Landmark Baptist

Here I will give a list of New Testament Scriptures that show that if one is in God’s grace, one can do things that will separate one from God. I am not doing any extensive commentary, done in other articles on this issue, but merely a comment on why I chose these verses. This is not to say that believers will not be saved, but just that one must endure in that belief, and act according to that belief in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven. We know that we will not be cast out by Jesus (John 6:37), but we have the option of casting Him out of our lives by our actions. We know that nothing exterior to us can separate us from God (Rom. 8:38-39), but our own interior actions, and bad responses to those things exterior, can do so.

Now, here I am leaving out some passages that indirectly show that one can lose salvation. For example I will not give Matthew 25:31-46, James 2:14-26, Romans 2:6-13, which show that works are necessary for salvation. That is a whole other debate. I will not quote Scriptures that bring the general condemnation of unbelievers because that does not necessarily show that those constitute believers who fell or can fall away. I will concentrate on teachings that we know are directed towards Christian readers who already believe. Or at least when those receiving those teachings, include followers of Christ. For example Jesus teaches disciples as well as crowds on the Sermon on the Mount, that teaching would apply. Also for example, the Pauline and Johannine epistles are written specifically to Christians and are meant for Christians. I will not focus on when they are speaking about unbelievers, but when speaking to believers. I will not claim this is an exhaustive list, and have left out some verses that others use to say that one can lose salvation.

I believe the multitude of Scriptures shown here, show that one can lose salvation, but I will give these verses with very little comment.

26 of the 27 New Testament books are cited here. I will cite the books in the normal order of the New Testament books. I am using the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Since this is very long, I have it divided into three sections. First, I have the gospels & the Acts of the Apostles. Next, Paul’s writings (I have Hebrews as well, it is not settled that he did write Hebrews, but that is another issue, and it is in-between Titus & James). Finally, James through Revelation. That is if you don’t have the time to go through all these numerous verses, you can get to specific sections and books quicker.