Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:17

Once granted to you salvation can never be taken away or lost. God never goes back on His promises. There are many false doctrines about losing your salvation, but they are all a lie. The Bible is very clear, you can never lose the gift of eternal life. A Christian is a person who has, by faith trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” If you could lose salvation, then the new creation would have to be cancelled out and the old creation would return. It is important to note that the Bible does not teach sinless perfection during earthly life. However, Scripture does teach that a saved child of God will not be controlled by sin nor will they continually sin. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:30 continues, “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Christians have been redeemed through Christ, by faith. As you have been redeemed you have been bought for a price. For you to lose salvation God would have to refund the payment. In John 3:16, God promises eternal life to all those who trust in Christ. God never changes His mind nor goes back on His promises. Salvation is eternal, never ending.

After your salvation, the Devil will try to beguile you and try to make you doubt your eternal gift from God. He does this by tempting you to sin and question God’s promises. One of the Devils favourites is to make you think that now you are saved you can lose your salvation and your works are part of you keeping or maintaining your salvation.

The evil one will try to make you believe that good works maintain your salvation. He will use ungodly people around you to influence his negative impact on your spiritual life. The Devil can also use godly people to trick you. Beware of those who try to mislead you. The best defence against this attack is God’s Word. The Bible is a great weapon against falsehood.

The doubtful thoughts that Satan implants in the mind may start to sound logical, “do this and get this in return.”

Salvation does not work this way, for if it did then Jesus died in vain on the cross. On the cross Jesus paid the price of sin on behalf of all mankind. It was God’s sovereign will in action. God in His mercy before the foundation of the world chose to redeem sinners like you and me.

There are many branches of the Christian faith who have started to listen to the voice of Satan. This is why many Christians never look happy, joyful, or content with their lives. They have been tricked by Satan to think they need to do good things to be acceptable when they die. The big problem with this prideful and self-absorbing thinking is how do you know if you have done enough? The answer is you will not, because you can never do enough to earn salvation, it is a gift not a job that can be earned.

Turn to John 3:36 fill in the blanks below.

Who has everlasting life?_________________

What happens to those who do not believe? _______________

Who does the wrath of God abide on? _______________   

Turn to 1 John 5:13 fill in the blanks below.

Who grants salvation? _________________

Where can salvation be found? __________

Who can have salvation? _______________

By reading these two verses we can see with absolute clarity that man and his thoughts have nothing to do with salvation and once you truly believe you are saved forever.

Looking at John 10:28-30 answer the questions below.

Who shall never perish? ________________

Can those who have eternal life be snatched away? _________

Who is greater? __________________         

Jesus and the Father are ________    

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Some religions aided by the lies of Satan teach a “hope so” or a “think so” salvation. As we have just learnt this is completely against the teachings of God. The Word of God explicitly says that salvation is a know so confidence. As a result of your repentance and faith in Christ you will enter Heaven when you leave this world. You can have great assurance of this because God cannot lie. If He says you are saved by the blood of Christ, then you are saved!

Romans 10:9-10 says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Who do you confess is Lord? ___________

How do you confess this? ________________

What do you believe in your heart? ________

From the heart you believe _______________

With the month confess is made unto _______

Lesson Summary

God makes us some very generous and graceful promises in this lesson. He has told us that we do not have to pay for our salvation. Our salvation is a free gift from Him and that we can never do enough good things to earn salvation. We have learnt that Satan will use all manner of worldliness to discourage and distract us from the true service of God. We have also learnt that God will protect and direct our paths. Remember that God cannot lie, for if he could he would not be faithful and trustworthy. Hebrews 6:18 testifies to this fact. So, when doubts and fears arise turn to 1 Peter 5:7 and believe in God’s truth. Cast all your cares upon the Lord because he cares for you.

Remembrance verse

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.