Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation?

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Christians are concerned about their eternal security both for themselves and for loved ones who have passed on. Perhaps a loved one had been a devoted Church member for years and then lived a non-Christian like life prior to their death. Unfortunately, we don't know for sure who is saved and who isn't saved, because man can not look a the heart.

However, we do know that the Bible teaches that one who is BORN AGAIN is secure in the power of Christ and cannot lose their salvation. Our Churches consist of both wheat and tares, the saved and unsaved, just as our Lord told us in one of the Kingdom of Heaven parables. The difficulty arises when we try to determine who are the wheat and who are the tares.

1 Sam 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the HEART."

However, we can rest assured that a person once saved can not possibly lose their Salvation. There is a strong force in the Christian community that is in total opposition to the security of the Believer. This is a characteristic trade mark of the Church of Smyrna which is described in Revelation chapter two. The Apostle Paul as well as other New Testament writers also taught the eternal security of a Child of God as we shall see . . .

There are many who teach otherwise and it is not the intent of this study to become confrontational, but to look at the scriptures and rightly divide them and point out those passages which are commonly misinterpreted and appear to teach that a Child of God once saved, can then become "unsaved" and receive eternal damnation in hell. These misinterpretations lead to a wrongful conclusion that a Christian once saved can lose their salvation. We will look at the more difficult passages later, but first, - - -

We begin by looking at some general and rather obvious reasons why a Saved person can not be lost - - -

1) YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called CHILDREN OF GOD! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Question: Pertaining to the flesh, how does one become a Child of their parents?
Answer: They are BORN into the family by the WILL and ACTION of their Parents

A CHILD CAN NOT lose their RELATIONSHIP to their parents. The son or daughter will remain a child of their parents even under the following conditions - - -

  1. The Son Dies
  2. The Son adopts a new identity via name change, citizenship, etc.
  3. The Son Runs away - Departs - or isolates itself from the presence of the Parents
  4. The Son departs to another country, place, or locality
  5. The Son relinquishes citizenship of their birth country
  6. The Son declares NO RELATIONSHIP to the parents
  7. The Son, through wicked and evil conduct, brings reproach and shame to the parents
  8. The Son is adopted by other persons

The proof that the Son or Daughter is a child of the birth parents is in the DNA. Everything about the child can change, but the DNA is formed during the birth process and cannot be changed. Finger prints, footprints, dental records, and plastic surgery can all mask the true identity of a child, but the DNA cannot be masked.

Likewise, as the birth process characterizes the relationship of a child to its parents, so the Child of God is characterized by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 3:16
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God DWELLS IN YOU?

A Child of God has been PURCHASED by GOD himself and the Child no longer owns himself - - -

1 Cor 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit WHO IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN?

All activity and conduct non-representative of the Father can be committed by the Child, but the Father knows the Child. Such conduct can diminish fellowship between the Child and the Father. However, the DNA (The HOLY SPIRIT) will always identify the Child of the Father. Since the Holy Spirit is God, then God can be GRIEVED over such conduct of the child.

Ephesians 4:30
And do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

However, a child can most certainly lose their close and loving FELLOWSHIP with their parents. This loss generally occurs as a result of bad actions, (called sin) committed by the child. The same is true for a Christian.

Question: In the Spirit, how does one become a Child of God?
Answer: They are BORN of God

John 1
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become CHILDREN of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but OF GOD.

Just as a Child can not lose their RELATIONSHIP to their parents because of their physical relationship through birth, neither can a Christian lose their RELATIONSHIP to God via the supernatural experience, i.e., the "Born Again" experience.

John 3
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 "That which is BORN of the FLESH is FLESH, and that which is BORN of the SPIRIT is SPIRIT.
7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be BORN AGAIN.'

To come to the conclusion that a Child of God can lose their salvation is to contradict the BORN AGAIN experience which is a work of God. Even the Old Testament Saints knew that - - -

Psalms 3:8
Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Psalms 37:39
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD - - -

God himself is witness to the fact that a person in indeed a Child of God and has been Born Again or Saved- - -

Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are CHILDREN of God,

There is no bible formula or procedure for a Child of God to become unborn, unredeemed, unjustified, unsanctified, unsaved, or anything else that will sever the relationship between God and His children through the Supernatural Birth.

2) SALVATION IS OF THE LORD

To declare that a person can lose their own salvation is in effect saying that they are a God. Remember that Jesus said of his own impending death and resurrection - - -

John 10
17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.

I Have Power To Lay It Down, and

I Have Power To Take It Again.

This command I have received from My Father."

If a Child of God can lose their own salvation, they are in effect saying the same thing - - -

I HAVE POWER TO LAY IT DOWN, and

I HAVE POWER TO TAKE IT AGAIN.

