Losing ones salvation

[Blain DeCastro]

So a friend of mine believes one cannot lose their salvation because it is a gift from God not earned by our merit. I believe one can forfeit their salvation but not lose it after all how does one lose a gift when it was never theirs to lose to begin with? However another friend teaches one can lose their salvation.

So my question is this where in scripture does it state one can lose it and are there any examples of it in scripture?

 

[hawkman]

I believe one can forfeit their salvation but not lose it

I agree .

 

[Hidden In Him]

So my question is this where in scripture does it state one can lose it and are there any examples of it in scripture?

I think it can be forfeited as well, or maybe the better word is negated by our own foolish actions; going back headlong into sin after being deceived into thinking God doesn't mind, denying Christ to save one's skin, refusing to forgive others after Christ has forgiven you... Those are the principle ways we can negate the grace of God over our lives IMO.

The latter one is taught in Matthew 18, in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Some interpret it differently, but I think it is a clear teaching on the necessity of forgiving others after we have received forgiveness from God.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

 

[Hidden In Him]

So my question is this where in scripture does it state one can lose it and are there any examples of it in scripture?

There's also this. Peter made it clear in his second epistle that people can escape from the pollutions of sin only to get seduced completely back into them, and when this happens, it would have been better for them if they had never turned to Christ than knowing Him to have turned back to licentiousness.

I did a study on that passage. Some think it is impossible to lose salvation, but for me this flies too much in that face of church history, which taught the exact opposite.

Thread 'Charismatic Bible Studies - 2 Peter 2:17-22'

Jun 21, 2025

Christ Can Break The Chains That Bind, But Will You Want Them Back?



Demons seek to enslave us. They first tempt us to sin, and if we give in to their influence they then seek to bring us under bondage, not just to the sins we commit but to themselves as well. Thankfully the answer is Christ, who frequently cast out demons during His earthly ministry. He can break any yoke and grant freedom from any spiritual enslavement. The question however is this: Will we desire to keep the freedom He grants us, or will we return to the bondage we were delivered from?

Jesus...

• Hidden In Him
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Pentecostalism

 

[Blain DeCastro]

There's also this. Peter made it clear in his second epistle that people can escape from the pollutions of sin only to get seduced completely back into them, and when this happens, it would have been better for them if they had never turned to Christ than knowing Him to have turned back to licentiousness.

I did a study on that passage. Some think it is impossible to lose salvation, but for me this flies too much in that face of church history, which taught the exact opposite.

Thread 'Charismatic Bible Studies - 2 Peter 2:17-22'

Jun 21, 2025

Christ Can Break The Chains That Bind, But Will You Want Them Back?



Demons seek to enslave us. They first tempt us to sin, and if we give in to their influence they then seek to bring us under bondage, not just to the sins we commit but to themselves as well. Thankfully the answer is Christ, who frequently cast out demons during His earthly ministry. He can break any yoke and grant freedom from any spiritual enslavement. The question however is this: Will we desire to keep the freedom He grants us, or will we return to the bondage we were delivered from?

Jesus...

• Hidden In Him
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Pentecostalism

Yeah I think I remember something about a dog returning to their own vomit or something like that?

 

[for_his_glory]

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

After first coming to Jesus many of us have walked away so many times for lack of faith and Spiritual understanding, mainly because of life circumstances that we allow to overtake our flesh at times. This does not necessarily mean we have lost our salvation with Christ, but that we do not understand what it means to walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

After first coming to Jesus many of us have walked away so many times for lack of faith and Spiritual understanding, mainly because of life circumstances that we allow to overtake our flesh at times. This does not necessarily mean we have lost our salvation with Christ, but that we do not understand what it means to walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

for_his_glory, those passages do not say directly that the people who were saved lost it. The following passage says that when God saves someone, he does it permanently, though of course someone can wander away for a while:

Joh 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
Joh 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Joh 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
Joh 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Joh 6:41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Joh 6:42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Joh 6:43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.
Joh 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

 

[Groovy]

So a friend of mine believes one cannot lose their salvation because it is a gift from God not earned by our merit. I believe one can forfeit their salvation but not lose it after all how does one lose a gift when it was never theirs to lose to begin with? However another friend teaches one can lose their salvation.

So my question is this where in scripture does it state one can lose it and are there any examples of it in scripture?

I was raised in the Baptist denomination that taught OSAS, but when I read the Bible I learned the following passages taught/indicated the possibility of apostasy:

MT 10:22, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

RM 11:22, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

1CR 15:2, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

GL 5:4, “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

CL 1:22-23, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

2THS 1:4-5, “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

2TM 2:12, “If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;”

HB 3:6&14, “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast… We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

HB 6:4-6, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” This passage indicates that apostasy may be viewed as total depravity or blasphemy against the HS (MT 12:31).

