Conditional security is the belief that a Christian’s salvation can be lost if they fail to persevere in faith and obedience. This view stands in contrast to the doctrine of eternal security (also known as “once saved, always saved”), which teaches that true believers can never lose their salvation.
Those who hold to conditional security believe several key points from Scripture support their perspective:
Warnings Against Falling Away
There are many passages in the New Testament that warn believers about falling away from the faith. For example:
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13).
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
These texts indicate it is possible for genuine Christians to “fall away” into unbelief and sin. If their salvation was eternally secure, this would not be possible.
Conditional Statements
There are verses that seem to make salvation contingent on continued obedience and perseverance. For example:
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:21-23).
The “if” here implies a condition – if believers continue steadfast in faith, they will be presented before Christ holy and blameless. But the implication is that if they do not continue in faith, they will not be found complete before God.
Other conditional statements include:
“And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope” (Hebrews 3:6).
“For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).
Again, these verses present salvation as conditional upon persevering “firm to the end” and “holding fast” in faith. If salvation cannot be lost, such statements would seem unnecessary.
Examples of Apostasy
The Bible contains examples of people who initially believed but later fell away. For instance:
– Demas, who abandoned Paul “in love with this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10)
– Those who went out from the church because they were “not of us” (1 John 2:19)
– Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul “handed over to Satan” so they would learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20)
These all appear to be cases of genuine believers falling into grievous sin and unbelief, indicating it is possible to abandon one’s faith after truly possessing it.
Exhortations to Self-Examination
The New Testament frequently exhorts believers to examine themselves. But why would this be necessary if their salvation was eternally secure? For example:
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16).
These texts imply the real possibility of self-deception and the need to diligently confirm one’s calling, election, and faith. But if salvation cannot be lost, such warnings make little sense.
Old Testament Examples
There are also examples in the Old Testament of those who genuinely believed and experienced God’s blessings, but later fell away. For instance:
– God says David will not lack a man on the throne, but warns if his offspring forsake God’s law “I will punish their transgression with the rod” (Psalm 89:30-32).
– Saul was changed by the Spirit of God when he met the prophets, but later was rejected as king after disobeying God (1 Samuel 10 & 15).
Though under a different covenant, these examples still illustrate how genuine faith can later be lost through disobedience.
Passages on Future Reward
Some verses indicate believers will be rewarded in heaven based on their works – implying it is possible to have little or no reward, despite being genuinely saved. For example:
“Watch yourselves…so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward” (2 John 1:8).
“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).
These passages suggest some who are saved can still “lose” and “suffer loss” based on their lack of obedience and good works. But if eternal security is true, how can this be?
Objections and Counterarguments
Those who hold to conditional security acknowledge there are Bible verses that seem to support eternal security at first glance. But they argue these texts refer to God’s objective work of salvation rather than the individual’s necessarily reception of it:
– Verses about God’s election, predestination, calling, and justification emphasize God’s work in bringing about salvation – but not necessarily an individual’s guaranteed reception of that salvation.
– Promises of eternal life to those who believe do not preclude the possibility someone may fail to persevere in that belief.
– Statements that nothing can separate us from God’s love do not mean an individual cannot willingly choose to abide in that love or ultimately reject it.
– Warnings about false assurance indicate there are those who believe themselves secure but are not. So passages about security must be balanced with warnings about falling away.
Ultimately, conditional security advocates believe their view better accounts for the complexity of Scripture. It takes God’s promises seriously while also giving weight to warnings against apostasy and calls to self-examination. They see their position as preserving both human responsibility and divine sovereignty.
Practical Implications
What are the practical implications if conditional security is true? Here are a few:
– It should produce in believers a spirit of humility, self-examination, and urgency in abiding in Christ.
– Believers should have assurance but also a healthy fear of falling away from the faith. The warnings of Scripture should be heeded.
– Perseverance in obedience becomes evidencing fruit of genuine salvation. Apostasy and lack of works call one’s salvation into question.
– Pastors and churches must faithfully preach the Word and warn against doctrines that diminish the seriousness of sin or give false assurance.
– Genuine self-examination should lead to greater dependence on Christ and his preserving grace to enable obedience and perseverance.
Of course, conditional security remains a disputed doctrine, with thoughtful Christians holding a variety of views. But hopefully this overview provides a helpful summary of what conditional security is and its key biblical support.