This post is in response to Kris K on last weeks Friday Night Free For All.
Salvation is not so much lost, it is thrown away. Just as belief is an act of the will, so is refusing God's gift of salvation an act of the will. Having done this myself in the past, I know what it means. I also know how hard it is to come back, even with repeated invitations from God.
Related link: PILLAR OF FIRE, PILLAR OF TRUTH ~ Catholic Answers, EWTN
Salvation is not so much lost, it is thrown away. Just as belief is an act of the will, so is refusing God's gift of salvation an act of the will. Having done this myself in the past, I know what it means. I also know how hard it is to come back, even with repeated invitations from God.
Some people promote an especially attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as "their personal Lord and Savior." The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible and constant Christian teaching.
Keep in mind what Paul told the Christians of his day: "If we have died with him [in baptism; see Rom. 6:3-4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). If we do not persevere, we shall not reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven.
The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 4:19-24]), but the Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation.
Writing to Christians, Paul said, "See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22-23; see also 1 Cor. 15:1-2, Heb. 10:26-29, 2 Pet. 2:20-21).
Note that Paul includes an important condition: "provided you remain in his kindness." He is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" (1 Cor. 10:11-12).
Related link: PILLAR OF FIRE, PILLAR OF TRUTH ~ Catholic Answers, EWTN