HB 10:26-36, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God… So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

JM 1:12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

2PT 1:10-11, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2PT 2:20, “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”

1JN 2:24-25, “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.”

JUDE 21, “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

RV 2:10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

 

[Blain DeCastro]

I was raised in the Baptist denomination that taught OSAS, but when I read the Bible I learned the following passages taught/indicated the possibility of apostasy:

MT 10:22, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

RM 11:22, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

1CR 15:2, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

GL 5:4, “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

CL 1:22-23, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

2THS 1:4-5, “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

2TM 2:12, “If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;”

HB 3:6&14, “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast… We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

HB 6:4-6, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” This passage indicates that apostasy may be viewed as total depravity or blasphemy against the HS (MT 12:31).

HB 10:26-36, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God… So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

JM 1:12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

2PT 1:10-11, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2PT 2:20, “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”

1JN 2:24-25, “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.”

JUDE 21, “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

RV 2:10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Very interesting this is certainly something to ponder

 

[Blain DeCastro]

Also welcome to the forum Groovy

 

[Groovy]

I was raised in the Baptist denomination that taught OSAS, but when I read the Bible I learned the following passages taught/indicated the possibility of apostasy:

MT 10:22, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

RM 11:22, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

1CR 15:2, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

GL 5:4, “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

CL 1:22-23, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

2THS 1:4-5, “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

2TM 2:12, “If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;”

HB 3:6&14, “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast… We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

HB 6:4-6, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” This passage indicates that apostasy may be viewed as total depravity or blasphemy against the HS (MT 12:31).

HB 10:26-36, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God… So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

JM 1:12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

2PT 1:10-11, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2PT 2:20, “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”

1JN 2:24-25, “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.”

JUDE 21, “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

RV 2:10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Thanks for the welcome, Blain.
I might explain that I was prompted to read the Bible in part because my innocent upbringing was disturbed when I was told that the daughter of a missionary family in our church had decided she was an atheist, and then I learned that my favorite HS teacher had been a minister but was now an agnostic.
This began my quest to search the Scriptures seeking answers to questions asked by atheists, which was fomented years later when I heard a debate broadcast on radio between the atheist Madalyn O'Hare and an evangelist Bob Harrington--which I had to admit he lost.
Then after another few years circumstances occurred in which I debated about 30 members of O'Hare's disciples at a meeting of the Atheists of Austin, and I felt that my answers also needed to be improved, although they were better than Harrington's.
My interactions with atheists concluded after I participated for a couple of years on an Army forum, during which I honed a few more answers. However, I am sorry to say that my witnessing ended like that of Jesus per Matthew 13:14-15. Since then my interactions have been almost exclusively with Christians except for a couple of relatives.
After participating in dozens of churches and on another chat forum during my 75 years, here I am. :^)

 

[Blain DeCastro]

Thanks for the welcome, Blain.
I might explain that I was prompted to read the Bible in part because my innocent upbringing was disturbed when I was told that the daughter of a missionary family in our church had decided she was an atheist, and then I learned that my favorite HS teacher had been a minister but was now an agnostic.
This began my quest to search the Scriptures seeking answers to questions asked by atheists, which was fomented years later when I heard a debate broadcast on radio between the atheist Madalyn O'Hare and an evangelist Bob Harrington--which I had to admit he lost.
Then after another few years circumstances occurred in which I debated about 30 members of O'Hare's disciples at a meeting of the Atheists of Austin, and I felt that my answers also needed to be improved, although they were better than Harrington's.
My interactions with atheists concluded after I participated for a couple of years on an Army forum, during which I honed a few more answers. However, I am sorry to say that my witnessing ended like that of Jesus per Matthew 13:14-15. Since then my interactions have been almost exclusively with Christians except for a couple of relatives.
After participating in dozens of churches and on another chat forum during my 75 years, here I am. :^)

That is quite a testimony and I am glad you joined us I feel you will be a good addition to the site especially since I know you are well versed in God's word

 

[Groovy]

That is quite a testimony and I am glad you joined us I feel you will be a good addition to the site especially since I know you are well versed in God's word

Well, I love God's Word and feel lucky that my initials are GW. As you can gather from my bio, my main interest as I read the Bible from cover to cover in four different translations taking my own notes in the margins was to find answers to the questions asked by atheists, which interest does not seem to be shared by very many fellow Christians, I think because it forces them to question their faith.
I have shared my learning on a website that I offer to everyone to use as a resource. My reason for posting on CF is simply to share my fallible faith with others, hoping they will find what I have learned during my lifetime helpful for understanding ultimate truth. Our website is:
<truthseekersfellowship.com> Feedback or suggestions are welcomed.

