I know this is a controversial topic. I am starting a Bible study with a dear friend who believes we can lose our salvation. I, on the other hand, believe that by God's grace we are saved. I am eternally saved and I do not believe I will lose my salvation. Let me know your thoughts and please back it up by scripture.

I know this is a huge topic...but, it's a very important one! Thanks for your input.

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Romans 8:35-39, 'who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing!

This is a good place to start and it is a huge controversy. My sister believes in conditional salvation and friends near where I live also think they can lose their salvation.

Arguing will do no good once they are hooked into this belief system. There are 15 references to eternal life in the book of John alone. 3:15, 16, 4:14, 4:36, 5:24, 5:39, 6:27, 6:39, 6:40, 6:47, 6:51, 6:54, 6:58, 10:28, 11:26, 12:50

Jesus said in John 6:39, "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day."

Jesus said in John 10:28,29, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand

You see, this is God's, "will", that we have been chosen.

Jesus again said in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain,-"

Why are we chosen? To speak of His glory. To bear witness of Him.

I don't want to overwhelm you with scripture, and there is a lot more to digest but it boils down to faith in Jesus Christ, that He can do what He says He can do.

Conditional salvation is belief in self and is self-righteousness.

Let me finish with the rest of Paul's writing in Roman's 8:38,39,

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angel nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

You want to be prepared so here are some scriptures they may use:

Heb. 10:26, 27 - For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 6:4-6 -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, 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, 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.

Matt. 24:13 - But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Those who worship the Antichrist (instead of Christ in the Greek) will cast their salvation at his feet. In the following verses are descriptions how they will feel when Christ returns:

Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

This bears repeating, but if you simply can not understand that the Antichrist comes first, before Jesus Christ's return, you will worship the Antichrist as the true Christ. This verse is describing how you will feel when you see the true Christ at the seventh trumpet. The fear will be so great that it will be a terror to your mind for the sins that you have committed in worshipping the false christ.

Hosea 10:8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

These "high places" refer to places of worship, and they are described as "of aven", or being of "nothingness". At Christ's return, all sins of Israel shall be destroyed. All false religions, false teachers, idols, and all sin will be done away with. God's house will have no "one verse Pastors", no ministers to fleece the flock, or special programs for the building fund, or any other gimmicks to take away from teaching God's word and His ways. They will all be gone.

We know that the last part of verse eight talks about those Christians who allowed the thorns and idols to take over their altars to God; Their worship and study time. It is written in Revelation 9, that Satan's locust army of fallen angels, would deceive God's people in this final generation, because the people have not prepared themselves.

When Jesus Christ returns at the last trumpet, and all the people see Him in person, they will know then that they have been deceived by Satan, which is called "Abaddon" in the Hebrew, and Apollyon in the Greek [Revelation 9:11]. It is at this time they will all cry out in shame, "and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, fall upon us". They will know they have worshipped the false Christ.

Then, too, there is the unpardonable sin, which you can read about in the following:

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Spirit) shall not be forgiven unto men.

Jesus is telling you that all manner of sin is forgivable, except the sin committed by God's elect when he refuses to allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak through him when he is delivered up in the time of the end. This sin is spoken of in Mark 13:11, "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

You can call Jesus Christ what ever you want to, and even deny Christ before men, and upon repentance that act of sin will be forgiven of you. When the Holy Spirit of God wishes to use you, Jesus is warning you against not allowing Him to use your mouth, for He will do the thinking, and do the premeditating for you. When Christ healed the blind and dumb man, he both saw Christ, and spoke of Him. He spoke of the good news that Christ brought to him. This denying of the Holy Spirit then, is the unforgivable sin that only God's elect can commit.

