All right, as we come to God's Word this morning,
as promised, we're going to be dealing with this question.
Can I lose my salvation?
It's a big question, and so I hope you don't mind.
There's going to be a big answer,
and we're going to go a few minutes longer today,
so grace yourselves.
Kids, feel free to get a clipboard if you haven't got one yet.
I can't really chop this into two pieces,
and I will try to go a few minutes less next Sunday.
So here we go.
Can I lose my salvation?
We've come to this as we've been exploring Jesus' teaching
about vine and branches and fruit in John 15,
and he's made some statements that kind of get us wondering.
He, referring to his father, said,
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.
And then again in verse 6, he said,
If you do not remain in me,
you're like a branch that is thrown away and withers.
Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
So the question arises,
is Jesus saying that there's a real danger of losing our salvation,
or of losing our vital connection with Jesus once we have it.
We're going to be moving pretty quickly today.
There's lots of scriptures, so let's go.
Let's start with verse 2.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.
The big question here is,
what does Jesus mean when he says that the branches are in me?
And there are two views, two major views.
One view is that every branch in me refers to genuine,
born-again followers of Jesus,
and that being cut off refers to them losing their saving connection to Christ.
The second view is that every branch in me refers to all visible followers of Christ,
all who claim the name of Christ,
and that the branches that are cut off refers only to those among the visible church
who are not true, born-again believers,
who are believers in name only.
And while there's debate and disagreement over this,
I will tell you today that the second view is really the only one that fits
with the rest of the Bible's teaching on the subject.
And we're going to look at that teaching today.
We can also reason this out and arrive at number two
just by looking a little more closely at Jesus' own words in this passage.
Which branches are cut off?
Well, Jesus says it's the ones that bear no fruit.
And down in verse five, he says,
If you remain in me and die in you, you will bear much fruit.
So there's a guaranteed fruitfulness for all branches that remain in the vine.
All who stay connected to Christ, who continue to follow him,
continue to believe in him.
Which means that the branches that are cut off
are only those who don't remain in Christ,
who don't have that faith,
who don't continue to follow him.
We might picture it this way.
If the church is a fruit tree,
Jesus is the trunk.
Those who attend the church are the branches.
And at the end of our church's story,
there will be some branches which look dead
and have no fruit on them at all.
While others around them will have much fruit on them.
And it will be obvious.
Those that have no fruit and look dead
are that way for a reason.
There has been a problem with their connection to the tree.
They haven't really been connected
as the other branches have all along.
And that's why there's no fruit.
That's why there's no life in the branch.
Now they might look from the outward view of things
to be connected to Christ,
to be part of the tree,
but it's really the fruit produced.
That's the evidence of whether they have
the life-giving flow of the tree coming into them.
And in all such cases,
the problem is not with the tree,
the main trunk.
The problem is not with Jesus,
the source of life,
the one who enables us to produce much fruit.
The problem lies with the branch
and its own connection to the tree.
Did that person remain in Christ?
Did they truly repent and believe in Him
and hold fast to Him and His word?
Or was it only a superficial thing?
A thing of appearances?
Were they merely pretending?
Calling themselves Christians,
but not really believing from the heart?
What Jesus is getting at here is this.
The mark of every true believer
is the presence of fruit in their lives.
And it makes sense.
The mark of everyone who has been born again
by the Holy Spirit
is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces
in our lives.
And there's no defectiveness in God's Spirit.
If the Spirit of Christ lives in you,
you will bear that good fruit.
And if the Spirit of Christ does not live in you,
the branch of your life will be bare
and you will be cut off, says Jesus.
These words of Jesus are a warning
that there is no substitute
for genuinely remaining in Jesus.
There's no substitute for sincerely embracing
for sincerely embracing Jesus Christ.
All that He is.
All that He did.
All that He says.
There's no substitute for a sincere faith.
And eventually it will become obvious
who are the pretenders
and who are the real deal.
who are the imposters
and who are the true children of the kingdom.
So that's verse 2.
On to verse 6.
Jesus says,
If anyone does not remain in Me,
he is thrown away like a branch
and dries up.
