Seven Reasons Why A Saved Person Cannot Be Lost
Introduction
I told you that I wanted to give you seven reasons that a born-again child of God could never again be a lost soul, and I’m going to do it in twenty minutes or less-I promise you that. You can set your watches, and it’ll be done tonight, because I just want to take the remainder of the time and just share with you. So you’re going to have to listen in a hurry. But I want to give you these reasons-you can jot them down.
Now when I am talking about the security of the believer, I’m not talking about being a church member. I am talking about someone who has been saved, someone who has been born again, and somebody who has become a partaker of the divine nature. I’m telling you that that person can never, ever again, be a lost soul. Not everyone who professes to be saved is saved. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, verses 22 and 23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). Now outwardly, they looked like they were saved, but they were never saved. They didn’t lose their salvation-they never had it. But Jesus said to His sheep, in John chapter 10, verses 27, 28, and 29: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).
Now there’s a difference between those who know, and those who never knew: those whom He never knew didn’t lose their salvation-they may have been religious, but they were never saved but, those He knows-those who have that personal relationship with Jesus-can never, ever be a lost soul. Somebody says, “Well, I know someone who was once saved, and now he’s lost.” No, you don’t. You know someone whom you thought was saved, but now he may be lost. But dear friend, a person who was truly saved can never, ever again, be a lost soul.
Well, you say, “What about all those people who were deacons, pastors, and so forth, and now they are infidels and atheists and so forth?” They were never saved. First John 2, verse 19: “They went out from us, but they were not of us? for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us? but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19). We have a saying around here: The faith that fizzles at the finish had a flaw from the first. They never, ever really were saved. They didn’t lose their salvation-they never had it. Let me give you these seven reasons, which explain why it is that, if you are a saved person, you can never, ever be a lost soul, again. Now let me get the watch out there, so that I’ll keep my word.
I. Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God, Which Is in Christ Jesus
All right now, listen. Reason number one is because nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Turn to Romans, chapter 8, and I begin reading in verse 38. You want me to give you a hundred dollars? I’ll give you a hundred dollars if you can name something that is left out of this sentence that might separate us from the love of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life”-I’ve already covered every base already? anything that happens to you: not death? nor anything that happens after death? nor anything that happens while you’re living? that already covers every base-“nor angels”-good angels or bad angels? the devil is a fallen angel-“nor principalities”-that means kingdoms-“nor powers”-that means authority-“nor things present”-that is, anything, anything that is present-“nor things to come”-anything that may be created-“nor height”-that means anything in Heaven-“nor depth”-that means anything in Hell. And in case he left anything out, he says, “nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Ladies and gentlemen, if there were no other verse in the Bible that dealt with eternal security, then this one would cover the base. I’m telling you: there is absolutely nothing that can separate a child of God from the love of his dear Lord. That’s the first reason.
II. When We Are Saved, We Are Made Perfect Forever
I want you to turn to Hebrews chapter 10, if you will, with me, for just a moment. The second reason is that, when we are saved, we are made perfect forever. Hebrews chapter 10, and look with me, if you will, please, in verse 14-Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 14-look at it. “For by one offering he”- Jesus? he is talking about Jesus-“hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). The word sanctified means “them that are saved.” Jesus, when He died on the cross, died one time-He doesn’t keep dying. And when He died, He died for your salvation, and He saves you forever.
Now salvation is not just a new start. In the Old Testament, when people committed sin, they had to come back and offer another sacrifice…and another sacrifice, and another sacrifice. But Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin forever. Now if sin were ever marked up against your name again, then you’d have to go back and get another sacrifice.
Listen to me folks. I want you to understand this. If you ever lost your salvation, in order for you to be saved again, then Jesus would have to die again. Do you understand that? If you ever lost your salvation, in order for you to be saved again, then Jesus would have to die again. When you got salvation it was marked “good for one salvation only.” Good for one salvation only. If it doesn’t last, then you’re going to have to get another sacrifice. “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). That’s the reason I defy you to show me, in the Bible, where anybody was ever saved twice. You find that, and I’ll give you another hundred dollars. You say, “That’s not enough.” All right, five hundred dollars-you name it. You won’t find, in the Bible, where anybody was saved twice. You can’t be saved twice because, “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
III. Our Lord Always Finishes What He Begins
All right, here’s the third reason: because our Lord always finishes what He begins. Turn with me to the book of Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6, and look at it please- Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6-the Bible says here, “Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it”-that is, He will complete it or keep it-“until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it.” Who began that good work in you? The Holy
Spirit of God. Do you know why you love Him? Because He first loved you. Who performed that work in you? The Holy Spirit of God.