If this be the case then this Saving power can be exercised numerous times. When a Child of God sins, they lose their Salvation - - - The Child of God repents and Salvation is obtained again. If this is the case, Salvation is NOT of the Lord. This is not just bad theology, it is a major sin that Jesus himself confronts in the Church at Smyrna.

3) YOU ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION

A Child of God is sealed by the Holy Spirit until their physical body is REDEEMED. The body of the Child of God will be redeemed whether it be in a corruptible state (in the grave) or in a mortal state (alive in the flesh) at the coming of our Lord.

Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

4) YOU HAVE BEEN CIRCUMCISED BY GOD

Abraham was given the sign of circumcision which was physically, an irreversible act. The children of Israel were required to have this identifiable trademark. In the same manner, a Child of God is circumcised by a Spiritually irreversible act of God - -

Romans 2:29
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and CIRCUMCISION is that of the heart, in the SPIRIT, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Colossians 2
11 In Him you were also CIRCUMCISED with the CIRCUMCISION made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

These are but a few simple illustrations that God uses to show us that WE BELONG TO HIM.

Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he IS NOT HIS.

DIFFICULT BIBLE PASSAGES AND THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER

In order to conclude that a Child of God can become "NOT A CHILD OF GOD" and therefore lose their salvation, it is necessary to misinterpret other Bible passages. From rather plain and straightforward examples given above, it is easy to see that Salvation constitutes a Relationship of a person to God. Fellowship with God is an entirely different matter and will be discussed later in this study. We begin by looking at the following:

REVELATION 3: 5 - 6

There is not enough time or space to fully develop the following but an explanation only will be given. For a complete review of this passage on the Church at Smyrna, please refer to the "Seven Churches of Revelation" Bible Topic Study on this website.

Revelation 3
5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

The above verses are addressed to the UNBELIEVERS in the CHURCH. You will remember Jesus second Kingdom of Heaven parable in Matthew 13 of the wheat and tares. The Tares are the UNBELIEVERS in the Church. You also see the same thing in the parable of the ten virgins where five are saved and five are unsaved. They were both waiting for the Bridegroom, but five did not have oil (the Holy Spirit) and were therefore lost from the very beginning.

The phrase "He who overcomes" is addressing the unsaved and the appeal to these folk is to obtain the righteousness of Christ symbolized by the white garments.

Rev 19:8
And to her (The Church) it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Notice from Revelation three things that happen at the moment one is Born Again - -

He who overcomes - - -

  1. shall be clothed in white garments, and
  2. I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but
  3. I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Jesus will not have to approach God the Father at a later time and say that He made a mistake and must therefore - - -

  1. Remove the Believers white garments
  2. Blot out his name from the Book of Life
  3. Apologize for confessing his name before His Father and before His angels.

Because Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 are addressed to the Churches, it is a common misinterpretation to assume that the listening audience is made of all Believers. While the Church is ON EARTH, it is made of wheat and tares, believers and unbelievers. After the rapture, the body of Christ will be purified and will consist of Believers only...

IF WE SIN WILLFULLY

Hebrews Chapter 10 is one of the most misunderstood passages of the Bible with regard to the Eternal Security of the Believer. Without this passage, most advocates of "Once Saved, Maybe Saved" would not have a foundation to place their doctrine. We begin as follows - - -

Hebrews 10
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

The phrase "received the knowledge of the truth" is referring to a Child of God.

2 Thessalonians 2
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be SAVED.

What the writer is saying is that if the Child of God sins willfully, then they can expect to be disciplined (judged) by the Lord. This judgment may take place by God himself or may be administered by the Church. This judgment will not be pleasant and the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the fiery indignation of the Lord against wickedness. Hopefully, a Believer will never personally experience this characteristic of God. We know that this fiery indignation will destroy the adversaries, but WILL NOT destroy the BELIEVER.

Unfortunately, King David knew something of the righteous indignation of the Lord after he murdered Uriah. As a Child of God, David would undergo Judgment from the Lord as Nathan the prophet spoke for the Lord as follows- - -

2 Samuel
9 "Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have KILLED Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have TAKEN HIS WIFE to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
10 "Now therefore, the SWORD SHALL NEVER DEPART FROM YOUR HOUSE, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."
11 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I WILL RAISE UP ADVERSITY against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 "For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun."

Before David could ASK for forgiveness of the Lord, it was revealed to him that the sin had ALREADY been put away.

13 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; YOU SHALL NOT DIE.

But what about the ten commandments? Where is the justice? There appears to be Adultery and Murder (Thou Shalt Not Kill) in this situation. Where is the DEATH PENALTY?

The answer to those questions is that David was an Israelite and a Child of the King. A Child of the King WILL NOT DIE ! ! ! The parallel here is that a Child of the King (Jesus Christ) in the Church will also NOT DIE.

Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Just as an Old Testament Jew could be put to death for breaking any law which carried the death penalty. The Jew who was put to death did not lose his or her salvation if they were saved in the first place. Likewise, a Believer of today can be put to death in the flesh, but not lose their salvation.

Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh YOU WILL DIE; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live

Question: What death is being referred to here? Physical or Spiritual?
Answer: The death is PHYSICAL

If a Believer so lives that he displeases God and/or brings reproach upon the Church, the Body of Christ, that person can expect to be put to death. This idea is completely foreign to most bible believing Churches. Jesus prophesied of this lack of faith and duty by the parable of the unjust Judge in Luke 18: 1-8

James Chapter 5 is an example of a Believer about to be put to death by the Elders of the Church. Fortunately in that case, the Believer repented and his life was given back to him. Please review the Bible Question and Answer section for a detailed look at this particular passage.

Another example is where the Apostle Paul commands that the Church put to death one of its own members who is mimicking the works of an Apostle through signs, wonders, and miracles. It is perfectly clear in the following verse that the Believer after being put to death WILL BE SAVED.

1 Cor 5
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 DELIVER SUCH A ONE TO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH, that his spirit may be SAVED in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 10:29
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?

In other words, if a Jew were put to death for breaking one of the commandments in the LAW which carried the death penalty which only POINTED to the coming Messiah, then what about a Believer in the Church who has insulted HIM personally?

Hebrews 10:30
For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."

The writer of Hebrews answers that question for you.

... A Believer Will Be Put To Death !!!

in such cases.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 CORINTHIANS 10

The following verses often are used to suggest that a Christian can lose their salvation. We will examine these verses as follows - - -

1 CORINTHIANS 10
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

The above verses are saying that ALL of the children of Israel were IDENTIFIED with Moses. They ALL came out of Egypt. They ALL ate the same food. The food and drink that they were consuming was the WORD OF GOD. This is NOT saying that they were ALL saved because they ALL heard and they ALL obeyed the command to come out of Egypt. The same is true of the Church which has both wheat and tares (saved and lost people).

2 Peter 2
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." .

Peter in the above verses is describing FALSE TEACHERS who by definition are LOST - - - Just because they are living a Christian-like life does not make them saved. They too have come out of Egypt. They have

Escaped The Pollutions Of The World

through

the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . .

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

There were wheat and tares among the Children of Israel just as there are wheat and tares in the church.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

Judgment would fall on the Children of Israel when they broke the covenant God had made with them. This judgment would fall on BOTH the wheat and tares because they were ALL identified with Moses. In the same manner, the Church would render judgment on members who were involved in public sins and bringing reproach upon the name of Christ. Would the Church elders know for CERTAIN that the offenders were saved? It would not make any difference for the Apostle Paul says - - -

1 CORINTHIANS 5
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone NAMED A BROTHER, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

Can the Church determine if the offender is actually a true wheat or a true tare? Of course not - - - However, the offender has IDENTIFIED himself with the Church and will therefore be disciplined for such behavior.

7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;
9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Judgment fell upon the Children of Israel for breaking the Covenant with God. This occurred whether or not they were saved but because they ALL were a party to the Covenant whether saved or unsaved and were thereby IDENTIFIED with Moses and the Law.

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The point he is making is that as Children of Israel and IDENTIFIED with Moses and the Law, and circumcised, they would be disciplined or judged BECAUSE they were of Moses.

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

The parallel here is steadfastness in Faith. Spiritual Idolatry and Spiritual Fornication are but two characteristics of Christians who have strayed from the Faith or "Doctrine of Christ".

Colossians 2
4 Now this I say lest anyone should DECEIVE you with persuasive words.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the STEADFASTNESS of your FAITH in Christ.
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the FAITH, as you have been TAUGHT, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Deceive you to do what? Commit Spiritual Idolatry and Spiritual Fornication ! ! ! The Faith he is talking about here is the DOCTRINE of Christ and not the exertion of some substandard believing force that a Christian would exhibit toward the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

If you fall victim to False Doctrine which develops in to False living, it is because of YOUR sin nature and disobedience to God's Word.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Idolatry? What idolatry? He is talking about straying from the Doctrine of Christ.

15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

Those Christians who are SOUND in Faith (Doctrine) know what he is talking about.

What happened to the Children of Israel in the FLESH, is to be an example to what happens to us in the SPIRIT. He is painting a picture for you and showing how some of the Children were dropping like flies for their disobedience. However, Christians are not dropping like flies in the FLESH today, but they are IN THE SPIRIT. God's disdain for the sins they committed as they ATE and DRANK is the same for you and me as we EAT and DRINK of God's Word today.

