Papa Zoom
CF Ambassador
For those of us who believe that salvation can not be lost, perhaps where we have been saying 'believe' in that context, we should say 'believe so as to be saved.'
Someone can believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that no one comes to the Father but by Him, but still fall short of trusting Him for personal salvation. I know people in the occult and the highest level of Freemasonry that are convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He was crucified and resurrected; but refuse to repent of their following Satan, refuse to be obedient to God by believing into Jesus Christ, and willfully do everything possible to mock and blaspheme His Name.
The LORD knows the hearts of men, whether they believe superficially and with convenient intent; as opposed to those who know His requirement of righteousness, repentance, obedience, so as to genuinely place their trust in Him by believing into Jesus Christ.
When someone believes into Christ he is saved, permanently and forever, and will never perish, now having a new kind of life that is eternal. Being united with Christ through the indwelling of His Spirit, he is a new creation in Christ (Eph 2:10 b, Col 3:10, Gal 6:15, 2Cor 5:17). This is His work, and His doing; which once began will be completed according to God's intention, as we are His workmanship in this matter (Eph 2:10 a), worked in God (Jn 3:6, 3:21), who is our Founder and Finisher (Heb 12:2), and I also am "being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will finish it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6).
If someone having eternal life in Christ, belonging to Him, being in Him, could lose or forfeit His salvation, then that would make God not the Finisher, not the One having begun a good work, not the One completing it, a careless Builder, and a promise breaker.
The false doctrine of contingent continual salvation, and / or co-salvation, essentially makes God a liar.
This is the one who is in Christ, he is "one having been saved" (Eph 2:8); because at that time, having then believed into Christ, the individual salvation resulting from that kind of faith is a perpetual never-ending continuous into-the-ages forever eternal salvation. The matter is sealed by the Spirit of the LORD through His indwelling, being also accompanied by a promise of God.
"Not at all will I leave you, not at all will I forsake you, never!" (Heb 13:5) and "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deu 31:8).
If anyone here who has been reading these forums, and wondering if you could possibly lose salvation, then you should rest firmly and know that if you belong to Christ - that matter is completed, done, accomplished. It is by His grace and love and blessing that we are saved with such a salvation by our Savior and Shepherd.
If anyone here who has been reading these forums, and wondering if they could possibly lose salvation I think they'd walk away confused. Especially if they are a relatively new believer.