The vine and branches passage in John 15:1-8 has led to much discussion about whether someone who is truly saved can lose their salvation. In this passage, Jesus says “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:5-6). Does this mean that salvation can be lost if someone fails to abide in Christ?
There are a few key things to understand about this passage:
- Jesus is illustrating vital spiritual truths using an agricultural metaphor that his audience would have understood. We should not try to over-parse the metaphor, but rather seek to understand the main spiritual truths being taught.
- Jesus is emphasizing the need for his followers to stay connected to him. He uses the language “abide in me” repeatedly in this passage (John 15:4,5,6,7). A branch disconnected from the vine will not live and bear fruit. We as believers must stay closely connected to Christ through studying his word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, etc. This is the primary message Jesus wants to convey.
- However, some believe Jesus mentioning branches being “thrown away” and burned indicates it’s possible for believers to lose their salvation if they fail to abide in Christ. Others say Jesus is just referring to false believers who appeared connected but never truly were.
- So this passage alone does not definitively settle the question of whether salvation can be lost. We need to examine other Scripture to develop a full understanding of what the Bible teaches on eternal security.
With those preliminary thoughts in mind, let’s survey other biblical evidence regarding whether salvation can be lost:
Biblical Support for Eternal Security of the Believer
There are numerous verses that indicate salvation cannot be lost:
- John 10:28-29 – Jesus says believers have eternal life and “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Salvation is secure in Christ’s hand.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 – When we believed in Christ, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until full redemption. If salvation could be lost, the sealing and guarantee of the Spirit would be meaningless.
- Romans 8:35-39 – Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This seems to include even our own failings.
- Philippians 1:6 – God will bring to completion the good work he began in us. Our salvation is God’s work, not ours, and he will finish what he started.
- John 6:37-40 – Jesus promises to raise up on the last day all those the Father has given him. Our security is based on the Father’s will and Jesus’ resurrection power, not our own effort.
- 1 John 5:13 – John writes to believers so that they may know they have eternal life. Assurance of eternal life is possible for genuine believers.
These and other verses depict salvation as secured by God’s faithfulness, power, promises, and initiative. They do not mention any possibility of losing this salvation. Many Christians point to such verses to argue that if someone is truly saved, they will remain saved until the end. Salvation cannot be undone.
Biblical Support for Conditional Security
However, there are also several biblical passages that seem to warn believers about the possibility of turning away from Christ and forfeiting their salvation:
- Hebrews 6:4-6 – The author warns against falling away after being enlightened and partaking of the Spirit. He claims it is impossible to restore such people to repentance.
- Revelation 3:5 – Jesus warns that he will blot out the name of those who are unfaithful from the book of life.
- 2 Peter 2:20-22 – Peter uses very strong words to describe those who return to sin after escaping the corruption of the world through Christ. He says it would have been better never to know Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 – Paul disciplines his body to keep it under control so that after preaching he does not become disqualified.
- Romans 11:20-22 – Paul warns the Gentiles about pride and falling away, saying “Note then the kindness and severity of God.” Those grafted in can still be cut off.
Such passages have led many Christians to conclude it is possible for genuine believers to turn away, fall into unrepentant sin, and forfeit their salvation. The warnings about falling away would not make sense if it were impossible for the saved to reject Christ.
How Both Perspectives Can Have Biblical Support
Is there a way to reconcile these two viewpoints? Can someone explain how the Bible could possibly teach both eternal security and the possibility of falling away?
The key may be recognizing that salvation is the work of God from start to finish. Yet the believer still has the responsibility to persevere by God’s enabling grace. God will complete his work in our lives, but not without our cooperation. As Philippians 2:12-13 states, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
From an Arminian perspective, someone who fails to persevere never fully possessed salvation to begin with. Their faith was not authentic saving faith. But the Calvinist argues such a person must not have been among the elect. Both views can maintain assurance that all “true” believers will remain saved by attributing falling away to counterfeit or incomplete faith.
This understanding has been described as the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. Believers must actively persevere in faith by God’s power to confirm their salvation. Eternal security is conditional on persevering faith. But genuine saving faith will indeed continue until the end. As Jesus said, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Hebrews 12:14 also warns that without holiness “no one will see the Lord.” Continuing in Christ is the evidence of genuine, saving belief.
Therefore, one who professes faith in Christ but later repudiates Him and descends into immoral, unrepentant sin can have no assurance of salvation. Their own actions call into question the authenticity of their faith. Yet the believer who stumbles into occasional sin but confesses and desires to please Christ can be assured of eternal security. God finishes the work he has begun.
This view takes the biblical warnings about falling away seriously while still affirming believers can have full assurance of salvation. Our security rests ultimately on God’s faithfulness and power at work within us.
Objections to Eternal Security
Those who reject eternal security raise several objections that need to be addressed:
- It encourages sin and antinomianism – Absolutely not! Such charges fail to understand the transformative effect that saving faith and the indwelling Spirit have on a life. True love for and submission to Christ brings increasing godliness and obedience (Titus 2:11-14). Warnings against unrepentant sin reveal it indicates unauthentic faith (1 John 2:4).
- It contradicts human free will – God’s sovereignty does not eliminate human responsibility. While God secures our eternal salvation, we must willingly cooperate with His work in our lives (Philippians 2:12-13). He alone brings us to faith; we must respond in faith.
- It makes warnings unnecessary – Not at all. Scriptural warnings are intended to encourage perseverance, self-examination of the authenticity of one’s faith, and reliance on the Spirit’s power to endure (1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Peter 1:10). God uses means to accomplish His ends.
- What about apostates who abandon the faith? – Those who know the truth but later completely reject Christ and the way of salvation show they likely never possessed actual saving faith to begin with (1 John 2:19). Their apostasy reveals spiritual deadness.
- It denies human freedom to resist grace – Yes, humans have the freedom to initially resist God’s saving grace until He opens their eyes. But for the regenerate, willful rejection of God’s sufficient grace is incompatible with a heart transformed by the Spirit.
While objections may be raised, none of them disprove the abundance of clear biblical evidence for eternal security when properly understood.
Practical Application
How should these theological truths impact our lives as believers?
- Have assurance of salvation based on God’s promises and faithfulness, not our performance. Our security rests on Christ’s finished work.
- Engage in serious self-examination if one has fallen into unconfessed, unrepentant sin, questioning the genuineness of one’s faith.
- Persevere in godliness, prayer, obedience, and service to others by relying on the Spirit’s power and grace.
- Do not presume on God’s grace by living in sin, “for by your hardness and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath” (Romans 2:5).
- Make your calling and election sure by confirming the spiritual fruit of an authentic faith (2 Peter 1:5-11).
- Share the message of eternal life with unbelievers, knowing that God holds their salvation securely once they respond in true repentant faith.
The doctrine of eternal security is incredibly comforting for believers, but also gives the most urgent warning possible to those still dead in their sins – repent and believe the Gospel! When understood correctly, this biblical truth results in both assurance and holy obedience motivated by love for the gracious Savior who redeemed us. It’s a promise we can cling to and a truth we must proclaim to the world: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).