Do Believers have the ability to abandon their salvation?

Salvation, All Questions

Do believers have the ability to abandon their salvation?

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Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 7, 2025

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This question requires an examination between the interplay of God's sovereignty and humanity's free will. Although God is sovereign, humans have the responsibility of making their own moral decisions.

Human responsibility

From the standpoint of human responsibility, God calls all people to repent (Acts 17:30; Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Mark 6:12) and promises that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13; John 3:15–16). Yet the Bible also records that salvation does not depend solely on human will.

According to Romans 9:16, salvation depends not on man's will, desire, or work, but rather on God's mercy. As further stated in John 1:13, the redeemed are those born not of the will of man, but of God.

Furthermore, God grants two essential components of salvation, namely repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25) and faith (Eph. 2:8–9; Phil. 1:29; Acts 16:14).

Apart from God's working in man's heart, the scriptures also indicate that no one would be able to approach Him, since "there is no one who seeks after God" (Rom. 3:11; cf.8:7–8; 1 Cor.2:14; 2, Cor.4:4; Eph.2:1–3).

God’s sovereignty in salvation.

Salvation is completely under God's control. Therefore, any errant theological system that makes salvation dependent on man's will (alone) dethrones God.

Jesus said no one could come to Him unless the Father first draws them (John 6:44, John 6:65).

Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

God's saving work is the only thing that can bring spiritual life to unbelievers.

Oftentimes, we mistake our salvation for drowning in the ocean, and God sending a life jacket to save us. However this analogy is incorrect because God first needed to revive us as we were dead at the bottom of the ocean.

Unbelief can't prevent God's saving work on those He has chosen from eternity past, even if they are spiritually dead.

Furthermore, Christians find security in Christ, not in their own efforts. Instead, they persevere through God's power.

1 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

A believer has a responsibility to trust and believe in God, and God has a responsibility to keep the believer.

As believers, we should continuously take advantage of the means of grace provided for us through the cross and the sacred scriptures and humbly submit ourselves to God's power.

As God works within believers, they can work out their salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).

Salvation is secured by God's sovereign grace, and true believers persevere through His power.

Once saved always saved?

Salvation, All Questions

Once saved, always saved? Eternal Security

Category

Salvation,   All Questions

Last Updated

Feb 5, 2025

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For centuries, theologians have debated the issue of eternal security/assurance. According to some, you cannot lose your salvation, while others maintain that it is easy to lose it.

Here are some Scriptures discussing this topic to assist us in determining what the Bible says

  • The Bible teaches us that God has elected and predestined those who would come to faith in Christ and be with Him in heaven. (Mark 13:20, Acts 13:48, Rom. 8:28-30, Eph 1:4, Col. 3:12, 1 Thess. 1:4, 2 Thess. 2:13, 2 Tim. 1:9 and 2 Tim. 2:10)
  • The Bible clearly states that your salvation is forever secure in Him once you believe in Christ. (1 John 2:25, John 10:27-28, John 3:36, John 5:24, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 3:14-15, John 3:16)
  • The Bible says that all who are genuinely saved have within them the power of the Holy Spirit and are kept by the power of God. (John 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–29; Rom. 5:9; 8:29–39; 1 Cor. 1:4–9; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 1 Peter 1:4–5; Jude 24)

Considering these basic truths and promises, it seems impossible that a person could lose their salvation and be condemned to hell.

The following questions (answered in the following pages) can help us better understand the topic of once saved always saved:

  • Why is eternal security important?
  • What are the benefits of eternal security?
  • Do believers have the ability to abandon their salvation?

These questions give an overarching view of the importance of having an assurance of salvation and also describe God's promise and power in saving and preserving us.

Why is Eternal security important?

It is essential that believers have assurance of their salvation since everything in the Christian lives depends on it. The foundation of our fellowship with God is based on the assurance that He has truly redeemed us from the clutches of hell and would not forsake us.

Furthermore, since individuals cannot receive salvation after death, God would want believers to know that they are saved.

