CAN A TRULY BORN-AGAIN PERSON WALK AWAY FROM HIS SALVATION? Part 2

Same question as the last post, but this time from a different series of verses. Can a person who has been truly saved by God walk away from his salvation? This time, let's search for the answer through a series of questions and Bible verses.

First of all, HOW DOES A PERSON BECOME SAVED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

In the last post, you saw 2 Peter 1:10 (ESV) — 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. and I want you to focus on the words "calling" and "election". Before you can be saved by God, you have to be "elected" by God. Paul says election is not based upon our works, but upon God Himself [Romans 9:11].

Before you can be saved by God, you have to be "called" by God as shown in the following verses:

Romans 1:7 (ESV) — 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:30 (ESV) — 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) — 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bible is very clear that we must be called by God to be saved. We cannot and will not initiate the effective request to be saved apart from His calling. Romans 3:10–11 (ESV) — 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. God initiates the action. Ephesians 2:1–10 (ESV) — 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

QUESTIONS SO FAR:

1. Will all of the "elect" be saved by God and if so, how can a person "unelect" himself?

2. Will all of the "called" be saved by God and if so, how can a person "uncall" himself?

3. If God takes a spiritually-dead person and makes him alive with Christ [v.5], how can a person become unalive? Does that mean that God's saving power is not eternal?

WHAT ABOUT 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

MORE QUESTIONS:

4. Can a person who is really in Christ be able to "come out" of Christ?

5. If a person is truly a new creation, can he really become the old creation again?

WHAT ABOUT JOHN 3:3?

John 3:3 (ESV) — 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

ANOTHER QUESTION:

6. Can a person who has truly been "born again" become "unborn"?

WHAT ABOUT MATTHEW 7:21-22?

Matthew 7:21–22 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

ANOTHER QUESTION:

7. Does this passage show that you can lose or walk away from your salvation? No because look at Matthew 7:23 (ESV) — 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Why would Jesus send them away? BECAUSE HE NEVER KNEW THEM.

I hope that these questions and Bible verses will help you to process your thoughts and help you know where you stand with the Lord. I leave you today with these words from Paul:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) — 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!