How Can A Born-Again Christian Lose Their Salvation?

Can a Christian lose their salvation? If I deny the Holy Spirit, will I go to Hell? In short, no, if a person truly comes to Jesus Christ, he/she won’t lose their salvation. These 2 questions will be answered.

One of the great fears of many Christians is, can I lose my salvation through some means such as denying the Holy Spirit or continuing to sin. This question can bring about a hesitancy to love the Lord fully because of this false fear guise in the form of correct theology. There is no need to fear, as God will not throw you away when you get a little dirty. In short, no, you cannot lose your salvation.

This burdon of fear comes about in two fashions, both of which are founded on the sandy foundation of ignorance of scripture and ignorant speakers in the pulpit, as well as in the pews. Those fears being sinning too much, as if there was a finite limit on God’s Eternal Grace and denying the third person of God, that being the Holy Spirit.

One of the most misinterpreted passages that support the idea of a “thrown-away” child comes from Hebrews. The passage reads: “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.” ~Hebrews 6:4-6. Admittedly, this passage on it’s face would seem to support such a notion of losing your salvation, but the reader would be ignoring the basic tenants of hermeneutics, the correct way of interpreting the Bible. If we look more closely, we see that the book of Hebrews, as a whole, was written to Jews that were returning to the Jewish traditions – returning to adhering to the law – and not depending upon the complete Grace of Salvation through Jesus Christ. The law, sacrifices, not to mention man-made traditions the Jews created, were never meant to reconcile once self to God. The writer of Hebrews was speaking to those Jews, again laying down the foundation so as to bring them “back to the fold” as it were. When we take this into consideration, we have a better understanding of the verses mentioned above.

We must also ask the question to our misguided brothers and sisters that believe in such foolishness; which sin, sin combination, or the number of sins must one commit before they lose their salvation? If the reader believes that they can lose their salvation, wherein the entirety of scripture has God stated a sin limit. To believe that you have a trump card – a sin that cannot be forgiven – means that you can dismantle the work done on the cross, and that’s prideful, again making yourself a god.

But let us talk about the unpardonable sin. Let’s talk about denying the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age of in the age to come.” – Matthew 12:31-32

Jesus was speaking about willful sin as opposed to willingly sinning. While the difference might seem subtle, there is a chasm between the two that is wide. Christians willingly sin when he or she willingly walks carnally and not spiritually. They are enticed, then they dwell on sin, and once it has fully grown, they act on it. The WILLFUL sinner is not enticed and seeks out sin for the sake of sinning. While we were lost and grouping in the darkness looking for the light, we engaged in this, but no longer. It is impossible for a born-again Christian to deny the Holy Spirit, for the new creation would not allow it.

As Christians, we accept that Salvation comes by grace and not works. Those that believe that Salvation can be lost, believe that works keep them in grace, thereby bypassing the cross and making themselves gods. If you are a born-again Christian, stand on the Biblically firm foundation that you cannot lose your salvation that you have found through Jesus Christ. Yes, you will sin, but the New Man, that is the new creation that you are now, cannot sin (read and re-read Romans 7) and the Holy Spirit will guide you on your way, keeping you walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) to become more and more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

When salvation occurs, God gives the forgiven sinner a new heart and puts a new spirit within him (Ezekiel 36:26).

The Spirit will cause the saved person to walk in obedience to God’s Word (Ezekiel 36:26–27; James 2:26).

Because of Jesus, you are justified and not “thrown away” (Romans 8:30).

Who can bring any charge or condemn any born-again Christian – no one (Romans 8:33-34).

Born-again believers are “regenerated.” There is no spot in the Word of God that says that we can become “un-regenerated” (John 3:3, Titus 3:5).

There is nothing that can separate a child of God through Jesus (Matthew 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21) from the love of God (Romans 8:38–39).

I’ve heard this question in many forms, such as:

1. How can a born-again Christian lose their salvation?
2. Can a born-again Christian lose their salvation?
3. Can I lose my salvation if I deny the Holy Spirit?
4. How can i lose my salvation if i deny the Holy Spirit?
5. If i deny the holy spirit, will i lose my salvation?

Further reading: “Is once saved, always saved biblical?” – https://www.gotquestions.org/once-saved-always-saved.html