Can a Chrisitan lose his/her salvation?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

'An answer that gives no answer is no answer.' - Brendan Behan

Boru

[Huggy Bear]

The simple answer to your question of "Can a Chrisitan lose his/her salvation?" is both yes and no.

A typical theological answer to a yes/no question.

You didn't ask the question correctly.

A Christian that is part of the 'elect' also referred to as the "bride of Christ", were predestined (hence "elect") and cannot lose their salvation; however a Christian that isn't part of the 'elect' which is also referred to as the "foolish virgin",  can.

If you remember the parable of the 10 virgins, 5 wise virgins had oil in their lamps and 5 foolish virgins did not, the oil represented the holy spirit.

So the proper question would be can those that receive the holy spirit lose their salvation, to which the answer is no.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30

However it it possible to have salvation without receiving the Holy Spirit.

[The Grand Nudger]

The homoerotic imagery isn't exactly subtle, is it? Personally, I'm not interested in being anyone's bride...let alone having their oil fill my lamp.

[Huggy Bear]

The homoerotic imagery isn't exactly subtle, is it?  Personally, I'm not interested in being anyone's bride...let alone having their oil fill my lamp.

The nation of Israel was also referred to as a woman, which God divorced and chose a Gentile bride.

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. - Jeremiah 3:8

[vorlon13]

Malachi 2:16

16 "For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, . . . .

[vorlon13]

and yet with all His omniscience and totipotency God couldn't avoid His own ??

[Huggy Bear]

Malachi 2:16

16 "For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel,  . . . .

Why don't you put the scripture in context.

Malachi 2:14
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

God DOES hate divorce, which is why it is only allowed in the case of adultery.

Matthew 19:4-9

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

*empasis mine*

[FatAndFaithless]

I think the short answer is "it depends on which Christian you're asking." If there were any real, objective way to determine who was correct about any point of doctrinal disagreement...we wouldn't see so many splinter groups.

[vorlon13]

I learned the craft of selective Bible quoting from experts in the field;

Campus Crusade for Christ

Moral Majority

Concerned Women for America



You could do well to up your game in that regard.

[Huggy Bear]

I think the short answer is "it depends on which Christian you're asking."  If there were any real, objective way to determine who was correct about any point of doctrinal disagreement...we wouldn't see so many splinter groups.

*emphasis mine*

There is, it's called the Bible...

You can create any doctrine you want, but if you can't prove it by scripture then it's false.

It's that simple.