No One Can Be Unborn

The other day someone came to me with a question: “Is eternal life really eternal?  What if I do something really bad?  Won’t I lose my salvation?”  Many Christians grapple with the thought that perhaps their particular sin will cancel their entrance into heaven.  They live in fear and dread wondering if they need to get saved over and over again.  Is there a clear answer?  I’m happy to say — yes.  Let’s take a quick peek into the matter.

Sometimes, doubts of the guarantee of eternal life come as a result of misunderstandings of the Old Testament in relation to the New Testament (testament means covenant). Before Jesus came, we see in the Old Testament that there was a probationary life and a conditional life.  Adam and Eve lived a probationary life, meaning that life as they lived it in perfection, was theirs as long as they obeyed God’s command of not eating the forbidden fruit.  They failed to keep that command; thereby, ushering in God’s plan of redemption to save man from his own sin that separated him from a Holy God.  The Israelites lived a conditional life, meaning that their possession of The Promised Land was contingent upon keeping themselves away from idolatry.  They failed to keep that command; thereby, pointing yet again to the need of man for a Savior.

Enter Jesus.  From the moment Jesus took our place on the cross, offering forgiveness of our sin, the probationary life and the conditional life ceased to be.  Now there was only eternal life offered to mankind.  When we ask God’s forgiveness of our sin, He declares us forgiven eternally, washed clean in His sight because of the blood of Jesus.  There is a verse in Romans 11:29 that tells us, “God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.”   Therefore, if God’s gift of eternal life can never be “withdrawn,” then it is a contradiction of terms to say it can come to an end.  Isn’t that the most wonderful news!

So, the question may come to you, “why do I feel so bad when some sin overtakes me?” Feelings of remorse come, not because you’ve lost your salvation, but because you have grieved the Holy Spirit. We are told in Ephesians 4:30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by the way you live.  Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”   What is meant by grieving the Holy Spirit?  It means that sin makes Him sorrowful.  God loves us with absolute pure love.  That love causes Him to desire the very best for each of us.  He doesn’t want sin to damage our faithfulness, to make dull our joy, to eradicate our peace.  Sin does all of those things; therefore, the Holy Spirit is terribly saddened when we allow sin to come into our lives and to stay there.

Sin destroys our joy and peace. Living in the ways of God builds up our joy and peace; it makes strong our faith in Him to bring us through any situation we find ourselves in.  Nothing is too hard for God.  His joy keeps us remembering that, while sin dulls our senses, bringing fear and dismay,  we don’t have to live that way.  Whenever we sin, we need not wallow in the darkness of it; we can confess, rejoice in His eternal forgiveness, and move on with resolved determination to walk in His ways.

We don’t have to live weakened, fearful lives.  We don’t have to live in uncertainty of eternal life when we sin.  We can always live in the wonder of His love and forgiveness.  Always take care upon what you focus.  Satan will lie and whisper that your sin has forfeited your entrance into heaven.  God promises in Colossians 1:13 that He has “rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.”  

You and I break our promises.  Satan lies.  Our loving Heavenly Father does neither.  So, do not fear — ever!  Instead, rejoice — always!  When you receive His gift of salvation, you are born anew.  No one can be unborn.