And they gather them
and throw them into the fire.
And they are burned.
Again, there are two views here.
Some may suggest
that you can't stay connected to Jesus
unless you've been connected
in the first place.
And accordingly,
they might say,
Well, you could choose
at some point in your life
not to continue with Jesus.
This view would say
that you had eternal life,
but then you lost it.
The other way of understanding this
would be this,
that this warning Jesus gives
is for all who claim
to be a follower of Jesus,
for all who visibly identify themselves
with Jesus in some way.
And this warning by God's grace
causes those who are truly born again
to remain in Him.
They see the consequences
of forsaking Him.
But some who are now claiming
to be followers of Christ
and are not truly born again,
they are the ones
who do not remain in the vine
and suffer this awful fate described.
And again,
I think this second view
better reflects
what the rest of the Bible teaches
about our salvation.
All of this has to do
with an important doctrine
of our faith.
Eternal security
is sometimes what we call it.
Eternal security of the believer.
Other times,
it's referred to
as the perseverance
of the saints.
Now,
some Christians
will get into a squabble
about the labels
and which one
is the right one.
You might hear,
I believe in eternal security.
And those perseverance
of the saints people,
you guys are preaching
works-based salvation.
Or,
I believe in perseverance
of the saints.
It's all over the New Testament.
And those
eternal security people
are giving people
false assurance
of salvation.
salvation.
But when it comes
right down to it,
there is no need
to squabble about this.
Both of these labels
are helpful
and they capture
a biblical truth.
It's not a case
of either or.
It's both.
Neither of these
biblical truths
on their own
tells the whole story
of how we are saved.
So let's get into
some passages
and see both of these
clearly taught
from the Word of God.
First of all,
Jesus and the apostles
did teach
that true
born-again believers
are secure
in their salvation
and cannot lose it.
John chapter 10
verse 26.
But you do not believe
because you are not
my sheep.
My sheep listen
to my voice.
I know them
and they follow me.
I give them
eternal life
and they shall
never perish.
No one will snatch
them out of my hand.
My Father
who has given
them to me
is greater than all.
No one can snatch
them out of
my Father's hand.
So Jesus describes
his relationship
with those who
truly believe
as being
they are his sheep.
He is their shepherd.
They are his sheep.
And there's no
superficiality here.
There's no wondering
whether or not
they are true sheep.
Jesus says
I know them
and they follow me.
I give them
eternal life
and they shall
never perish.
No one can snatch
them out of my hand.
No one can snatch
them out of my
Father's hand.
Eternal life.
Never perish.
It doesn't say
they'll never perish
unless they change
their mind
about me.
No.
We'll never change
our mind
about Jesus
our shepherd
because we know him.
He is in us.
We are in him.
We love him.
Now some have noticed
here that it says
no one can snatch
them out of my hand.
And some will say
well it doesn't say
that we can't jump
out of the Father's hand
or remove ourselves
from the Father's hand.
I'm going to defer
this one to the words
of Wayne Grudem.
To those who suggest
we might remove
ourselves from
Christ's hand
this is what he has
to say.
He says
that seems to be
pedantic
quibbling over words.
does not
no one
also include
the person
who is in
Christ's hand.
Moreover
we know
that our own hearts
are far from
trustworthy.
Therefore
if the possibility
remained
that we could
just remove
ourselves
from Christ's hand
this passage
would hardly
give the assurance
that Jesus
intends by it.
I agree.
We shouldn't
pick at the words
here and what
seems to be
missing from them
at the expense
of the whole
point Jesus
is making.
Jesus is
saying that
his sheep
are secure
forever.
That there's
no threat.
There's no
danger.
Nothing can
change that.
Let's look at
another passage
which affirms
that true
born again
believers
are secure
in their salvation
and cannot
lose it.
Romans chapter
8 verse
29.
For those
God foreknew
he also
predestined
to be
conformed
to the image
of his son
that he
might be
the firstborn
among many
brothers and
sisters
and those
he predestined
he also
called.
Those he
called
he also
justified.
Those he
justified
he also
glorified.
