The Question of Losing Salvation or Eternal Security is Essentially a Matter of Law or Grace

Although I came to an understanding of eternal security early in my Christian walk; for many years, I believed that the matter losing your salvation was a secondary issue for others. I thought that those who taught that you could lose your salvation were preaching the same gospel message which produced the same salvation, but that their hearers simply lacked assurance of their eternal security.

I’ve come to believe that, that simply cannot be farther from the truth. The fact is, that those who teach that you can lose your salvation are in fact preaching another gospel.
 
While many attempt to confront this issue of losing salvation by clarifying or refuting misinterpretations of hard to understand passages and/or by attempting to prove the eternality of salvation once received; I believe that the issue of losing one’s salvation is much more appropriately addressed as an issue of law or grace, as the Apostle Paul did.
 
In the book of Galatians, we see Paul addressing error that had crept into the Galatian church. The Galatian church was abandoning the gospel of grace and turning to another gospel. Judaisers had crept in and begun teaching that one must, not only trust Christ, but also rely on works of the law for salvation. They taught that salvation was not complete or could not be maintained without the works of the law.

Although the Galatian church claimed to be saved by grace, they were no longer walking in grace, but in the flesh, according to the law.  Having begun through a foundation faith in Christ alone; they were returning to the weak and beggarly elements of the law. Because of this, they were also now preaching this altered gospel message to others.
 
Paul clearly did not view this as a secondary issue, or one to be overlooked. Paul viewed this as a departure from the true gospel and the embracing of another. He proclaimed that any who preach this perverted gospel are accursed.

Galatians 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: 7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.(emphasis mine)
 
Those who claim to be saved according this gospel are not trusting in the finished work of Christ and the sealing and rebirth of the Holy Spirit to keep them saved. They are instead trusting in their works to keep them. This teaching of adding works to grace does not simply affect assurance. According to Paul, it perverts their entire gospel message.  
 
Sadly, the majority of denominations of professing Christianity today believe and teach this same thing. Although many claim to believe in salvation through faith in Christ; they also believe that salvation can be lost, making the keeping of salvation contingent upon their subsequent works or walk.

The Methodists, Amish, Mennonites, Catholics, Lutherans, Churches of God, Churches of Christ, all agree with cults, such as Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons, in their denial of eternal security. These all believe that the maintaining of salvation is dependent upon their works or their walk.

While I’m pretty sure that most born-again Christians today can easily see that these denominations all preach another Gospel, of works; there is a huge movement today preaching this same false gospel that is not often recognized as such.

The Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is one of the fastest growing religious movements in the world, and while their adherents are generally viewed as born-again believers, almost all of them adhere to this same teaching that salvation can be lost.
According to the Pentecostal Assemblies of God:

“The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.”
“The believer’s salvation may be forfeited or abandoned by willfully turning away from Christ.”
“…the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ.”
-Assurance of Salvation (Adopted by the General Presbytery in Session August 5 & 7, 2017) official A/G Position paper

Did you notice that last statement? “the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ.” The security of their salvation depends on their relationship with Christ. They are trusting in their own ability to keep themselves in a right relationship with Christ, which means keeping themselves from sinning or falling away.

They claim to have trusted Christ to save them from past sins but not from future sins. They believe that they are saved by Jesus, washed clean and justified, and sealed with the Holy Spirit; but that salvation is conditional upon their future actions. Sinning, or breaking God’s moral laws would bring his condemnation upon them once again. So, after salvation, it’s up to them to remain in a state that merits their entrance into heaven, the same as every other works-based religion.

This is not simply a misunderstanding of eternal security. This is the same perverted gospel that Paul called another gospel. This is not the gospel that Paul preached. Paul made it clear that any who preach this gospel are accursed.

Galatians 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: 7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.(emphasis mine)
 
Paul asked the Galatians:

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2  This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? 3  Are ye so foolish? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH? 4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.(emphasis mine)

Paul’s question opens the conversation with,  “You who were saved by faith, are you now made perfect by your flesh?”; and also invites a myriad of other possible questions:
 
Is the law (that could not save you) now able to keep you?
You who have suffered persecution for the faith, was it all in vain if salvation could be lost in the end?
You who were not able to keep the law before salvation, do you believe that you can keep it now?
 
Galatians 3:11 But that NO man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall LIVE BY FAITH. (emphasis mine)
 
Ephesians 2:8  For by GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.(emphasis mine)
 
Grace completely excludes works and boasting because all of salvation is of Christ. Trying to be good enough to continue meriting salvation, shows that salvation is NOT of grace by faith at all. It is of works and most certainly allows for boasting. This is easily proven by the following verse.
 
Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
 
If it is by grace, it is no longer works, otherwise grace is no more grace.  It cannot be both works and grace or grace is nullified. That is why Paul told them...
 
Galatians 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
 
Those believing that justification is received OR maintained by works (keeping the law) have fallen from grace. They have simply missed grace, NOT lost it! They are rejecting it in order to put themselves under law again. Falling from grace is not losing salvation, but exactly the teaching that you must work to KEEP salvation.
 
Galatians 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
 
If Christ’s work was not sufficient to save them eternally, but depended upon the works of men; his death surely was in vain.
 
Sadly, as far as I know, most are not exactly sure when they have crossed the line or what specific sins will cause them to lose their salvation. Most would agree that murder, drunkenness or fornication would cause their destruction if they were to die in those sins. In order to trust that they are truly currently saved, they must be sure they are obeying Gods laws, at least the biggies anyway. But, what about lying, stealing, or coveting? Would evil thoughts, communications, or simply knowing to do good and doing it not, bring again the condemnation of sin that sends them to hell? What about not loving the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself?
 
You that desire to be under the law, do you not know what the law says?
 
Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (emphasis mine)
 
Do you not remember what James said “10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.”(emphasis mine)
 
With the law comes the condemnation of sin and death. If we cannot keep the WHOLE law, we are guilty of all. If salvation could be lost by sin, then we would all lose it the very day we were saved; because none of us are able to keep the whole law.
 
Praise God, that when we are saved, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law. We are freed from the law of sin and death.
 
Romans 8:1  There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (emphasis mine)
 
Sadly, many Pentecostals spend years struggling under the condemnation of sin, trying to maintain their salvation, endlessly repenting in attempts to secure it once again. If it were possible to lose salvation, how could anyone even think that repentance could secure it for them again?
 
REPENTANCE HAS NEVER SAVED. It cannot RE-SAVE when salvation is lost. ONLY JESUS CAN SAVE. So, then do we sacrifice him afresh bringing him to an open shame?  Certainly not.
 
Hebrews 6:4  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, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  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.
 
If salvation were able to be lost, the book of Hebrews makes it clear that it could not be regained as it was under the law. In the Old Covenant, they would believe in God, fall into sin, repent, offer sacrifices to him and their sins would be covered. This was done over, and, over again because their sins were never really taken away, just covered. Once Christ came, all that was done away with. There is no more sacrifice for sin. Christ died and paid the price for sin once for all. Then he sat down on the right hand of God.
 
Turning away from God and living in sin is evidence of a false salvation, not a lost salvation.
 
Matthew 7:17 “…EVERY good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but A CORRUPT TREE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL FRUIT. 18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (emphasis mine)
 
Hebrews 6:8  THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS IS REJECTED, and is nigh unto cursing; WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED. 9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.