Let me tell you what the Holy Spirit of God does for your salvation: number one, He was the Convictor-He convicted you of sin. Number two, He was the Converter-He worked a miracle in your heart. And I’m here to tell you that the Convictor and the Converter is also the Completer. Do you understand what I’m saying? “He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it” (Philippians 1:6).There’s no possible way that God will not finish what He’s begun. If God fails to finish what He’s begun, then God has failed, and He cannot fail. I have started to do a number of things before, and I’ve failed at them? but He cannot fail. He must prevail. “Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Now that’s the third reason.
IV. We Are Predestined to Be Like Jesus
The fourth reason-I want you to go back to Romans 8 again-the fourth reason is this: because we are predestined to be like Jesus. Turn with me now to Romans 8, and look with me in verses 29 and 30: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he”- God’s Son -“might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover”-watch it-“whom he did predestinate, them he also called? and whom he called, them he also justified? and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).
Now we’re in some deep water, and some deep theology. Now what is this all about? Well, first of all, God tells us two things. God looked down through His telescope of omniscience, and God saw a young man named Adrian Rogers, even before this world was put in space. God saw that young man. He saw that teenage kid. It doesn’t look like he’s got much hope. Looks like he deserves Hell. But He sees that boy named Adrian Rogers. He sees him repenting of his sin. He sees him in tears, asking Jesus to save him. He sees that boy healed, and He foreknows it. And when He sees that, not only does He foreknow it, but He also predestinates it. “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to become conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
Do you know what predestinate means? It means, friends, that it is already settled. My destiny is settled ahead of time. I am predestinated to be like Jesus. Now I want to ask you a question: If I’m predestinated to be like Jesus-if it is settled in eternity-how can it be undone in time? I am predestinated to be like Jesus. Do you understand that? Now you say you don’t understand it? Just believe it? believe it. We are predestinated to be like Jesus. And that my dear friend, is the fourth reason.
V. You Are in Christ
Now here’s the fifth reason that I want to give you, which explains why it is that a saved person can never, ever again, be a lost soul. Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17-look at it. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation? old things are past away? behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Here’s the fifth reason: because I am in Christ. I am in Christ. That means that I am a part of the Body of Christ. If I were to perish, then a part of Christ would perish. I will lose my relationship with God the Father when Jesus Christ loses His relationship with God the Father.
I am in Christ just like Noah was in Noah’s ark. Now if Noah went down, it would be because the ark went down-because Noah was in the ark. The ark was a picture of Jesus, and when Noah went into that ark, God shut the door. Not only did God shut the water out, but God also shut Noah in. Now listen, friend. Noah was in that ark. He may have fallen down a lot of times in that ark, but he never fell out of it. Amen? Because he was in Christ, and the door was shut. The Bible says: “after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). Noah was not outside of that ark, hanging onto a peg-he was inside that ark.
Dear friend, I want to tell you something: Some people think that they are going to be secure. They think that they are going to be secure when they get to Heaven. I want to tell you something: The angels fell from Heaven. If you’re not secure down here, then you wouldn’t be secure up there. Did you hear that? Your security is not in a place-it is in a person, and His name is Jesus. And if you’re in Jesus, then you’re secure? and if you’re not in Jesus, then you’re not secure.
VI. We Already Have Eternal Life
Now I want to give you the sixth reason. We’re making time, aren’t we? You’re listening good. All right, here’s the sixth reason that I can never, ever be a lost soul again. Turn, if you will, with me to John chapter 5 and verse 24. I want to give you another wonderful, wonderful verse-John chapter 5 and verse 24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment? but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
The sixth reason is this: because we already have eternal life. Listen to it again: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life…” (John 5:24). Have you believed on Jesus? Have you believed? Have you heard His Word? Have you believed on the God that sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world? Have you? Then, the Bible says that you now have everlasting life.
Everlasting life is not something you get when you die. Everlasting life is something you get when you receive Jesus. I have everlasting life right now. I’m not going to get everlasting life when I die. I have it now. I have it the moment that I receive Christ. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word”-I’ve heard it-“and believeth on him that sent me,”-and I believe-“hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment? but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). I’m not going to pass from death unto life-I have passed from death unto life. You’re looking at a man that can never die. Jesus said, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:26). I will never die. My carcass-my body-may cease to function for a while, but I cannot die. I have everlasting life.
Now I want to ask you a question: If I have everlasting life, when can it end? Suppose I had it for ten years, and then it ended. Did I have everlasting life? I had a ten-year life. Suppose that I kept it for fifty years, and then I lost it. Did I have everlasting life? I had fifty-year life. Friend, whatever you have-if you ever lose it-whatever it was, it wasn’t everlasting.
