What do you think about this group who says believers cannot lose their salvation?

Question:

I am not really sure you are familiar with the Grace Evangelical Society out of Dallas Texas, but I asked them the same question I asked you: "Is it possible biblically to be a 'born again from above' believer in Christ and be an active homosexual or live in an adulterous relationship?" Look at the difference in response:

"The simple answer is yes. I Corinthians 6 and other passages like this one talk about inheritance in heaven. Believers who live in a homosexual or adulterous relationship lose fellowship with God, and reward in heaven, and will suffer the consequences for their sin in this life. But they do not lose their salvation, nor does it prove they never had it in the first place. However, just because someone says they are a Christian does not mean they are. I would want to sit down and personally talk with such a person to see where they are at, and warn them of the consequences of such behavior."

Incredible, huh? They believe it is all in the rewards. You can never to lose your salvation. Now the question is: are these folks going to spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Answer:

I'm not at all surprised by the answer. The group follows the teachings of John Calvin and this is one of the consequences of that teaching. I debated the head of this society several years ago on a local radio station in regards to whether a man is justified by faith only. When you asked previously, I just referred you to the existing material on this site, rather than repeating the answer.

It is amazing that they separate salvation from fellowship with God and a reward in heaven. It makes you wonder what they believe a person is saved from.

His statement is very similar to one made by Sam Morris, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Stamford, Texas: "We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul! The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing to do with the salvation of his soul. ... All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger ... The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul." [The Possibility of Apostasy, C. R. Nichol, page 74].

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10).

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

God is quite clear that people who are unrepentant of their sins will end up in hell -- hell being the opposite of a heavenly reward. As Jesus stated, "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). It makes you wonder why Paul said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (I Corinthians 9:27). Why bother if a Christian cannot be lost?

That people can receive salvation and then lose it by their own sins is clearly taught. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 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" (Hebrew 6:4-6).

The gentleman who answered your question did respond with the traditional hedge: When a person is stated to have been saved falls into sin, doubt is expressed as to whether the person was really saved in the first place. Of course, the description of the person who falls away in Hebrews 6:4-6 is clearly described as a saved person, but somehow this is ignored.

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:1-11).

Thus, a person's actions do affect his salvation.

But you asked what does God do with a false teacher (someone teaching differently from what God teaches). "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9).

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