Introduction: Did Some People Lose Their Salvation in the Bible?

I recently published a study on the Bible verses that people often use to support their belief in salvation by works and that Christians can lose their salvation. I discussed 7 of the most commonly used verses for this and showed how the Scripture truly affirms salvation by faith in Christ alone as well as the security of believer’s salvation. This time, it’s about Bible names.

As an addition to the previous study, I have decided to also discuss some names of people (in the Bible) often brought up to support the same works-based salvation. I often get questions like, “what about [this person], or what about [that person], did he not lose his salvation”?

So, in this study, I will take a close look at 3 of those Bible names and show you how they in no way prove that salvation is by faith plus works or that true believers can lose their salvation.

Bible Names Often Used to Support Works-based Salvation

Those who believe in salvation by faith plus works also believe that they can lose their salvation. To prove that, they have names of people that they reference in the Bible who supposedly lost their salvation. Let’s take a look at three of them and see if these claims are true:

1. Moses

Moses is often referenced in terms of losing salvation because God did not permit him to enter into the promised land (see Deuteronomy 32:48-51). To them, this means he lost his salvation. However, these people miss some important details in the Bible:

A. The Nature of the Promised Land

The promised land is a physical location that you can visit today in the Middle East. That’s not heaven nor does it represent the spiritual salvation of the Israelites.

B. The Burial of Moses

What if I told you that God Himself buried Moses and the Bible says no one knows his grave till “this day”? See Deuteronomy 34:6:

Deuteronomy 34:6 (KJV) And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

C. The Identity of Moses Which Never Changes

In his last moment on this earth, the Bible still calls Moses the servant of the Lord:

Deuteronomy 34:5 (KJV) So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

In addition, over 20 times after Moses died, he is still referred to as “Moses the servant of the LORD,” or “Moses the servant of God” from the Book of Joshua all the way to Revelation. Refer to Joshua 1:1,13; 8:31,33; 11:12; 2:6; 13:8; 14:7; 18:7; 22:2,4-5; 2 Kings 18:12; 1 Chronicles 6:49; 1:3; 24:6,9; Nehemiah 10:29; Daniel 9:11; Revelation 15:3.

The Bible tells us that Moses was a preeminent prophet in Israel, superseding all the other prophets. He had a direct and intimate relationship with God Who knew him “face to face.”  See Deuteronomy 34:10; Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:6-8.

D. The New Testament Testimonies of Moses

In the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we see the same Moses show up with Jesus and Elijah in the mount of transfiguration. The Bible says he (Moses) “appeared in glory” with Christ – Luke 9:29-31; Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:28. He sure doesn’t look like someone who lost his salvation.

Plus, Moses is listed in the Hebrews ‘hall of faith.’ See Hebrews 11:23-29 as well as Hebrews 3:5-6 for Moses’ demonstration of faith and faithfulness. The point is that God denying Moses access to the land does not amount to the loss of his salvation.

2. Judas Iscariot

Another name, which is even more ridiculous than that of Moses is Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve that Jesus chose to be with Him. The people would say things like: “you see, Judas was chosen by Jesus. He worked closely with Jesus. And still lost his salvation.”

But the part that they miss is that, Judas never believed in Jesus Christ. Yes! He never believed. You may say “how did you know that?”

Because Jesus Himself said it: John 6:63-64 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Now listen to verse 64: But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Judas never trusted in Christ. You still believe he lost his salvation? Check out John 6:70-71 (KJV): “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?“ Notice that before we get to that verse, Jesus says in verse 64: that “there are some of you that believe not.”

But now in verse 70, he narrows it down to one person. How did I know that was Judas Iscariot? Look at the next verse 71: “He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

Here is the point, Judas Iscariot never lost his salvation because he never had it in the first place. And that’s because he never believed. He worked with Christ, never trusted in Him for his salvation, and eventually betrayed Him.

3. Demas

Not a lot is said in the Bible about this man. All we know is that he was once with Paul, as can be seen in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24. And shortly after that, we read about his departure from Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:10 (KJV) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

The assumption that Demas lost his salvation is based solely on the above verse. But there is nothing in the verse or anywhere in the Bible that suggests that he lost his salvation. We must learn to draw conclusions based on what the Bible says and not based on our assumptions.

The Legitimate Issue of People Abandoning Christianity

Let me close with this legitimate question about what is happening in our world today. What about those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ, they publicly claimed to believe and that they were Christians. But they have now walked away and turned their back on what they once believed.

The question is: did they lose their salvation?

To address this, I believe we should begin with a different question, which is: did this people truly get saved, were they genuinely saved? That is the question that no one can answer for anybody. So, if we cannot determine that, then how are we sure they lost their salvation?

The Bible Teaches that Salvation is Permanent

With all assumptions aside, here is what the Bible teaches: a person who is truly saved cannot lose his salvation. That person has received eternal life, and will never perish or ever be condemned. It’s not me who say that, it’s the Word of God. Read them for yourself:

John 10:27-29 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Romans 8:30 (KJV) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

1 John 5:11-13 (KJV) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Those Who Are Truly Lost

A saved person can backslide, but that doesn’t amount to loss of salvation. However, if after professing faith in Jesus Christ, a person denounces his faith, completely rejects Jesus Christ and permanently walks away, it is an indication that he only believed in vain.

He had a profession of faith, he might have been baptized or be really religious. He may have put on a convincing show, but never really trusted in Christ and so was never saved. He was never born again by the power of God.

1 John 2:19 (KJV)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Where Do You Stand Today?

Here is the most important question of all, it’s about you? Are you saved? Are you trusting in Christ alone, or Christ plus your works? If you were to die today, would you be in heaven with Jesus Christ? If you don’t have a firm assurance of that, then you need to examine yourself, and what you are trusting.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A reprobate is lost. A saved person is not a reprobate. Are you saved, and are you sure about it? If not, you can be saved today and know it. Admit your sins and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. He died for your sins and rose again. Trust in the blood that He shed for you, and you will be saved.

Let me close with this passage from John 6:37-40 (KJV) – this is Jesus Christ speaking: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.“

That is a faithful promise of Jesus Christ to all those who trust in Him. Paul expresses his confidence in this promise in his second Epistle to Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Do you have this confidence in Jesus Christ? I hope you do.

Thank you for reading!