What are the benefits of eternal security?

In addition to eternal security being an essential component of the Christian faith, it is also vital for a believer’s daily walk in faith. The following are some of the benefits of eternal security;

Stability in life: Believers who have an assurance of their salvation will remain stable during difficult times, they will live with the confidence that God does not change, and therefore, His grace is sufficient in all circumstances and situations.

An effective prayer life: Believers who have an assurance of their salvation will also have a practical prayer life, knowing that they can commune with God and approach Him with their requests.

Authority over Satan: Believers can be confident that they are "Hidden with Christ" (Col. 3:3). Therefore, trust the power of the Holy Spirit to help them resist Satan and stand firm when condemned by him.

As we can see, having an assurance of a secure relationship with God enables believers to endure the struggles of living in a fallen world.

Do believers have the ability to abandon their salvation?

This question requires an examination between the interplay of God's sovereignty and humanity's free will. Although God is sovereign, humans have the responsibility of making their own moral decisions.

Human responsibility

From the standpoint of human responsibility, God calls all people to repent (Acts 17:30; Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Mark 6:12) and promises that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13; John 3:15–16). Yet the Bible also records that salvation does not depend solely on human will.

According to Romans 9:16, salvation depends not on man's will, desire, or work, but rather on God's mercy. As further stated in John 1:13, the redeemed are those born not of the will of man, but of God.

Furthermore, God grants two essential components of salvation, namely repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25) and faith (Eph. 2:8–9; Phil. 1:29; Acts 16:14).

Apart from God's working in man's heart, the scriptures also indicate that no one would be able to approach Him, since "there is no one who seeks after God" (Rom. 3:11; cf.8:7–8; 1 Cor.2:14; 2, Cor.4:4; Eph.2:1–3).

God’s sovereignty in salvation.

Salvation is completely under God's control. Therefore, any errant theological system that makes salvation dependent on man's will (alone) dethrones God.

Jesus said no one could come to Him unless the Father first draws them (John 6:44, John 6:65).

Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

God's saving work is the only thing that can bring spiritual life to unbelievers.

Oftentimes, we mistake our salvation for drowning in the ocean, and God sending a life jacket to save us. However this analogy is incorrect because God first needed to revive us as we were dead at the bottom of the ocean.

Unbelief can't prevent God's saving work on those He has chosen from eternity past, even if they are spiritually dead.

Furthermore, Christians find security in Christ, not in their own efforts. Instead, they persevere through God's power.

1 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

A believer has a responsibility to trust and believe in God, and God has a responsibility to keep the believer.

As believers, we should continuously take advantage of the means of grace provided for us through the cross and the sacred scriptures and humbly submit ourselves to God's power.

As God works within believers, they can work out their salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).

Salvation is secured by God's power, not human effort—those truly saved will persevere in faith.

Is the God of the Old Testament and New Testament the same?

About God, All Questions

Is the God of the Old Testament and New Testament the same?

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God,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jul 23, 2026

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In the second century, a man named Marcion proposed that the God of the Old Testament was a different — and inferior — God from the Father of Jesus. The Church rejected this firmly, and Marcionism was condemned as heresy. But the underlying instinct — the Old Testament God seems harsh, the New Testament God seems kind — is still very much alive. Modern critics put the case sharply. Richard Dawkins calls the God of the Old Testament “the most unpleasant character in all fiction… a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser… capriciously malevolent bully.”

The argument is that the New Testament God of grace cannot be the same as the angry God of the Old Testament. But He is. The Bible presents one God, progressively revealed across redemptive history — and that one God is both gracious and just throughout both Testaments.

