If a person asked me this question, I might gently indicate to them that they're asking the wrong thing. I would probe them, trying to guide them to ask the more precise question.
The question, "Is it possible for someone [third person/external to me] to lose their salvation?" will miss the target. More precise versions of the question are "Is it possible for me to lose my salvation?" or "Is it possible that I have lost my salvation?", to which I heartily say "Look to Christ!" "Does your heart yearn for Christ? He bids you come!" This question allows a more definitive answer.
The other variation of this question is "If someone has stopped professing faith in Christ, can they return to a saving faith?" [Not, 'Can they lose it?' but rather 'Can they regain it?'] This third-person question is much more personal. "Can my son, who once professed faith, but now says he's an atheist...do I have any hope of him being able to return to saving faith?" This is much thornier than the original questions posited.
If a person asked me this question, I might gently indicate to them that they're asking the wrong thing. I would probe them, trying to guide them to ask the more precise question.
ReplyDeleteThe question, "Is it possible for someone [third person/external to me] to lose their salvation?" will miss the target. More precise versions of the question are "Is it possible for me to lose my salvation?" or "Is it possible that I have lost my salvation?", to which I heartily say "Look to Christ!" "Does your heart yearn for Christ? He bids you come!" This question allows a more definitive answer.
The other variation of this question is "If someone has stopped professing faith in Christ, can they return to a saving faith?" [Not, 'Can they lose it?' but rather 'Can they regain it?'] This third-person question is much more personal. "Can my son, who once professed faith, but now says he's an atheist...do I have any hope of him being able to return to saving faith?" This is much thornier than the original questions posited.