Maintaining Salvation

There is a lot of debate in church circles concerning salvation and whether or not it can be lost or forfeited.  Salvation is free because it does not cost us anything.  Salvation is a gift; Eph. 2:8, “…..by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…..”  One obtains the gift of salvation through faith and it is impossible to please God without faith; Heb. 11:6, “…..without faith it is impossible to please him.”

            Now that we have been given this free gift of salvation, is there anything we have to do to retain possession of it, or is it guaranteed forever?  We took possession of salvation through faith; therefore is stands to reason that we have to remain faithful in order to retain possession of our salvation.   If one does not have to remain faithful; that implies he can never lose or forfeit his salvation.  If one cannot lose or forfeit his salvation; that implies that he is free or immune from sin; therefore requiring no effort on his behalf.  If that is the case, why does scripture clearly warn us that we are to protect our selves at all times; Eph. 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”?

            The fact of the matter is that salvation is not effortless; it requires action.  We received our salvation through faith.  We retain salvation by faith. We show our salvation by our works; James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”  Without works; our faith is dead; therefore without works our salvation is dead or ceases to exist.

            The works mentioned here is not some great act.  It is the simple act of love; giving your neighbors the things necessary to sustain life; James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit…..”  This is best summed up in; James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  Yes salvation can be forfeited.