Am I Really a Christian?ნიმუში

Examining ‘Difficult’ Passages

There are a handful of ‘difficult’ passages in the Bible that people may use to argue that believers can lose their salvation. However, these passages have been misinterpreted or taken out of context. The first difficult passage I want to highlight is 1 Corinthians 9:25–27. In verse 27 (NIV), Paul writes, ‘…I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’ In all of the New Testament, salvation is never a prize we win through discipline or hard work – it’s a gift – so this passage isn’t about losing salvation but about the potential loss of rewards, because our earthly actions have eternal consequences.

The second difficult passage is Matthew 7:15–23. The context makes it clear that Jesus is speaking about false prophets pretending to be His followers – not true believers in danger of losing their salvation.

The third difficult passage is James 2:14–17, which some misinterpret to mean we’ll only be saved if we’re doing enough good works. But the word translated ‘save’ in this passage (the Greek word sozo) doesn’t always refer to eternal salvation and depends on the context in which it’s used. For example, sozo is used in Matthew 14:30–31 to describe how Jesus physically rescues Peter (when walking on water suddenly turns to sinking). James is referring to faith accompanied by actions that practically impact others’ lives.

Unfortunately, some churches teach that salvation can be lost if we don’t meet certain standards, like tithing, serving, or spending daily time with God. This leads to constant self-evaluation, anxiety, and fear of not being good enough for salvation. Thankfully, the gospel is clear: salvation is a gift, not something earned through works. These and other difficult passages don’t teach that salvation can be lost but rather emphasize the importance of living out our faith, the need to guard against false teaching, and the reality of eternal rewards.

Knowing our salvation is secure in Christ should, in fact, galvanise us to live faithfully and obediently. Despite God’s faithfulness to secure our eternal future, our lives on Earth still matter. The security of our salvation doesn’t lead to apathy, but to deeper love and faithfulness. When we understand that we’re forever held in God’s grace, we are freed to live boldly and purposefully – not out of fear of losing salvation, but out of gratitude for the One who saved us. May you rest in His grace, walk in His love, and live out your faith with confidence, joy, and the assurance that you are eternally His.

This plan was adapted from the series, Am I Really a Christian?, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/au/get-access