advocate abiding in the Lord while carefully avoiding killing sin ! Once saved, always saved ( OSAS ) is a false doctrine . See the article about a quick proof that losing salvation is possible , as well as that about the near – loss of salvation . OSAS can potentially lead to lack of accountability for the free human will . Scriptures guaranteeing salvation must be balanced with scriptures warning of loss of salvation . The balance point is the God – given , free human will .
4 ) Much woundedness in life as well as frustration or torment leading to a resentment of life and even of God . Blaming God . Sometimes, the enemy gets the advantage against someone for years and years . Perhaps some have a lineage of people hostile to God , producing that kind of stronghold in them . Here is Romans 1:28 – 31 :
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
An individual in a destructive , vicious cycle of curse particularly with significant lineage of ancestors resenting God . Imagine this coupled with double – mindedness !
5 ) A spirit of offense . Jesus sent word to John the Baptist in Luke 7: 23 :
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Whosoever . Not just non – Christians ! See Mark 4: 5, 16 – 17 about seed sown on stony ground and offense over the word ! Jesus is the WORD ! Do you have the stones of offense in the soil of your heart ?
6 ) Ignorance . Believing a doctrine just because everyone says so . Or because it is cultural Christianity . Bondage to the traditions of men rather than rightly dividing the word of truth . Being unable to endure sound doctrine ! Pet beliefs at odds with the balanced whole of scripture. What you don’t know CAN hurt you, or worse !
7 ) Lack of recognition of the voice of the enemy . Thinking that certain destructive thoughts are one’s own . Adoption of demonic ideas . A mind contrary to the mind of Christ .
8 ) Ingratitude . This is a dangerous addition to the other factors . Especially in those carrying a spirit of offense .
9 ) Belief in future sins automatically forgiven , FSAF . This false doctrine causes many to lapse into carnality and cease to abide , to be hazardous in use of the free human will . See the Links to Relevant Articles section.
10 ) Unforgiveness . It is a Kingdom principle that servants of God must forgive if they expect to be forgiven . See Matt 18: 21 – 35 and Mark 11: 25 . Jesus is speaking . To whom ? The one who refuses to forgive makes himself higher than God . Woe !
11 ) Drifting from Christ in one’s heart . Some pursue the love of carnality . 2 Peter 2 : 20 – 21 . Quitting Jesus from the heart to return to the worship of sin .
Conclusion : These are just some of the things that the enemy can employ against a Christian to maneuver him into a position of destroying their own salvation . Where he can be goaded , enticed or deceived into stepping on ground none should tread upon with God . If any has strong feelings of resentment towards life and / or God, they need to get the right help . Also those being drawn strongly back to carnality ! At the very least , they should approach their pastor about it, and pastors should be proactive shepherds rather than condemning. Some sheep simply need bondages broken and deliverance ! And the mind of Christ. Church should be a place where it is made clear that whatever ails, God wants to fix it and loves unconditionally ! And we need to be like Him .
So say someone had been committing many of these things and they thought they’d lost their salvation but who never had a strong relationship with God to begin with is there any way to know for sure? any advice?
I would say to such a person to make SURE they have initiated an AUTHENTIC , saving relationship with Christ , and not just a religious gesture or tradition . Many believe in Christ , including demons ( James 2:19) , but not all of them RECEIVE Christ ! Many believe , but some never REPENT ! The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish , but that all should come to REPENTANCE ! And that to as many as RECEIVED Him , He gave them power to become the sons ( and daughters ) of God ! For one can believe but never repent or receive Him . But one cannot repent to Christ and receive Him without FIRST believing !
Just because one may have risk factors that make it EASIER to reject Christ does not mean that one has engaged the heart to do so ! But the Bible makes it clear that NOW is the time for salvation ! We know not when we leave this earth .
So , let’s make sure we have really initiated a saving relationship with Christ , then NEVER quit Him ! Pray the following industrial strength , heavy duty prayer . Pray sincerely to God the Father . Say it sincerely to Jesus ! Ask for the Holy Spirit to come live inside you forever !
Dear God : I confess that I am a sinner . I know that you sent your only begotten son Jesus , born of a virgin , to come to this world to bear my sins on the cross and pay my sin debt . I know that Jesus is Divine , and He lived a holy life representing humanity in human flesh . I believe that after dying for my sins on the cross , that Christ rose again the third day following , and has now ascended to Glory . I know he is coming again to earth to rule and reign . Jesus , I accept your payment for my sins . I believe you are God the Savior , and I receive you . I commit to be yours forever . Please come into my heart ; forgive me for my sins and iniquities . I repent from them . I curse and renounce my every sin and iniquity . Cleanse me with your Holy Blood that you gave for me . Give me the Holy Spirit to live in me forever to help me be more and more like you . I give you my heart ! I make you my Lord ; I make you the Head of me . Help me to live more and more for you , and never quit you ! In Jesus’ Name I pray , Amen !
If you prayed this prayer with sincerity , congratulations ! You are now a Christian , and an adopted son or daughter of God ! Be sure to seek a good church in your area . Stay connected in such a place . Ask questions . Read the Bible a lot to know truth . Pray to God daily ; pour out your heart to Him ! Praise Him for every good thing you ever had . Keep repenting where needed . Never quit God !