Bible Study - Safe and Secure - Can I Walk Away from My Salvation? - Various - July 20, 2025

 

Bible Study – Safe and Secure – Can I Walk Away from My Salvation? – Various – July 20, 2025

When were you chosen to be a child of GOD? Can you choose to not become GOD’S Child?

When was a person chosen to be a child of GOD?

The Apostle Paul gives us a clue in his letter to the Christians in Ephesus.

We read in Ephesians 1:3-14:

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons (daughters) through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

All people conceived in GOD’S mind are chosen by GOD but with the freedom to choose for themselves whether or not to accept GOD’S invitation to be HIS Child.

Every person has the opportunity to choose via GOD’S redemptive plan.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

In last week’s study, we built a compelling case for once saved and born into GOD’S Family a person never becomes Spiritually unborn. I personally believe this to my core.

We do know there are scriptures that reveal that a Spirit-born persons’ rebellion results in the loss of their eternal heavenly rewards as recorded in 1 Corinthians 3: The Role of God’s Servants

⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one,^[b] and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s coworkers.^[c] You are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[d] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he (she) builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are!

All HOLY-SPIRIT BORN BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S TEMPLE. HOW CAN THAT BE?

THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES AND DWELLS WITHIN EVERY HOLY SPIRIT-BORN PERSON.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?  

2 Corinthians 1:22

it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

GOD’S Grace which resulted from the sinless life and death of JESUS by HIS shed blood and bodily resurrection proves that JESUS was and is the perfect acceptable sacrifice for all sin to GOD through faith in JESUS.

We do know that a person can “harden” his/her heart toward GOD/THE HOLY SPIRIT and prevent GOD from appealing to such a person to repent of his/her sins and asking JESUS to forgive him/her for their sins. A person can resist so long that he/she blocks the still small voice of the Holy Spirit when GOD/JESUS knocks upon his/her heart’s door.

Revelation 3:20

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The question is “Can a person of faith lose his/her salvation? From GOD’S perspective “NO!!!”

They can lose his/her heavenly rewards.

GOD and JESUS comes to those either seeking salvation or in need of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the still small voice of GOD WHO appeals personally to every person in the “eyes of his/her heart.”

All people are free to either accept or reject.

A person has the freedom to either accept or reject GOD’S knock on his/her heart’s door and when a person refuses to open to open his/her hearts door keeps GOD out of that person’s life. So sad!!! That decision in eternal!!!

The eternal key is once a person opens his/her heart’s door and let’s JESUS come into his/her life, what takes place? JESUS represented by the Holy Spirit takes up eternal residence within that person. Salvation takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye, by the renewing of the human mind, which begins the instant the person is “Born-again” Spiritually. The renewing of the redeemed person’s mind takes time, equipping by walking, as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit which is application. As the “Spirit-born” person witnesses the power of GOD working through him/her, he/she grows in his/her faith.

When a person is “Spirit-born” GOD equips the “Spirit-born” person with Spiritual Gifts to minister. How are Christians equipped?

First and foremost, with the residence of the Holy Spirit in the person of faith’s life.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12: ⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: ⁸ to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

As Spirit-born Christians, we can desire certain Spiritual Gifts, but GOD is WHO distributes it or them to the “Spirit-born” person as HE wills to be used for HIS Glory.

So, can a person who has asked JESUS to come into his/her heart later denounce his/her Spiritual Birth in GOD’S Eternal Family. The answer he/she can but will it result in his/her Spiritual death as GOD’S Son or daughter?

When a rebellious child wishes he/she had never been born into the family he/she is in, does that person become unborn? NO!!!

Often, when the child matures, he/she rejoices and is grateful and appreciates his/her family.

When a person of faith dies and is carried into Heaven, and they witnesses what GOD has prepared for him/her as written by the Apostle Paul, I believe there are no human words to describe the majesty of what the person of faith sees -----

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.

I believe all will rejoice and be glad they chose JESUS as their Savior.

Those who are rebellious against their salvation do not lose their salvation but due to their rebellion, they do not achieve their Heavenly rewards, which far exceeds Hell.

So, can a person walk away from his/her salvation? Yes, he/she can stop and deny but upon death of his/her physical body, he/she will experience as written in 1 Corinthians 3:10-17:

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[d] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he (or she) builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

Can a person walk away from his/her salvation? Yes, they can according to the world but not according to GOD.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.

Our Heavenly FATHER knows best because HE knows eternity and what awaits those who stay the course.

In 2 Corinthians 12:1-5: Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

Who was this person to whom the Apostle Paul was referring?

It was himself, none other than The Apostle Paul.

What did he see?

We read in 1 Corinthians 2:9: What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.^[a]

Brother Ron gave me this account himself.

Brother Ron was in an automobile accident. He was studying to become a pastor at Clear Creek. He was taken to the hospital in Knoxville, TN where he was pronounced dead at the time he was supposed to be in Seminary class. A classmate told his fellow classmates, “We must pray for Brother Ron now!” And they did.

Chapel service followed their class, and his class members said we cannot have our regular chapel service, we must pray for Brother Ron, and they did.

Meanwhile back at the Knoxville Hospital, Brother Ron was pronounced dead, and he was taken to the third Heaven. He told me that he saw and heard things that were beyond human words to describe.

His body was taken to the basement of the Hospital to be picked up by the funeral home when a nurse happened by Brother Ron’s body and saw his eye twitch. The nurse immediately began resuscitation, and his physical life was restored.

Brother Ron gave me this account himself. He said there were no human words to describe what he saw as he was led around Heaven by a Heavenly creature.

Heaven is for those who have trusted GOD and JESUS. Hell is for those who do not.

The real question is, how do you choose?

Please choose eternal life by placing your faith in JESUS and asking HIM to come into your life by redeeming you from your sins and the consequence of sin, Hell and establishing your eternal citizenship in Heaven. The choice is yours and it is eternal.

So, can a person who once is “born-again” walk away? He or she may try.

I contend, “NO!!!” He or she will rejoice when he or she sees what awaits on the other side of this life upon earth as a Spirit-born person.

Blessings!!!