Faith

Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?

by Andrew Tuttle
06/24/23
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Can someone destined for heaven end up in hell?

Ask a pastor how often they get the question, “Can a Christian lose their salvation?” Probably ranks right up there with, “Can God create a rock so heavy he cannot lift it?”

I’ve witnessed people, seemingly Christian, who turned their backs on the Lord. Some might say those who engage in such backsliding were never Christian to begin with, therefore, outside true repentance don’t expect them in heaven. But others quote John 10:28 which says, “and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

This verse implies that a so-called backslidden Christian need not worry about his or her eternal destination. He or she, despite their sinful unrepentant ways, will live in glory with the Lord. Ultimately, this question often leads further down the did God chose you or did you choose God rabbit trail, i.e. Calvinist vs Arminian theology.

Other Biblical passages support the idea one can lose their faith. Galatians 5: 19-21 states, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Thus, a Christian continuing in their way of sin, arguably, will not inherit the kingdom of God. The argument, of course, circles right back to whether someone who accepts Christ but continues in sin, did that person truly in their heart Romans 10:9 & 10 it?

If I may indulge, forget all the above. I have heard several pastors address the question of whether or not a Christian can lose their salvation and more or less the response parallels the other. Basically, Yes, No, Maybe So. But, never have I heard the argument equating a Christian losing their salvation to marital divorce.

Have you ever heard of Charles Templeton? He was Billy Graham’s partner, if you will, in his early years. Templeton spoke to tens of thousands about the Lord and later rejected the Christian faith, even writing a book entitled Farewell to God stating his reason for rejecting Christianity. Maybe he never really knew the Lord thus he was never saved. Or maybe he truly was a Christian and eventually decided to dissolve his marriage with the Lord.

If a married person wakes up one day and decides, “I’m done with this marriage,” walks out on their spouse and proceeds with a divorce, is he or she still married to their spouse? Even if the husband or wife of said spouse fights tooth and nail to save the marriage, if eventually a certificate of divorce is issued and the spouse is sent their way, are the two still married?

No.

“For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel in Malachi 2:16.

In Matthew, Jesus allows one exception for divorce: “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Why does God hate divorce? Why does God only allow one reason for divorce? Since the Bible refers to Christians as the bride and Jesus as the bridegroom, perhaps He hates divorce because He does not want to be separated from us once we say, “I do.” The Old Testament repeatedly shows the Jews turning their backs on the Lord for false gods. God doesn’t hold a gun to their head and say, “Worship me!” instead he leaves them to their own devices while constantly warning them of the wrath to come if they do not turn from their sinful ways back into His loving arms.

Similarly, if one half a married couple decides to follow a false spouse whether an affair with another or simply moving on from the  marriage for (fill in the blank) the offended husband or wife can protest all they want but ultimately if their other half chooses to dissolve the marriage, they are no longer married. Templeton was married three times, the first two ending in divorce. When he died, he was married to his third wife, not his first love.

As such, if a Christian, who once truly embraced the Lord decides to end the relationship with God and live life on their terms or with another god, wanting nothing to do with Christ, then how can that person spend eternity in heaven with the God they ultimately rejected?

Now you know why God hates divorce.