What then
shall we say
in response
to these
things?
If God
is for us
who can
be against
us?
He who
did not
spare his
own son
but gave
him up
for us
all.
How
will he
not
also
along
with
him
freely
give
us
all
things?
Who
will
bring
any
charge
against
those
whom
God
has
chosen?
It
is
God
who
justifies.
Who
then
is
the
one
who
condemns?
No
one.
Christ
Jesus
who
died
more
than
that
who
is
raised
to
life
is
at
the
right
hand
of
God
and
is
also
interceding
for
us.
Who
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ
shall
trouble
or
hardship
or
persecution
or
famine
or
nakedness
or
danger
or
sword
as
it
is
written
for
your
sake
we
face
death
all
day
long
we
are
considered
as
sheep
to
be
slaughtered
no
in
all
these
things
we
are
more
than
conquerors
through
him
who
loved
us
for
I
am
convinced
that
neither
death
nor
life
neither
angels
nor
demons
neither
the
present
nor
the
future
nor
any
powers
neither
height
nor
depth
nor
anything
else
in
all
creation
will
be able
to
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God
that
is
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
this
is
probably
one of
the
strongest
passages
affirming
that
true
born
again
believers
are
secure
in
their
salvation
and
cannot
lose
it
Paul
tells
us
that
we
are
foreknown
by
God
predestined
to be
conformed
to the
image
of his
son
called
justified
and
glorified
and
it's
like
it's
an
unbreakable
chain
in his
mind
it's
so
certain
that
he
even
refers
to
the
glorified
part
in
the
past
tense
all
those
who
are
justified
will
be
glorified
God
will
see
to
it
and
what
is
the
point
of
this
huge
list
of
things
that
cannot
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ
but
to
make
it
unwaveringly
clear
that
there
is
nothing
that
can
separate
us
from
his
love
once
we
have
been
united
to
him
true
born
again
believers
are
secure
in
their
salvation
and
they
can
never
lose
it
one
final
verse
to
make
this
abundantly
clear
1
John
chapter
3
verse
9
no
one
who
is
born
of
God
will
continue
to
sin
because
God's
seed
remains
in
them
they
cannot
go
on
sinning
because
they
have
been
born
of
God
now
there's
some
translation
difficulty
here
with
the
tense
of
the
verbs
from
Greek
to
English
this
does
not
mean
that
once
you're
born
again
you'll
stop
sinning
for
the
rest
of
your
life
it
means
that
the
person
who
is
truly
born
of
God
will
not
continue
or
go
on
sinning
as
the
general
pattern
or
characterization
of
their
life
sin
is
disobeying
God's
good
and
righteous
commands
that's
the
overall
pattern
and
characterization
of
our
lives
before
we're
born
again
we're
sinners
but
after
the
overall
pattern
and
characterization
of
our
lives
changes
to
now
obeying
God's
commands
doing
what's
right
living
good
and
loving
lives
we
stop
doing
some
of
those
sinful
things
we
used
to
do
all
together
and
we
intentionally
and
continually
and
increasingly
put
those
old
ways
those
old
behaviors
to
death
living
in
obedience
to
Jesus
we
don't
ever
do
it
perfectly
and
we
still
do
sin
but
the
general
pattern
and
characterization
of our
lives
has
changed
can
we
go
back
to
the
old
ways
and
I
don't
mean
just
in
moments
where
we're
tempted
and
fall
but
can
we
make
it
again
our
overall
life
mission
to
sin
as
much
as
possible
and
just
to
satisfy
ourselves
and
live
for
ourselves
as
much
as
possible
ignoring
God's
commands
can we
go back
to that
John's
answer
here
seems
to be
no
we
can't
we
won't
because
God's
seed
remains
in us
he says
they
cannot
go on
sinning
because
they
have
been
born
of
God
the
new
birth
that
God
gives
to
his
people
when
they
truly
repent
and
believe
it
changes
us
so
deeply
and
so