Grace appears on the first pages of Scripture. After the fall (Genesis 3), God does not wipe humanity out; He pursues them. He clothes Adam and Eve with garments of skin (Genesis 3:21) and promises a Saviour from the woman's seed who will crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). The flood judges a corrupt world, but Noah finds grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8). God calls Abraham out of paganism and promises that in him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

The pattern continues. God bears with Israel's rebellion through the wilderness, the judges, the monarchy, and the exile, recalling them through prophets they did not deserve. He commands Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman, Gomer, and to keep loving her even after she abandons him — a living picture of God's covenant love for an unfaithful Israel. He sends Jonah to preach to Nineveh, the brutal capital of Assyria; and Jonah runs from the assignment precisely because he suspects God will show grace and spare them (Jonah 4:2). The Psalmist sings the same truth as praise: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy… He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8, 10). If grace were the New Testament God's distinctive, the Old Testament writers never received the memo.

The pattern runs the other direction too. The God of the New Testament is no less just than the God of the Old Testament. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit about a property gift, and both are struck dead on the spot — and “great fear came upon all the church” (Acts 5:11). Hebrews warns that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). The book of Revelation closes the Bible with images of divine wrath poured out — bowls, plagues, the lake of fire — language as severe as anything in the prophets.

Jesus Himself spoke about hell more frequently, and more vividly, than anyone else in the New Testament. Outer darkness. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. The worm that does not die. The fire that is not quenched. The same Jesus who said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) told the unrepentant to fear “Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The grace of the New Testament is real, but it does not cancel the justice of the New Testament. Both stand in the same book, often on the lips of the same speaker.

So why do we feel the tension at all? Because grace and justice look like opposites — and in any system where one had to cancel the other, they would be. The cross is where the Bible refuses that trade.

At Calvary, the Father did not set aside His justice in order to forgive. He carried it out — on His own Son. The wrath that sin deserved fell in full; and in the same act, the grace that sinners could never earn was poured out freely. Justice was not suspended so that mercy could win. Justice and mercy met.

And it was one God who brought them together — the Father purposing it, the Son accomplishing it, the Spirit applying it to all who believe. This is why the Reformed tradition insists the cross was never God's plan B, a course-correction after a harsh beginning. It was the eternal counsel of the God who, from before the foundation of the world, meant to reveal His justice and His grace at a single point in history.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT PORTRAY A DUAL-HEADED GOD, BUT UNVEILS TO US THE TOTALITY OF GODS' WHOLE NATURE.

Why should I study the Bible?

About the Bible?, All Questions

Why should I study the Bible?

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Bible,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 22, 2025

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For many Christians understanding why to study the Bible is essential. While the most christians would understand the gospel message not all engage with the Scriptures for a deeper insight into God’s plans & character and for their personal spiritual growth.

As Christians, we must not only listen to God's word being taught at church, but also know how to access all of its richness and internalizing it allowing the word to transform our lives.

The following are a few reasons why we should study the Bible:

      • Gives us direction in life (Psalm 119:105)
      • Protects us from sin (Psalm 119:11)
      • It protects us from temptation. (Mathew 4:1-10)
      • It will help you become more like Jesus Christ, (John 17:17)

The Bible is more than just a book; it is divinely inspired by the Spirit of God and is useful for every believer. It contains divine truth, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, reveals to all readers the Savior.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Lastly, Jesus Himself testified to the absolute authority of the Bible as the Word of God. He affirmed the Bible’s divine inspiration (Matthew 22:43), its indestructibility (Matthew 5:17-18), its infallibility (John 10:35), its final authority (Matthew 4:4,7,10), its historicity (Matthew 12:40; 24:37), its factual inerrancy (John 17:17) and that Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35).

In conclusion, studying the Bible is vital for gaining wisdom, understanding God's will, and living a life that aligns with His purposes. Additionally, it’s not only about acquiring knowledge but about experiencing spiritual growth and transformation. Studying the Bible is a journey into understanding the depths of God's Word and applying it to one's life.

Studying the Bible fosters spiritual growth, reveals God’s will, and transforms lives through its divine truth and authority.

Are there any contradictions in the Bible?

About the Bible?, All Questions

Are there any contradictions in the Bible?