John 6:53
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you EAT the flesh of the Son of Man and DRINK His blood, you have no life in you.

Conclusion

  1. They were ALL baptized does not refer to the fact they were ALL SAVED
  2. They ALL ate and drank does not refer to the fact they were ALL SAVED
  3. God's people CAN lust after "evil things" to the point of their destruction (in the flesh)
  4. It is possible for God's people to become "Spiritual Idolaters"
  5. It is possible for God's people to commit "Spiritual Fornication"
  6. God will destroy (in the flesh) his people who put the Lord to the test
  7. A Believer can FALL from Steadfastness but NOT FROM SALVATION

If we can not fall from Salvation, then what is the point in being steadfast in the FAITH? The Apostle John will tell you - - -

2 John 1
6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that

WE MAY RECEIVE A FULL REWARD.

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

This is another passage that is often cited to point to the fact that a Believer can lose their Salvation. However, this is NOT what the parable teaches. For a complete examination of this passage in Matthew 25, please go to the RMS Bible Topic Study on the . . . Parable of the Ten Virgins

Please note that the word "VIRGIN" is used to characterize the persons in the parable, but DOES NOT refer to their salvation status. In a similar fashion, the word CHRISTIAN includes both Believers and Unbelievers although we sometimes qualify the word and refer to "TRUE CHRISTIANS" in our speech.

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

Many use the following parable to teach that a Believer can be lost. We examine the verses as follows - - -

Matthew 25:14
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

The man traveling to a far country is the Lord Jesus Christ who is now in heaven officiating as our Great High Priest as is positionally at the right hand of the Father. His own servants refers to the Church which again includes wheat and tares. Many Christians tend to exclude the idea of Believers and Unbelievers in these type parables and assume that our Lord is only including the Believers in the portrayal.

15 "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

The talents Jesus is referring to is "THE WORD OF GOD". This is repeated several times in scripture such as . . .

Matthew 13
11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 "For whoever has, to him MORE WILL BE GIVEN, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY from him.
13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Talents are merely a physical example that refers to the Spiritual aspect of producing fruit through and by the Word of God. This has already been shown from above passages in the Gospel of John.

16 "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

These two servants (wheat) are fruit bearing and represent the saved.

18 "But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

This servant is the tare and is "IN HIM" but does not produce any fruit.

19 "After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Rewards will be given at the marriage supper of the Lamb and Judgment will be dispensed at our Lord's second coming. The parable does not reflect that these are two separate and distinct events, but focuses on the results.

20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them."
21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them."
23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Notice - The first two servants . . . Produced Fruit . . .

Rewards are given to the Saved in accordance with their WORKS. The Word of God and WORKS by the Believer go hand-in-hand with each other.

24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 "And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours."

Notice - This third servant . . . Produced No Fruit . . .

Notice that this servant (the tare) did not know the Grace of God but knew him as a HARD MAN. This tare was following the Righteousness of Law (Works) and did not have the Righteousness of Christ. He was walking after the Flesh, and not by the Spirit. It was a tough road for this servant to follow and he knew only the HARDNESS of it.

26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

Notice here that our Lord condemns this servant because he had KNOWN about the sowing and reaping. Where did the servant get this information? He had access and knowledge of the Word of God but did not HEAR it. This (unsaved) servant never did produce anything more than what was given him.

28 "Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

This is almost a repeat of Matthew 13:11-13 stated above !!!

30 "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

CONCLUSION

We have shown that "A Child of God" cannot become an "UN-Child of God". The fact that a Christian can act like the world is a fact that is perhaps witnessed somewhere everyday. But this does not negate that fact that they belong to God. Also, as we have seen . . .

  1. Parables that address Servants are not always unique to Believers only
  2. He buried "his lord's money" refers to his response to the Word of God
  3. The unprofitable servant considered Jesus Christ - "His Lord"
  4. The Lord identifies the third servant as a tare and says he was a "wicked and lazy servant" !
  5. The third servant was a servant by the fact he was working in the FLESH, but not in the SPIRIT
  6. Even a small interest payment on the talent would have identified the third servant as a "WHEAT" and not "TARE"

1 Peter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are KEPT by the POWER OF GOD through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise,

The idea that a Born Again Believer can lose their salvation is a characteristic trait of the "Church at Smyrna" in Revelation Chapter 2. In that Church, it is shown that WORKS is the predominant theme and tends to diminish the fruit bearing results of Born Again Believers who walk by Faith.

A study of the Seven Churches of Revelation on this RMS website reveals that - - -

The Church of Ephesus - Teaches WORKS to GET YOU SAVED
The Church of Smyrna - Teaches WORKS to KEEP YOU SAVED

Edited: November 2023