CAN A CHILD OF GOD SIN AND BE LOST? - LESSON 5

TAKE A QUIZ

Can a child of God sin and be lost? Yes No

Many have been taught that once one becomes a Christian there is nothing he can do to be lost. This is the doctrine which is popularly called “once saved always saved” or, in the creeds and manuals, The Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. It is the “P” in the “TULIP” of Calvinism.

However, the Bible teaches that it is possible for a believer to become an unbeliever, a child of God can so sin as to be lost. This subject needs to be taught because this erroneous view of perseverance is a deceitful doctrine that lures men into a false sense of confidence and a false system of justification.

II PETER 1:10

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

First, it is important that you make clear you do not believe in the inevitability of apostasy. This passage teaches that the believer is secure in Christ. However, the passage also teaches that there is a possibility of apostasy. The Christian needs to be concerned about avoiding sin.

1/13

I CORINTHIANS 10:12

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Israel entered into a covenant with God having Moses as their mediator upon crossing the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 14:30). They were in fellowship with God because they ate heavenly bread and drank heavenly water. However, they murmured and rebelled lusting after evil things––they were not satisfied with what God provided and turned back in their hearts to Egypt (Numbers 11:5-7). For their treachery God slew them until they all perished, except Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:21-35; Deuteronomy 2:16-18). Paul says that these things are for our learning; therefore, let him that thinks he is standing take heed to avoid falling as they did. Just as Israel fell and could not enter into Canaan, so we may fall and not enter into Heaven.

2/13

HEBREWS 3:12-4:1

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. 4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

The Hebrew writer refers to the same series of events in the history of Israel as the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10. Notice that he warns brethren to take heed against an evil heart of unbelief (3:12) that will result in a departure from the living God. Can a believer become an unbeliever? This passage says that he can. The believer’s standing is maintained through steadfastness (3:14). The exhortation continues into chapter four where Christians are told to fear God. Those that follow the course of Israel will also miss the promised rest of eternal life (4:6-9).

3/13

EZEKIEL 18:24-28

24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

This text reveals an eternal principle of God’s righteousness. When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness by sinning and dies with guilt; he loses his soul (cf. John 8:21, 24). However, a wicked man that repents will be saved.

4/13

LUKE 8:13

13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Jesus taught that believers could sin and be lost in the parable of the Sower. Those on the rock had no root. They heard, believed and received the word with joy (they were saved). However, in time of temptation they sinned, and fell away (cf. Mark 4:17; Matthew 13:20–21).

5/13

JOHN 15:1-10

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Christ is the vine. Men are the branches (John 15:6). He will cut away the branch that does not bear fruit. The branch was once part of the vine but was taken away. It is not necessary that one become an unfruitful branch. He can continue in the commandments of Christ (John 15:10). Therefore, a believer can fall away and be lost.

6/13

I CORINTHIANS 9:27

27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

The Apostle Paul is certainly an example of a man that wanted to go to heaven. He was a man of great confidence in his salvation (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8). However, this stalwart defender of the faith said it was possible that even he could become a castaway and be lost.

7/13

GALATIANS 5:4

4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Those who were trying to justify themselves by the Old Law had fallen from grace. They had done that which some modern denominations tell us is impossible. They had left the faith, gone into error and were lost.

8/13

HEBREWS 10:26-31

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

These had (1) received the knowledge of the truth, (2) sinned, (3) were without a sacrifice (4) had nothing to look forward to but a fiery judgment (5) worse than death (6) which would be directed at them, the people of God, (7) from the living God.

9/13

2 PETER 2:20-21

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Notice in this text that (1) they had escaped the pollution that is in the world, (2) were again entangled in it, (3) and overcome by it, (4) their latter end was worse than their former condemnation, (5) it would have been better for them to have never known the truth, than (6) after they had known it, to (7) turn aside from the holy commandment. The Christian that goes back into sin is like a sow that returns to wallowing in the mire and a dog that comes back to lick up his own vomit.

10/13

ACTS 8:20-23

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

Here is the case of a Christian (a penitent, confessing baptized believer, see: 8:12-14) that committed a grievous sin. Was he destined and doomed to eternal ruin? No, he could be saved from the consequences of his iniquity through repentance and prayer. So may you.

11/13

1 JOHN 1:7-9

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

God is faithful to forgive the Christian that confesses his sins, that is, He will always do it. We can be confident that Christ knows us because we are keeping this commandment (2:1-4).

12/13

JAMES 5:16-20

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTARY

When the Christian confesses his sins to God in prayer his soul is saved from death and a multitude of sins are hidden.

13/13

Completed!

CLICK TO BEGIN LESSON 2 - UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE

Home