Recently, I was asked whether a Christian could lose their salvation.
It was a sincere question asked by a young Christian who was apparently being influenced by the Calvinist doctrine of “Perseverance of the Saints”—commonly called “once saved, always saved.”
The teaching says that once a person is saved by God, they can never lose their salvation.
Google the question, and you’ll find a bewildering array of opinions, articles, podcasts, and theological explanations. But our final authority must be the Bible—the Word of God.
Today’s text by the inspired apostle Paul offers this warning:
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
There’s an old saying: when you’re studying the Bible and see a “Therefore,” you need to stop and ask, “What is it there for?” Of course, this speaks to reading the previous passages in their context.
In the preceding verses, Paul recounts the history of God’s people, ancient Israel. He appeals to the Corinthian Christians to learn from the Israelites’ past mistakes.
Don’t be like Israel…
- Who fell prey to idolatry.
- Who succumbed to sexual immorality.
- Who tested God.
- Who grumbled against Him.
These were the sins of God’s people, and Paul says, “they were destroyed by the destroyer.” God punished them. Many died in the wilderness. In fact, in one single day, Paul says, “twenty-three thousand fell.”
They fell under God’s judgment. Their privileged position as God’s people did not make them immune from the consequences of rebellion.
As a result, Paul offers this Divine counsel in verse 11:
“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
What’s the example for Christians?
Don’t worship other gods. Don’t commit immorality. Don’t tempt God. Don’t grumble against God. Why? Because spiritual privilege does not make us immune from the consequences of rebellion.
Israel had been blessed by God. Israel belonged to God. Israel enjoyed His provision. Yet many fell in the wilderness.
Therefore, Christians must “take heed.”
If you think falling is impossible, Paul says, “you are mistaken.” You, too, can fall. The text says so. Indeed, Paul’s warning makes little sense if falling is impossible.
Following this warning, verse 13 offers a comforting promise. Although we will be tempted to sin, there is a way of escape. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. He will provide a way of escape.
However, we have a choice. We can choose the way of escape. Or give in to Satan’s temptations. We can learn from Israel’s mistakes, or brush them off with arrogance, saying, “That could never happen to me.” Or we may fall prey to a theology that falsely claims, “You can never fall from grace.”
Obviously, many spiritually fell in the Old Testament. The New Testament is also filled with examples and warnings about Christians who returned to a former life of sin (2 Pet. 2:19-22), Demas, who forsook Paul because he “loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10), and those who were in danger of drifting away and neglecting the “great salvation” (Heb. 2:1-3).
The passage ought not to foster worry or create a nagging fear that we can lose our salvation. Instead, it challenges us to develop self-discipline, deny ourselves, resist destructive desires, learn from the past, heed the warning, and conquer temptation. It also reminds us not to be smug, self-righteous, or arrogantly feel invincible.
The point is not insecurity, but vigilance. Not fear, but faithfulness. Not wondering every day whether we are saved, but refusing to become spiritually careless.
Spiritual confidence is good. Spiritual arrogance is dangerous.
Indeed, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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