permanently
that
even
if
we
do
stray
or
wander
or
sin
we
always
come
back
and
we
always
repent
and
humble
ourselves
before
God
we
come
back
to
recognizing
again
acknowledging
that
he
is
our
life
and
our
love
and
nothing
else
in
this
world
compares
a
life
of
willful
pervasive
perpetual
sin
is
enough
to
secure
our
eternal
damnation
but
the
good
news
of
Jesus
is
that
the
new
birth
renders
us
incapable
of
such
a
life
forever
more
we
who
are
born
again
by
God's
spirit
are
eternally
secure
once
our
salvation
has
been
effected
it
can
never
be
undone
now
this
kind
of
leads
us
this
last
passage
into
the
biblical
doctrine
of
the
perseverance
of
the
saints
time
and
time
again
the
scriptures
also
warn
us
that
we
must
persevere
in
our
faith
and
we
must
also
persevere
in
the
obedience
that
springs
from
that
faith
that
fits
with
that
profession
and
if
we
don't
we
will
perish
this
is
the
other
side
of
the
coin
this
is
what
Jesus
warnings
in
John
15
are
aimed
at
branches
will
be
cut
off
thrown
away
burned
in
the
fire
but
they
are
those
branches
that
did
not
persevere
they
did
not
remain
in
Christ
at
one
time
they
identified
themselves
as
Christians
as
followers
of
Jesus
they
were
part
of
the
tree
from
outward
appearances
but
for
one
reason
or
another
they
left
off
from
him
and
they
didn't
come
back
so
let's
see
this
truth
now
in
other
passages
if
you
hold
firmly
to
the
word
I
preach
to
you
otherwise
you
have
believed
in
vain
the
Corinthians
were about
ready
in some
of them
to deny
whether
Jesus
had even
been
raised
from
the
dead
Paul
is
saying
you
have
to
hold
to
that
truth
of
his
resurrection
if
you
don't
hold
fast
to
that
in
faith
you
perish
you
have
no
hope
Galatians
chapter
5
verse
19
and
20
the
acts
of
the
flesh
are
obvious
sexual
immorality
impurity
and
debauchery
idolatry
and
witchcraft
hatred
discord
jealousy
fits
of
rage
selfish
ambition
dissensions
factions
envy
drunkenness
orgies
and the
like
I
warn
you
as I
did
before
that
those
who
live
like
this
will
not
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
if
you
persist
in
doing
evil
in
disobeying
Christ
you
are
showing
that
God's
seed
is not
in
you
are
proving
that
you
have
not
been
born
of
God
that
his
spirit
is
not
in
you
Galatians
chapter
6
verses
7
to
9
following
shortly
after
this
Paul
says
do
not
be
deceived
God
cannot
be
mocked
a man
reaps
what he
sows
whoever
sows
to please
their
flesh
from
the flesh
will
reap
destruction
whoever
sows
to please
the spirit
from
the spirit
will
reap
eternal
life
so
let
us
not
become
weary
in
doing
good
for
at
the
proper
time
we
will
reap
a
harvest
if
we
do
not
give
up
again
we
see
this
encouragement
that
we
must
persevere
in
doing
the
deeds
that
fit
with
our
profession
of
faith
we
cannot
pull
the
wool
over
God's
eyes
and
take
the
offer
of
salvation
but
no
I'm
just
going to
go
and live
wickedly
no
God
says
if
you
do
live
like
that
persistently
as the
pattern
of
your
life
you
will
not
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
1st
Corinthians
chapter 6
verses
9
to 11
or
do
you
not
know
that
wrongdoers
will
not
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
do
not
be
deceived
neither
the
sexually
immoral
nor
idolaters
nor
adulterers
nor
men
who
have
sex
with
men
nor
thieves
nor
the
greedy
nor
drunkards
nor
slanders
nor
swindlers
will
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
and that
is what
some of
you
were
but you
were washed
you
were
sanctified
you
were
justified
in the
name
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and by
the
spirit
of
our
God
here
it is
again
there
is a
real
change
that
takes
place
in
