ETERNAL SECURITY - Can You Lose Your Salvation? - Who or what could snatch someone out of God’s hands or the mighty hands of Jesus? Jesus would have to cease to exist if His promises ceased to exist, including His statement of security from Him and from the Father.

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The Security Of The Believer

Can You Lose Your 

Salvation?

By Jack Wellman

Is it possible for Christians to lose their salvation?

Saved From What?

If you have ever shared the gospel with someone, maybe they have asked you why they need to be saved. They might ask, “Saved from what?”

For starters, God says for there are those who will reject the only name by which they can be saved (Acts 4:12).

That is “because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5).

In time, “He will render to each one according to his works” (Romans 2:6).

There is a difference between the judgment of the Christ follower and those who reject Jesus Christ.

It is “to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Romans 2:7-8).

Those who trust in Christ are saved from God’s wrath, or saved from God Himself, who will execute judgment for both the living and the dead (Hebrews 9:27).

Daniel the Prophet wrote, “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:2-3).

We are separated from God by our sins (Isaiah 59:2).

What is precious about the gospel is that, but we are reconciled by God (Jesus). We are spared the wrath of God, by God’s wrath being placed on God (Jesus).

God demands a payment; but He also provides it (John 3:16).

The Founder of Salvation

Jesus Christ is the author of our salvation (Acts 4:12).

The Father is the initiator of our salvation (John 6:44).

Jesus Christ is the Captain of our salvation.

Speaking of Jesus, the author of Hebrews writes that “it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).

This verse not only says that He is the founder of our salvation, but it is He “by whom all things exist.”

The Apostle John says of Christ, writing that “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).

He is the founder of all matter, naturally including us, but more than that, as the “the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

He is not just our Creator Who gave us physical life (Author of life), He is the One Who brings eternal life.

Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

If Jesus says whoever believes in Him has eternal life, but then loses it, did they really have it in the first place?

Can you have something that is eternal and then it ceases to exist? Jesus would have to cease to exist if His promises ceased to exist, including His statement of security from Him and from the Father.

He said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

Who or what could snatch someone out of God’s hands or the mighty hands of Jesus?

Groundless Fear

Many people who have been brought to repentance and have trusted in Christ, still live with serious doubts about their own salvation (2 Timothy 2:25).

One day they feel certain they are saved, but then the next day or the same day they feel hopelessly lost and condemned to hell. What a miserable life that would be, wouldn’t it?

Yet, I know many people who struggle with this, but why?

Jude writes that we are to “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 1:22).

So we should show them patience and understanding.

Perhaps some Scriptures trouble them, like where the author of Hebrews writes that “if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27).

So “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29)?

So who is this speaking about? 

The author is writing to a Jewish audience that is likely composed of believers and unbelievers, just like in churches today.

And so he tells them, “it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 6:4), “and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt” (Hebrews 6:5-6).

Are those who tasted of the heavenly gift the same as those who received it? Tasting or hearing about “the heavenly gift” is not the same as receiving it.

The author of Hebrews conclusion to this chapter does not sound very condemning at all, as he writes, “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (Hebrews 10:39).

Those who only “tasted [of] the heavenly gift” and have left the fellowship, “went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).

Conclusion

All too often people put too much stock in their own feelings. They place a higher value on their feelings than what God’s Word says.

Human feelings are overrated because they are so subjective. And, they can be the most undependable of all human emotions.

People might not even realize they’re doing it. But when we allow doubts about the security that is found in Christ alone, we are robbing ourselves of the joy of the Lord, which is a source of strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

That joy should be in every believer, because as far as God is concerned, it was “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

“If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).

And “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (Romans 8:35)? 

The Apostle Paul answers his own question by writing, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2017/01/13/can-you-lose-your-salvation/?ref_widget=related&ref_blog=christiancrier&ref_post=psalm-37-how-to-receive-the-desires-of-your-heart

TRIALS - When You Don’t See an End to Your Trials - Our entire world is shaken. We have all experienced those times when our world falls apart. Nothing is working out, as it should. You may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you know the One who is holding that light.

Jesus is the light at the end of your dark tunnel. 

Why Me, Lord?

