It is on my heart to say a few words on this all-important subject. I can only touch the fringe of it, but the Word of God is itself the great answer to the question, and I ask my readers to study prayerfully for themselves God’s answer to it.
Can a Christian ever be lost? Let me ask another question. Who is a Christian? Scripture tells us that a Christian is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who has been born again (read John 3.) One who has passed from death unto life, from darkness into light. One whose sins have all been blotted out by the precious blood of Jesus. One who can call Christ Saviour, and God Father, and one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. One who stands on the resurrection side of the cross; who is seated in heavenly places in Christ; who is accepted in the beloved. One who knows the voice of the Good Shepherd, and has had bestowed upon him eternal life. One who is held in the hand of Him who holds the world. Can such an one be lost? No; ten thousand times no. As long as God is the living God, so long will those who are in His hand be secure. As long as Christ is a living Saviour, so long will those who are redeemed by His blood be safe. “I give unto them eternal life.”
How can eternal life be anything but eternal? If once am a possessor of eternal life, how can I ever lose it? “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” These are the words of the Lord Jesus. Can you believe them? Do you believe them?
You remember what the child said, who had trusted in Jesus, and someone asked her if she thought she could ever be lost. Her answer was, “Not while the tenth of John is in the Bible.” She did not say, “Not as long as I keep happy; not as long as I do what is right.” She took her stand upon the testimony of the Word of God that endureth forever. She looked beyond herself altogether. He had given the word and she believed it. It was this simple trust of hers that kept her happy.
This eternal life is a gift from God. “The gift of God is eternal life.” Is it likely that God will ever take back what He has once given? You would not like to do such a thing, and will God do it? No, eternal life is mine forever the moment I believe in Jesus; the moment I am “born again” I am as sure of heaven as if I was there.
The Lord Jesus Himself is the believer’s life. Will Christ live forever? Then the life He gives must be eternal, for He is the Life. “I am the Life.” He gives me Himself. “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” If a Christian can be lost, I say it with all reverence, then Christ can be lost. Eternal life is hid with Christ in God, and who can take it from that hiding place? If this life were in my keeping I might lose it any day. I cannot preserve my natural life, and I could not keep my spiritual life, but God keeps it for me. I see it on the throne of God.
Where is Christ now? He is not on the cross, nor in the grave, nor on the earth; He is in heaven. When did He go to heaven? “When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” When sin was put away and the question of sin settled, then Jesus, the Sin-bearer, took His seat on high. This was the proof of God’s satisfaction in the work of Christ.
Never, never doubt, my readers, the security of the one who trusts in Christ. To doubt that is to doubt the efficacy of the work of Christ; it is to cast a shadow upon accomplished salvation. “They shall never perish.” That is plain and positive. If Christ had not finished the work, then I might doubt my security, but it is an eternal salvation, and God is the Author of it.
Our eternal life is hid with Christ in God. The Christian cannot be separated from Christ. I stand or fall with Christ. As long as the ark floated Noah was safe; as long as Christ lives the believer is secure.