Can I Lose My Salvation? Why It's Crucial to Fear God!

Friends, the question of whether we can lose our salvation is not something to brush off. It strikes at the heart of our faith, our relationship with Jesus, and where we will spend eternity. The Bible is straightforward and doesn't sugarcoat this truth. As we dig into this topic, let's lean on what Scripture says, not what the world or popular teachings might tell us. The words of Jesus and the apostles will guide us.

I urge you, don't take this lightly. Your eternity depends on the choices you make right now. Let God's Word sink deeply into your heart. Salvation is not a casual thing. Heaven and hell are real, and one day, we will all stand before Jesus to explain our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10). Will He say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," or will He say, "Depart from me, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23)?

HOW DO WE RECEIVE SALVATION?

Salvation is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us,

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works."

But let me be clear – salvation isn’t just about saying a prayer once and moving on. It’s a lifelong relationship that calls for commitment. Jesus said,

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

This walk with Him requires ongoing faithfulness.

We need to understand something important – grace is free, but it isn’t cheap. It cost Jesus His life. If we think salvation means we can live however we want without consequence, we are disrespecting the sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 10:26-27 warns us,

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment."

THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE – THE RECORD OF THE FAITHFUL

Revelations 3: 1-6 “Write to the angel   of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God   and the seven stars:   I know your works;   you have a reputation   for being alive, but you are dead.   Be alert   and strengthen   what remains, which is about to die,   for I have not found your works complete before my God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come   like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.   But you have a few people   in Sardis who have not defiled   their clothes,   and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. “In the same way, the one who conquers   will be dressed in white clothes,   and I will never erase his name from the book of life   but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.   “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen   to what the Spirit says   to the churches."

In Revelation 3:5 NKJ, Jesus says,

"The one who is victorious will... never have their name blotted out from the book of life."

This is a beautiful promise, but notice the condition – we must be victorious. If we do not remain faithful, Jesus implies that our names can indeed be removed. This shows that salvation isn’t automatically permanent if we turn away from Him.

Imagine this – your name, written by God Himself in His Book of Life. But imagine the heartbreak of seeing it erased because you chose to walk away. This thought should drive us to prayer and self-examination. Is your name still secure in that book?

2 PETER 2:20 – A WARNING FOR THOSE WHO TURN BACK

Peter gives us a serious warning in 2 Peter 2:20-21:

"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it... they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning."

In other words, turning back to sin after knowing Jesus leaves a person in greater danger than before they were saved.

Listen closely – Peter isn’t talking to people who never knew Christ. He’s talking to those who had a real relationship with Him but chose to return to their old ways. The imagery is sharp: "A dog returns to its vomit" (2 Peter 2:22). Will you go back to what God saved you from? If you do, you put your soul in danger. Sin leads to death (Romans 6:23).

JESUS’ WARNING TO THE CHURCHES (REVELATION 3:1-6)

Jesus’ words to the church in Sardis are chilling: "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead... If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief." He speaks to believers who appear faithful on the outside but are spiritually dead inside. Jesus warns that without repentance and renewed faithfulness, their names can be removed from the Book of Life.

Friends, this message is not for non-believers. It’s for those in the church. If these early churches were warned, shouldn’t we take this seriously too? It’s time to check your heart. Are you truly walking with Christ, or are you just going through the motions? Eternity hangs in the balance.

THE NECESSITY OF A HEALTHY FEAR OF GOD

Many today shy away from the idea of fearing God, but Scripture is clear – a healthy fear of the Lord is necessary for true wisdom and spiritual growth. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This fear isn’t about being terrified of God as if He’s waiting to punish you. It’s about reverence, awe, and respect for His holiness, power, and justice.

When we fear God, we take sin seriously. We recognize that He is not only a loving Father but also a righteous Judge. This fear leads to repentance and keeps us on the path of obedience. Philippians 2:12 reminds us to

"work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

Why? Because salvation is precious, and sin has real consequences.

If we live without this fear, we become complacent, thinking sin is no big deal. But God’s Word shows otherwise. Galatians 6:7 warns,

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

When we sow into sin, we will reap destruction. A healthy fear of God keeps us humble and aware of our need for His mercy and grace.

JAMES 5:19-20 – THE RISK OF WANDERING FROM THE TRUTH

James gives us a compassionate reminder in James 5:19-20:

"If one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back... whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death."

This tells us that even believers can drift away, but there is hope if they repent and return to God.

Notice that James mentions death – not just physical, but spiritual death. Wandering from the truth is dangerous. Salvation must be guarded and cultivated. Persistent sin, left unchecked, can lead to destruction.

FREE WILL AND THE COVENANT OF SALVATION

God is faithful and promises never to leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6). But let’s not forget – we have free will. God doesn’t force us to stay in this relationship. Just like in a marriage, faithfulness matters. Even the strongest marriages can end if one person chooses to walk away. The same applies to salvation. God’s grace is always there, but we can sever the relationship through continued sin and unfaithfulness.

A CALL TO WAKE UP AND STAY FAITHFUL

The real question isn’t if God can keep us – it’s if we will choose to stay in Him. Let the warnings of Scripture lead you to a place of holy reverence. This isn’t about fear of losing salvation randomly but about avoiding the danger of walking away from Jesus by our own sinful choices.

We must follow Gods Word, and HIS Word alone, not a denomination, not another man's opinion like John Calvin. Opinions are irrelevant when it comes to God's Word which is fact. He is a God of laws and his Word is unchanging, not malleable, not optional and not open to interpretation. When God says "No!" He means it. To go against this, adhering to some scripture but not all is disobedience, which is sin which leads to separation and death.

Stay close to Him, rely on His grace, and endure to the end. "The one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13).

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, recognizing the weight of Your Word. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help us to walk faithfully with You each day. Give us a holy fear that keeps us from sin and draws us closer to Your heart. Strengthen us to stand firm, and when we stumble, lead us back to repentance. May our names remain secure in Your Book of Life. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.