When You Don’t See an End to Your Trials

RUTH L. WHITFIELD 

Have you ever asked God why? "Why me, Lord?"

"Why not pick somebody else for this?"

"Why am I always the one going through the fire?"

In the good times we say, "Lord, I love You."

We quote, "Oh, in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do Your will, O Lord."

Then we add, "Father take me, mold me, use me. Take my life, and let it be consecrated to Thee."

We say all this until God asks us to do something or we go through something that is very uncomfortable—something we have never done or experienced before.

Then we start singing a different tune. "I've never passed this way before, Lord. It's dark, and I'm not sure where I'm going. I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. You're making me step into the unknown.

"Yes, I know You are holding my hand. I know You are more concerned about me than the many sparrows You so carefully watch over. I know you have numbered the very hairs on my head. I know You will never leave me or forsake me. But Lord, I don't know about this!

"This doesn't make any sense. This goes beyond my ability to understand. Why are You doing this, Lord? I'm going to trust You in it, but I don't understand it. I can't do this by myself. Carry me, Lord. Let me know You are with me in it."

We have all experienced those times when our world falls apart. Nothing is working out, as it should.

We receive awesome prophetic words about future ministry, husbands, families, wealth—and get so excited.

But just when everything seems to be going well, the bottom falls out. Our entire world is shaken.

The difficulties come in many forms: Perhaps you are lied about in ministry or your husband has an affair with a best friend or a family member is diagnosed with cancer.

It could be you are trapped in a bad relationship. Maybe you are facing eviction or you've lost your job. Perhaps you are so sick you want to die.

During times like this, have you been tempted to ask, "Why me, Lord?"

I'm sure Joseph must have been. He knew his destiny was to rule—but he found himself at the bottom of a pit, discarded by his own brothers.

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Later, just when it appeared he was beginning to walk in purpose, he was consigned to prison—for rightly fleeing from his master's wife when she tried to seduce him!

Do you think Joseph might have asked, "Why me, Lord?" and "Where are You in all this?"

But God had a greater purpose. He was preparing Joseph to save two nations.

We tend to see our circumstances through our natural eyes. We live in time and space, so we live in today.

But God sees eternity. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows the outcome already. And He knows the plans He has for us—plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Those who stood at the foot of the cross at Calvary and watched Jesus die lived in agony for a time. Perhaps they asked, "Why, Lord?" when they heard Him cry out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Though Jesus had prophesied His own resurrection, the people did not understand and could not anticipate the eventual glorious outcome of this terrible scene.

But we know that God had a greater purpose for Jesus—to save the lost and to reproduce Himself in a new creation called the sons of God, who would be joint heirs with Him in God's kingdom.

Not too long ago, the Lord allowed me to go through some intense spiritual warfare that caused me to question Him.

In the process, He did a deep work within me, and when I asked, "Why, Lord?" His response was simple: "For the greater purpose."

Perhaps you are going through something you don't understand. You are bombarded on every side with doubts, fears and uncertainties.

Know that you can trust God in and through your circumstances. Believe that He has a plan for you and that the end result will be good.

Even more important, know that there is a higher purpose you can't see yet—one that may include your being the means of salvation for someone else.

Just as Joseph was used to save two nations and Jesus to bring salvation to the world, so the Lord will use you for His greater purpose.

You may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you know the One who is holding that light.

Are you willing to trust Him to lead you through? He will turn your trial around for your good—and answer your cry by pointing to the fulfillment of His plans. 

Prayer Power

Tell the Lord that you trust Him in the midst of your circumstances and will continue to praise Him no matter what it looks like.

Thank Him that He knows the end from the beginning and that the plans He has for you are good ones. Ask Him to help you align your faith to His promises and give you a song that magnifies Him in your heart.

Ask God to lead you to the Scriptures you can declare over your situation.

Continue to pray for the nation to experience revival and for righteousness to be established in our midst.

In the aftermath of the recent elections, pray for a smooth transition, healing and unity to work toward our national good, and protection for our elected officials, cities, borders and citizens (Jeremiah 29:11; Rom 8:28; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14). 

http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/power-up/28050-when-you-don-t-see-an-end-to-your-trials