The Gift of Salvation

It is often taught that once a person is saved, it is impossible to lose that salvation. Often John 10:28 and Romans 8:39 are cited as proof that God will not allow man to lose salvation. Both of these passages speak truly: there is no force, person, or thing that can forcibly strip us from God. And it is true that God does not whimsically take away salvation from His followers. What these verses do not address, however, is that each one of us can choose to give up our salvation.

Salvation is not a “right,” it is an undeserved gift (Ephesians 2:8). And there are essentially three things you can do with a gift:

1. You can choose to accept it and keep it. When we faithfully obey the gospel of Christ, we accept the gift: salvation and eternal life. When we continue to walk with Christ, we keep the gift He has given us (Jude 1:21). And if we remain faithful throughout our life, that hope of eternal life is realized and the reward is given (Matthew 24:13).

2. You can choose to reject it. It's easy in scripture to find individuals who chose, for whatever reason, to reject the gift of salvation that was offered to them. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19, those that heard Stephen in Acts 7, Felix in Acts 24, and Agrippa in Acts 26 are all examples of people who chose to reject the gift that had been offered.

3. You can choose to at first accept the gift, and then later get rid of it. Just as we often do when given a gift for a holiday or birthday that we do not like, we can choose to throw away the gift that has been given by God. And we can see in scripture some men and women who chose to at first accept what God offered, and then later chose to throw it away. Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, Demas in II Timothy 4:10, and of course Judas Iscariot are all people who made this decision.

That we can make any of these choices is apparent from the word of God. Besides the examples seen above, we are encouraged to not throw away our salvation, and admonished to remain faithful that we may receive the reward.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
(Luke 8:13)

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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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
(Hebrews 6:4-6)

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
(Galatians 5:4)

For if after they have escaped the pollutions 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. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
(II Peter 2:20-22)

So what will you do with the gift that has been offered? Will you have faith and obey the Lord's commands, remaining faithful all your life, holding on to your salvation? Will you reject the Lord outright? Or will you at first accept salvation, and then turn away from the Lord and give up the precious gift you have received? It's your choice, so choose wisely.