As I write this, there’s probably someone thinking about losing their salvation. In any case, it may not be the question, “Can I lose my salvation?”. It may look more like, “If someone commits a sin just before they die, will they go to heaven or hell?” Or something along the line of committing sin.
A few months back, there was quite an extensive discussion about this in my local church. It was enlightening, so I’m sharing with you to enlighten you as well.
What’s salvation?
Salvation is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 6:23 give insight on this:
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
After reading Eph. 2:8, checking vs. 9, you find that salvation isn’t what you work for. Within the context of Romans 6:24, what you work for in sin is paid with death.
Now, we can say that the very thing we work for, we don’t get paid. Why? Because we have the gift of God, Salvation, which gives life.
How do you get salvation?
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV says: [9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Emphasis mine)
What are we being saved from?
Following the explanation on Salvation above, you can connect the dots to see that Christ saved us from sin and its wages.
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, Revelation 1:5 NKJV
[8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:8,12 NKJV
In Romans 5, there’s a short discourse on how Christ died for us while you and I were sinners. Quite frankly, before you knew you needed Him, He died for you.
Subsequently, Apostle Paul points out that sin entered the world through Adam, bringing death. Now, having died in our place, we have eternal life through Jesus Christ when we believe.
Seeing the full picture of salvation
God didn’t save you & I for us to continue in sin (whether in thought or action).
Romans 6:1-2 TPT says [1] So what do we do, then? Do we persist in sin so that God’s kindness and grace will increase? [2] What a terrible thought! We have died to sin once and for all, as a dead man passes away from this life. So how could we live under sin’s rule a moment longer?
Furthermore, vs.7&8 of Romans 6 says, “You who has died has been freed from sin. If you have died with Christ, you believe that you also live with Him. ”
Maybe you’re thinking, “But Funmi, sure God doesn’t want me to continue in sin, but I mistakenly committed it, won’t I lose my salvation?” No, you won’t. How do I know?
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV says: For we do not have a High Priest who can not sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Next time you’re tempted or commit sin, don’t shy away from Jesus. Instead, come boldly to Him because He can relate with your struggles. With the caveat that He didn’t sin.
Remembering that salvation is a gift from God, Romans 11:29 NKJV says: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. This means that once God has given us salvation, it’s final. He’s not waiting for you to commit sin to take it away.
For this reason, the question “If someone commits sin just before they die, will they go to heaven or hell?” or anything of that sort should be non-existent.
Like my friend would say, Sin is miniscule in the eternal plans of God for us.
What if?
Let’s play out one what if: Assuming that, after the understanding one has come to, he/she continues in sin. What’s next for them?
Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV outlines it perfectly:
[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For emphasis, let’s take a look at Hebrews 10:10 NKJV: By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Christ died once and for all to atone for sin. So when the writer says, “they crucify the Son of God again,” it means it’s impossible. Certainly, Christ won’t die again, and obviously, they shouldn’t be found nor put Christ in such a position.
Concluding note
Such a splendid time I’ve spent writing this article for you to come to understand.
Now, I leave you with these words:
So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation.
Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters and has written you essentially the same thing.
Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it. 2 Peter 3:14-16 MSG
Is salvation easy to understand? Not always. Although, will you strive to understand by reading your Bible? Yes, you will, I pray.
In case you’re reading this article and you’re yet to accept salvation, Jesus has given you life. Will you accept it? I pray so. Please refer to How do I get salvation within this article.
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Thank you for reading – Funmi