Do you understand what I’m saying? Dear friend, everlasting life is not something that you hope to get. Everlasting life is something that we now have, if we have Jesus Christ, and as the Bible says, “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life…” (John 5:24).
VII. Our Lord Jesus Christ Is Ever Interceding for Us
Now the last reason that I want to give you of these seven reasons is this: because my Lord Jesus Christ is ever interceding for me. Turn to John chapter 17. I can never be a lost soul again, because of the intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus. In John 17, verse 9, Jesus is praying, and this is what He says-He is praying for His disciples-He said, “I pray for them? I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me? for they are thine” (John 17:9). Now Jesus is praying. It is very clear that He is praying for the ones that the Father has given to Him. What is He praying for them? Look in verse 15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).
Now our Lord is praying that we would be kept in this present world-that we would be kept, literally, from the evil one. You say, “That’s wonderful? but Jesus prayed that almost two thousand years ago. He prayed that for Peter, James, and John, but He didn’t pray that for Ken, Adrian, and Jim. He didn’t pray that for you? He just prayed it for them, way back yonder.”
But now let me show you something, friend, and this ought to make you say, “Hallelujah!” Look in verse 20: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). And if you don’t mind, just write your name, if you’ve got your Bible open, right there. Just write your name right there. Jesus prayed for me! He looked down through the corridor of time, and Jesus said, “Father, I pray for these that thou hast given me, not that you’ll take them out of the world, but that you’ll keep them.” And then He said, “Father, not only do I pray for these, but I pray for those who will believe down there in Memphis, Tennessee - for those in Bellevue Baptist Church - I pray for them also.”
Now I want to ask you a question: Has Jesus ever prayed a prayer that wasn’t answered? No, not one. He said, “Father, I thank thee…that thou hearest me always” (John 11:42). “Always,” because Jesus always prays in the will of God. And the Bible says, “he ever liveth to make intercession for [us]” (Hebrews 7:25).
Conclusion
Now let me just give the conclusion for this. I’ve given you seven reasons. Somebody says, “Oh, but I believe that’s a dangerous doctrine.” Friend, it is error that is dangerous. It is truth that is never dangerous. It is not a dangerous doctrine. You say, “Well, people just won’t walk close to the Lord if you teach them that they’re once saved, always saved.” I try to walk as closely to the Lord as I can, and I believe that doctrine. Friend, I want to tell you: I serve my Lord not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude for what He’s done for me.
Wouldn’t a little child be frustrated if the child, when he disobeyed his parents, thought he was no longer a member of the family? He’s a member of the family…now he’s not a member of the family. Now he’s in…now he’s out. What kind of a neurotic child would that be? That child needs to learn that, if that child disobeys his parents, that the parent will lovingly scold that child and, if necessary, will chastise that child. That child knows that he is a part of the family, because Daddy loves him and Momma loves him. The Bible says, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).
I want to tell you, dear friend, that that is not a dangerous doctrine. If somebody says, “Well, if I believed in once saved, always saved, then I’d get saved, and I’d sin all I want to.” Friend, you’re looking at a man who sins all he wants to. I sin more than I want to. I don’t want to. If you have the idea that you’d get saved, and then you’d sin all you want to, and you have that kind of a sinning religion, then you don’t know the Bible, you don’t know the Lord, and you don’t know Jesus. You get saved and you get your want-er fixed, mister. As a matter of fact, you get a brand new want-er. He doesn’t just fix it - He gives you a new one.
If somebody says, “Well, there are other scriptures that seem to conflict this…”
Friend, any scripture that you look at, in proper context-and I don’t have time to get into that tonight, but I could show you, if I had time, that there is no scripture, rightly understood, that contradicts the blessed, wonderful doctrine that we are saved by grace, and kept by grace.
Isn’t it wonderful that we can be saved? It’s more wonderful that we can be saved, and know that we are saved. But it is trice wonderful to know that we can be saved, know that we’re saved, and know that we can never lose it. If you are saved, then I want you to rejoice in your wonderful salvation. If you are not saved, then I want you to receive such a wonderful salvation, because it may be, friend-it just may be-that somebody here tonight would say, “I’d like to be saved, but I just believe I couldn’t live it.” Friend, I have wonderful news: You cast yourself upon Jesus, and He will never, never leave you, nor forsake you. He’ll carry you through. And it won’t be because you are holding on to Him, but it will be because He’s holding on to you. Thank God! Hallelujah! Amen! Let’s pray.