Once saved always saved is not a Christ like doctrine it is from the pits of hell. A born again Christian can lose their salvation. When Jesus in Revelation from Chapter 2-4 addressed the seven churches according to the record John bare. Those seven churches were literal and spiritual at the same time. Jesus gave John understanding according to His revelation of those churches in that region and what they were doing at that time. Along with having understanding of this is how throughout history there would be seven types of churches (body of Christ) that would have done certain things acceptable along with things which Jesus hated. He told those churches each one of them about themselves truthfully as He is God Almighty that weighs all the spirits in balances. His message to them all was to repent every single one of them. He also told those who lived continually faithful in His eyes to remain doing so or their fate would be the same as does who are found guilty before Him in the great and notable day of His coming. He confirmed this in His earthly ministry saying in Matthew 24 V.13; Those who endure until the end the same shall be saved. So Jesus is in Hebrews 12 V.2: the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. So our faith begins and ends with Him (Jesus), if our faith is drifted of to other places then in Hebrews 10 V.26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, the Bible clearly says that premeditated sins cause no more sacrifice of sin (remission for sins). Now if the Scriptures clearly state this and you so ignorantly don't accept then you've allowed a false doctrine to hold you captive. Jesus is who defines salvation and He is the one that grants salvation. So it makes perfect harmony with Scripture that He ultimately will grant those whom He see fit to be with Him for eternity. Am I saying that one can't obtain eternal life? God forbid for many of those banner text Scriptures you use say that we can have eternal life through Jesus Christ. But the Bible also tells the conditional state in which that eternal life is inherited and thereby maintained. In revelation there are two Scriptures that defined God's people. And they had two things synonymous with them. The following Scriptures will define the two things in common. Revelation 12 V.17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 14 V.12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. See both Scriptures harmonize insomuch that saints were define by keeping the commandments of God (living obediently) and testimony/faith in Jesus Christ (believing in Jesus Christ). You couldn't have one without the other. This is how the Bible defined the saints that obeyed God and believed in Him through Jesus. Not faith only! Or commandments only! But both intertwined with one another! This confirms Jesus in John 8 V.31: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Also in John 14 V.15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. So commandments are tied within having faith in Jesus Christ which both are essential thus fulfilling all things to the Christian. I do believe in a Christian having eternal life but that is rested upon Jesus's decision of your conditions meeting up with His will. Not unconditionally which then tells others that I can basically do whatever I want and there would be no consequences. So why be a Christian if I can basically do what the world does and be saved this is apostate. 1 Timothy 3 V.1-6: This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. A bishop wasn't someone new to the "Word of God" this was a man of God (Christian) who's been in the things of God for many seasons. Hence, the Scripture warns he shouldn't be a novice. A novice fits one who has just accepted Christ and became saved. But lifting in pride is believing that this salvation can be toyed with by living any kind of way. The Bible clearly says that he"ll (novice bishop) will have the same fate as the devil. Well in Scriptures his (devil's) fate was to be cast out of heaven and be put into this current hell. Therefore, later receiving the final reward as Revelation states which is eternal torturing in the lake of fire with brimstone. So if a novice bishop has the same fate as the devil through pride? What about the novice Christian that doesn't adhere to the "Word of God"? People today want to manipulate the "Word of God" but end up manipulating themselves through wanting to live lukewarm by obessive sinful nature. We've seen people with canonization credentials like Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 9 V.27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. The word castaway to "once saved always saved" heretics say that Paul was talking about rewards that one loses. The word rewards isn't even pluralize in the Bible but rather singular referring to inheritance hence salvation. Paul knew that if he didn't walk out what he preached then his fate would be decided. He knew what a reprobate mind can do to a person. And that is why he humbly said that for God is no respecter of persons. Paul knowing that knew he had to stay his course (continue to live obediently before the Lord). Am I saying Paul was perfect or anyone in the Bible of that matter? God forbid! But the difference between them and modern day so called Christians? Is the true conviction of repenting from their sins and not continuing in it therein. Their sins were listed in the Bible but only in few seasons. Not something constantly done putting the Son of God trodden under foot afresh. We have to truly grasp the Scriptural truths for what they are and not our own ideology. Jesus said in Mark 8 V.34: And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. This is self-explanatory with us ensuring that we have the willing sacrificial heart to surrender out thoughts, needs, desires, wants, emotions, to God's will. For His will is perfect. 2 Corinthians 12 V.9-10: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. herefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Yes Paul was talking about him understanding through humility God's grace. But those verses are for us as well through his witness. So "Once Saved, Always Saved". Isn't scriptural by Jesus's standard and neither is it according the apostle's witness. This phrase never came out of their mouths. If anything the otherwise of overcoming, staying and finishing your course, faith w/ works, and abstaining from sin was always continually in their mouths and still is the pedigree which Jesus will use true men of God to preach. I pray that Spirit of Christ enlighten you concerning the truth that "Once Saved Always Saved" isn't biblical and should have no place in a true temple of Christ.