our
lives
through
the
spirit
of
God
those
things
how
we
used
to
live
they
can
no
longer
characterize
us
anymore
we
must
turn
away
from
those
things
and if
the
spirit
of
God
really
truly
lives
in
us
we
will
and
we
would
be
deceived
to
think
that
we
could
continue
living
like
that
willfully
ongoingly
doing
those
things
and
still
be
saved
at
the
end
one
more
passage
2nd
Timothy
chapter
2
verse
19
nevertheless
God's
solid
foundation
stands
firm
sealed
with
this
inscription
the
Lord
knows
those
who
are
his
and
everyone
who
confesses
the
name
of
the
Lord
must
turn
away
from
wickedness
again
we
see
that
we
must
persevere
in
faith
and
in
the
obedience
that
fits
that
profession
there
are
more
passages
like
these
we
haven't
even
looked
at
the
ones
in
Hebrews
there's
James
chapter
2
there's
the
letter
to
the
seven
churches
in
Revelation
but
they
all
make
this
very
clear
we
must
persevere
in
our
faith
and
in
the
obedience
that
springs
from
our
faith
and
confirms
that
faith
until
the
end
and
if
we
do
not
we
will
perish
so
now
we
bring
these
two
biblical
truths
together
eternal
security
perseverance
of the
saints
and
this
is
what
we
get
I'm
going
to
borrow
again
from
Wayne
Grudem
and
his
systematic
theology
all
those
who
are
truly
born
again
will
be
kept
by
God's
power
and
will
persevere
as
Christians
until
the end
of their
lives
and
only
those
who
persevere
until
the end
have
truly
been
born
again
we
have
been
born
of
God
so
we
come
to
the
answer
to
this
big
question
can
I
lose
my
salvation
no
if
you
are
born
again
by
God's
spirit
you
cannot
undo
that
you
are
secure
you
still
must
remain
in
him
consciously
and
intentionally
and
persistently
and
because
of
God's
gracious
work
in
your
life
you
will
but
here's
the
deal
there's
no
autopilot
to
this
God's
word
never
tells
us
your
salvation
is
secure
so
now
you
can
just
go
and
live
however
you
want
and
the
outcome
will
be
the
same
either
way
just
sit
back
relax
let
God
do
it
for
you
God
never
tells
us
that
he
never
tells
us
just
let
go
and
let
God
as if
once
we're
saved
and
born
again
it's
just
all
automatic
from
there
we
don't
have
to
try
we
don't
have
to
put
in
any
effort
because
God
will
just
do
it
for
us
in
fact
the
scriptures
speak
to us
in the
opposite
direction
second
Peter
chapter
one
verse
five
for
this
very
reason
because
God
has
given
us
his
very
great
and
precious
promises
and
has
given
us
everything
we
need
for
life
and
godliness
for
this
very
reason
make
every
effort
to
add
to
your
faith
goodness
and
to
add
to
your
goodness
knowledge
and
to
add
to
your
knowledge
self
control
and
to
add
to
your
self
control
perseverance
and
to
perseverance
godliness
and
to
godliness
mutual
affection
and
to
mutual
affection
love
slipping
down
to
verse
10
in
the
same
passage
therefore
my
brothers
and
sisters
make
every
effort
to
confirm
your
calling
and
election
for
if
you
do
these
things
you
will
never
stumble
and
you
will
receive
a
rich
welcome
into
the
eternal
kingdom
of
our
lord
and
savior
jesus
christ
our
remaining
in
christ
and
our
persevering
in
obedience
it's
not
just
an
autopilot
thing
it's
not
a
passive
thing
it's
a
thing
we
must
make
every
effort
to
do
and
by
god's
gracious
power
we
can
and
we
will
he
sees
to
that
consider
philippians
chapter 2
verse 12
therefore
my dear
friends
as you
have
always
obeyed
not only
in my
presence
but now
much more
in my
absence
continue
to work
out
your
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
for
it is
god
who
works
in
you
to
will
and
to
act
in
order
to
fulfill
his
good
purpose
no
if
you
are
born
again
by
god's
spirit
you
can't
lose
your
salvation
but