 

[GodsGrace]

So a friend of mine believes one cannot lose their salvation because it is a gift from God not earned by our merit. I believe one can forfeit their salvation but not lose it after all how does one lose a gift when it was never theirs to lose to begin with? However another friend teaches one can lose their salvation.

So my question is this where in scripture does it state one can lose it and are there any examples of it in scripture?

You got some great answers Blain.
I also believe that Jesus, Paul and others taught that we could fall away from our faith and this would cause loss of salvation.

If faith is needed for salvation...
then losing that faith will bring us back to the condition we were in before.

It's late here and I'm signing off,,,will post some stuff tomorrow.

(Am waiting on that friend in London....)

 

[Groovy]

You got some great answers Blain.
I also believe that Jesus, Paul and others taught that we could fall away from our faith and this would cause loss of salvation.

If faith is needed for salvation...
then losing that faith will bring us back to the condition we were in before.

It's late here and I'm signing off,,,will post some stuff tomorrow.

(Am waiting on that friend in London....)

Yes, what some folks fail to realize is that salvation begins at conversion and includes sanctification,
which is a lifelong process. A passage teaching this truth is Colossians 2:6-7: “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord [conversion by repenting and believing the Gospel kerygma], continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught [sanctification via obeying moral teachings/the didache].”

There is no qualitative difference between faith that accepts God’s saving grace at conversion and faith that accepts God’s working grace while walking/living (Eph. 2:8-10, 2Cor. 5:7, Rom. 1:17), but only a quantitative difference as each additional moment passes–and of course faith remains non-meritorious during the saint’s entire lifetime.

 

[OrthodoxBeliever]

Yes, what some folks fail to realize is that salvation begins at conversion and includes sanctification,
which is a lifelong process. A passage teaching this truth is Colossians 2:6-7: “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord [conversion by repenting and believing the Gospel kerygma], continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught [sanctification via obeying moral teachings/the didache].”

There is no qualitative difference between faith that accepts God’s saving grace at conversion and faith that accepts God’s working grace while walking/living (Eph. 2:8-10, 2Cor. 5:7, Rom. 1:17), but only a quantitative difference as each additional moment passes–and of course faith remains non-meritorious during the saint’s entire lifetime.

Yeah, this is what we Orthodox believe. Theosis until we die, then we continue in eternal theosis. Theosis means we become more like God, like scripture saying: 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Also Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

[Blain DeCastro]

You got some great answers Blain.
I also believe that Jesus, Paul and others taught that we could fall away from our faith and this would cause loss of salvation.

If faith is needed for salvation...
then losing that faith will bring us back to the condition we were in before.

It's late here and I'm signing off,,,will post some stuff tomorrow.

(Am waiting on that friend in London....)

I will have to consider the answers I got because I always believed one could not lose their salvation but I may have to re consider this, also yes let me know about that friend in london

 

[GodsGrace]

Yeah, this is what we Orthodox believe. Theosis until we die, then we continue in eternal theosis. Theosis means we become more like God, like scripture saying: 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Also Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Hi Orthodox Believer
As you see, many here agree with you.
I should say...with the original church.

Welcome to the Forum !

 

[Groovy]

Yeah, this is what we Orthodox believe. Theosis until we die, then we continue in eternal theosis. Theosis means we become more like God, like scripture saying: 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Also Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I am happy to learn that my beliefs are orthodox, and I would connect the command of Jesus to be perfect
(Matt. 5:48) with the teachings of Paul about how to become perfect/mature (e.g., Ephesians 4:11-5:7). Here is my understanding of the orthodox teaching regarding God's requirement for salvation (GRFS) for those who have the opportunity to learn the Gospel:

The normative way of stating the kerygma/GRFS in the NT is “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as in 2Cor. 4:5 & Col. 2:6). The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:

1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (Deut. 6:4, John 3:16, 2Thes. 1:6), who is both able (2Tim. 1:12) and willing (1Tim. 2:3-4, Ezek. 33:11) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (Rom. 3:23, 2Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5), miserable (Gal. 5:19-21), and hopeless (Eph. 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (Matt. 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (John 3:18, Rom. 2:5-11).
3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Phil. 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1Cor. 15:14-28).
4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (Luke 2:11, John 14:6, Acts 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (Matt. 22:37-40, John 13:35, Rom. 13:9)—forever (Matt. 10:22, Psa. 113:2).
5. Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept/love Him (Rev. 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning Truth/God’s Word/sanctification everyone cooperates fully with His will (John 14:6, 17&26, Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 6:7-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Heb. 10:36, 12:1, Jam. 1:2-4).

 

[Groovy]

I will have to consider the answers I got because I always believed one could not lose their salvation but I may have to re consider this, also yes let me know about that friend in london

Yes, I came to realize it is problematic to assure former Christians that they are still saved,
when so many passages of Scripture indicate otherwise.