Based on Galatians 5 (New King James Version)
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Pope John Paul II said: “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Many controversies have existed about salvation, and if you can lose your salvation or not. As always, opinions vary and there are many. And as mentioned many times in the past, the universe is not based on an opinion. There is such a thing as absolute truth: the Truth of God. There is no opinion that can change or cancel out the existence of Almighty God. It is impossible that the opinions of one person or an entire society can impact in some way the Almighty. And that is why, if the Truth of God is truly irrefutable, then there is nothing left but to depend on and search His Word so we can find the Truth.
An important principle to bear in mind is that we can depend on the Word of God because it has no controversies; from Genesis to the Revelation. His Word works in perfect harmony. Each part agrees with the other. If someone finds some sort of contradiction it’s because they are studying a Bible version that is not trustworthy (because there are incomplete versions or bad translations of the Bible, especially in these last decades), or they are missing intermediate pieces, those parts that tie different passages together when seen in conjunction.
The first point is salvation. The bible is very clear in that you cannot earn salvation through works. You can never justify yourself through human works, or penance, or religious practices, etc. This is what the Bible declares: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. And this is the problem that the Apostle Paul is trying to fix through this letter to the Galatians, because many Jews had started to compel believers to live like Jews, by teaching them that they had to believe in Christ and also fulfill the law of Moses to obtain eternal life (like circumcision). The Lord Jesus set the complete plan of salvation in this one passage: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” Mark 1:14-15. Repentance consists of: asking God to forgive all of your sins and leaving them behind. And, believing in the Gospel consists of believing and making Jesus (the Gospel) the Lord of your life; because after all, how can you ever belong to God if you never give him your life, making him the Lord and owner of your life? This is the way that we are saved in Christ. You don’t need anything else.
The second thing, of whether we lose your salvation or not, can be explained like this. The Apostle Paul explains very clearly that there are things that cannot become a practice in the life of a believer, that they cannot become a lifestyle for someone that says that they belong to Christ. The Lord through Paul teaches that we must walk in the Spirit. The Scriptures also say this: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. So then, it is very clear that the salvation that God gave us through the Lord was not so we can continue doing those things that produce death, but rather, that we dedicate ourselves to doing good works. It is also very logical in that, if God rescued us from eternal death, why continue looking for those things that produce death? Let’s look at this example. Let’s say someone smoked cigarettes for many years, and that’s how they got lung cancer. But, they were cured from their cancer. Would it be logical for that person to continue smoking the same cigarettes that could cause them cancer again? That is what happens when a believer practices those things that produce spiritual death. They might not think it’s sin because they think that they are hurting no one with what they’re doing, but they’re fooling themselves, because they are hurting someone: themselves. The Word also says this: “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Hebrews 10:29-30. Is it worthwhile playing with God?
So then, if you are not saved in Christ, what are you waiting for? And if you are saved in Christ, don’t turn back! Don’t get involved with things that are not worthwhile! Always remember: your salvation is free, but it cost the highest price possible. Enjoy your freedom in Christ, but in good things! Lord bless! John