Body: | Can A Christian Sin And Be Lost?
Several of the world's denominations teach that Christians cannot sin so as
to become lost; that is, there is no way that a true convert of Christ he
cannot go to hell may sin, and thereby, receive eternal damnation - he
cannot go to hell after having once been saved. This is popularly spoken of
as the doctrine of "once saved, always saved".
On one extreme, this doctrine is expressed as, "True Christians will not
sin as they lack the desire and the capability to sin, because their
allegiance to Christ has changed their nature". At its other extreme, this
doctrine is expressed as, "No matter how grievous, the sins of Christians
will not be held against them in the final judgement". Those who hold this
last view believe that Christians can do wrong, but they also believe that
Christ will forgive them of any, and every, sin so that they will be
blameless on the day of judgement.
You researched this question to find, not what man teaches, but what the
Bible teaches about the possibility of Christians falling from the way of
truth, and becoming lost.
The most clear treatment of this subject in the New Testament is found in
the second chapter of II Peter. Study this entire chapter carefully. I
quote now verses 20 and 21, which best summarize its teachings, "For if
after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and
overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto
them".
Unquestionably the people spoken of here were once Christians, for the
writer speaks of them as those who had, "(quote) escaped from the pollution
of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ" (unquote).
Unquestionably these same people were, again, entangled in worldly
pollution, that is, they had fallen from the way of the truth, and had
(again) become sinners. Also, unquestionably they are subject to
condemnation for these sins, for the verse says that their final state is
worse than their initial state, that is, they are worse off than before
they were saved. Thus, the doctrine of "once saved, always saved", is not
supported by the scriptures, for the Bible here shows that Christians can
sin, and that they may receive punishment for those deeds.
All verses of the Bible agree with all other verses when the subject is the
same, and when the rule, or law of God, is the same. Also, when the rule,
or law, is consistent, clear verses serve to explain less clear verses
about the same subject. Said in a different way, the Bible never
contradicts itself, and the Bible is its own best interpreter. Remember,
God cannot lie, and God is not the author of confusion. Study Hebrews 6:18,
and I Corinthians 14:33. To illustrate this, we can study verses about
baptism (for instance) in the New Testament books written by the apostles
John, Paul, and James, and expect agreement. But, we cannot necessarily
expect agreement between the Old Testament writings of Moses and the New
Testament writings of Paul concerning (say) worship; Moses' laws were in
effect until Jesus' death ended them. See Col. 2:14. Paul's writings,
however, are a part of the will of Christ, His New Testament. The New
Testament is our guide today.
In I John 3:9, we read, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for
his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God".
If this verse teaches, "once saved, always saved", it is contrary to II
Peter 2:20 and 21 (which we read previously). Thus, a contradiction is
forced into the scriptures which cannot exist. However, apparent conflict
disappears when we see that the writer is stating the obvious fact that
Christians cannot sin and remain faithful followers of the Lord. This is
verified by the very same writer in the very same letter where the apostle,
John, in I John 1:8-10 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us".
Here, again, we find an inspired writer telling true believers, Christians
(including himself) that they can sin, and that they can do
unrighteousness. More deeply, John is here instructing Christians how they
can find forgiveness for their sins; Christians are to confess their sins
and they will be forgiven them. This instruction is not for sinners who
have never become Christians. Christians are citizens of God's kingdom, and
must abide by its rules. People who are not citizens in the kingdom must
first become so before its laws apply to them. We suggest that you find how
to become a citizen of God's kingdom through study the message, "What Must
I Do To Be Saved?" and "Are We Saved By Faith Only?".
Belief in, "once saved, always saved" may seem justified by John 10:27-29,
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand". If this scripture proves, "once saved, always
saved", the scriptures contradict each other, and this, of course, is an
impossibility. To harmonize the scriptures (to make them agree, one with
another), we must notice that Jesus did not say that his sheep could not
leave of their own accord; He said that no man could pluck them away.
Each Christian may leave Christ, if he chooses; but unless the individual
wishes to go, no one else can make him leave. Notice in verse 27, Jesus
said that His sheep, "know me and follow me", and thus, following, and
continuing to follow the Savior is a condition that we must fulfill if the
promise, "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" is to be kept.
And so, in addition to those things necessary to become saved (namely,
believing the word of God, believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, repenting of (or changing away from) a sinful life, and being baptized
into Christ for the remission of sins, we have an additional requirement,
that of being faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).
"Once saved, always saved" is a dangerous doctrine: The Christian who does
fall away (upon seeing his sinful life) may conclude that he was never
saved and become doubtful of the power of God; another may live a sinful
life, and become lost, while believing that God is unmindful of the sins
being committed. Either way can result in eternal death for the sinner's
soul, and it would be such a useless death, for (as we have seen), the
doctrine of "once saved, always saved" is wrong. The Christian who sins
must confess those sins to God, who will forgive them.
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