that
doesn't
mean
that
you're
finished
running
the
race
if
you
do
not
remain
in
jesus
if
you
allow
yourself
to
drift
away
if
you
decide
no
i'm
going
to
continue
cherishing
sin
doing
as
i
please
well
i'll
come
to
church
i'll
do
the
bare
minimum
you
know
just
to
keep
my
fire
insurance
with
jesus
oh
no
it
doesn't
work
that
way
the
assurance
that
you
are
born
again
at
least
one
of
them
is
that
you
remain
in
him
and
you
obey
his
commands
that
you
don't
go
on
sinning
i
hate
to
say
this
but
some
of
you
may
very
well
come
to
that
place
where
you
have
deceived
yourself
so
badly
thinking
all
along
i'm
born
again
i'm
safe
i'm
good
i'm
doing
enough
i'm
a
child
of
god
and
yet
you're
proving
again
and
again
and
again
by
disobeying
christ
intentionally
deliberately
persistently
that
you
discover
i
never
was
i
never
was
born
of
god
this
is
the
final
sobering
peace
those
who
seem
to
fall
away
may
have
had
some
external
marks
of a
true
believer
but
god
knows
every
heart
and
we
can't
pull
the
wool
over
his
eyes
matthew
chapter
7
verse
21
not
everyone
who
says
to
me
lord
will
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven
but
only
the
one
who
does
the
will
of
my
father
who
is
in
heaven
many
will
say
to
me
on
that
day
lord
did
we
not
prophesy
in
your
name
and
in
your
name
drive
out
demons
and
in
your
name
perform
many
miracles
and
I
will
tell
them
plainly
I
never
knew
you
depart
from
me
you
evil
doers
they
claim
to
have
done
these
good
things
in
Jesus
name
but
Jesus
evaluation
of how
they
lived
is
not
that
they
have
done
all
this
good
but
that
they
have
done
evil
they
deceived
themselves
they
were
Christians
in
name
only
according
to
external
behaviors
they
had
some
of
those
or so
they
thought
but
there
was
no
real
true
living
persistent
faith
in
Jesus
or
obedience
to
his
commands
they
continue
to
live
wicked
lives
while
calling
themselves
Christians
God
never
gives
assurance
of
salvation
to
a
persistent
unrepentant
sinner
I
don't
care
who
you
are
or
how
long
you've
been
a
Christian
or
how
closely
related
you
are
to
me
you
cannot
rest
in
God's
promise
of
salvation
if
you
are
willfully
intentionally
and
persistently
walking
in
disobedience
to
Christ's
commands
real
faith
in
Jesus
does
not
do
that
that's
why
Paul
says
work
out
your
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
that's
why
he
says
to
the
Corinthians
in
2nd
Corinthians
13
5
examine
yourselves
to
see
whether
you
are
in
the
faith
test
yourselves
do
you
not
realize
that
Christ
Jesus
is
in
you
unless
of
course
you
fail
the
test
God's
children
are
secure
in
him
he
keeps
them
by
his
power
they
are
predestined
to be
conformed
to the
image
of his
son
and
as
Jesus
said
I
will
remain
in
you
that's
wonderful
assurance
and
we
for
our
part
we
take
hold
of
that
assurance
and
we
confirm
that
he
lives
in
us
by
remaining
in
him
by
holding
firmly
to our
faith
in him
and by
continuing
to do
the things
that real
faith
in him
leads
us
to do
that's
obeying
his
commands
God
gives
us
the
strength
and
the
power
by
his
spirit
to
do
that
he
lovingly
disciplines
us
he
brings
correction
into our
lives
when we
need
it
we
must
persevere
to the
end
we
must
finish
the
race
and
God
ensures
that
every
true
believer
does
as
we
make
every
effort
to
do
it
we
will
end
with
these
words
penned
by
Jude
the
brother
of
the
Lord
Jesus
to
him
who
is
able
to
keep
you
from
stumbling
and
to
present
you
before
his
glorious
presence
without
fault
and
with
great
joy
to
the
only
God
our
Savior
be
glory
majesty
power
and
authority
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord
before
all
ages
now
and
forever
more
amen