Category

Bible,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 22, 2025

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What would you say if someone told you that the Bible contains contradictions? It's unfortunate that many Christians are usually silent whenever posed this question since they themselves struggle with interpreting the scriptures.

But, before we tackle this question, we need to be honest.

Does the Bible contain challenging passages? Yes, some readings are easy to understand, and some are tough. Are there Biblical challenges? Yes, but are there any verified contradictions? Absolutely not.

Whenever anyone asks about the contradictions of the Bible, we need to explain to them that just because there are tough passages doesn't mean we conclude there are contradictions.

To understand these differences/tensions in the Gospels, we should consider the following two essential points:

(1) We must be able to distinguish between a 'Difference' and a 'Contradiction.'

            • Contradictions are errors that are definite / absolute and cannot be reconciled. For example, take the famous story of the Titanic ship; if some survivors said the ship broke in half and another group stated that it sank in one piece, this would be classified as an apparent contradiction.
            • A 'Difference' for  example, would be if you went home and your spouse comes to you and says, "a man showed up at the door and said that I won a cheque for a million dollars." But an hour later, she/he calls their parents and says, “two men showed up at the doorstep one with a cheque and the other with a camera saying I am going to be on television." This scenario would illustrate a difference and not a contraction. One scene contained more information, while the other was not exhaustive.

Many of the 'alleged' Bible contractions are differences and not contradictions.

(2) We should also understand that the genre in which the gospels were recorded was according to the 'Greco-RomanBiography.' Wherein much like today's literature, some liberties were allowed (such as time compression and lack of precision) when it came to minor chronological details. For example, one commonly disputed argument is concerning Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, where the authors Mathew and Luke invert the first and second temptations in their books. This does not disregard the Bible's authenticity, as they both give the same message.

In conclusion, the Bible contains no contradictions. While some passages may present challenges or differences, these do not undermine the core message of the Gospel. It’s crucial to distinguish between differences in detail and true contradictions. The Bible, when properly understood, is consistent in its teachings and reliable in its testimony. The truth of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection remains unchallenged, affirmed throughout scripture, and stands as the foundation of the Christian faith.

The Bible contains no contradictions—only differences that enrich its depth and context.

Is God the author of evil?

About God, All Questions

Is God the author of evil?

Category

God,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jul 23, 2026

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The Bible teaches two things that seem impossible to hold together. God created everything that exists, and God is perfectly good — “there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Psalm 92:15). Yet evil is undeniably real. If God made everything and God is good, where did evil come from, and is He behind it?

The answer Scripture gives is careful, and it refuses to collapse into either of the easy errors. It will not say that evil somehow escaped God's control, as though something happens in His universe that He did not permit. And it will not say that God is the doer of evil, as though the sin belongs to Him. Both of those would be false. The truth holds two things at once: God ordains everything that comes to pass, including the evil acts of His creatures — and yet God is not the author of sin, because the creatures who commit evil do so freely, from their own desires, and bear the guilt themselves. This is not a modern compromise. It is what the Christian church has confessed for centuries, and it is drawn straight from the way Scripture itself speaks.

The clearest place to see it is the cross. On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the crowd that Jesus was “delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” — and in the very same breath said that they had taken Him and “by lawless hands have crucified, and put to death” (Acts 2:23). One sentence, both truths. God had ordained the death of His Son before the foundation of the world; the men who carried it out were murderers, acting freely and wickedly, fully answerable for what they did. The worst crime in human history was, at the same moment, the greatest act of God's saving purpose. If those two truths can meet at the cross, they can meet everywhere.

This is why the word “author” has to be handled with care. To call God the author of sin, in the ordinary sense, would mean He is the one who commits it, delights in it, and is guilty of it — and that Scripture flatly denies. God does not sin, tempt anyone to sin, or take pleasure in evil; He is not “tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13).

What God does is ordain that evil will occur, set its limits, and govern it toward an end He has chosen — without ever being the one who does the wrong. The sin remains entirely the creature's. The purpose behind permitting it is entirely God's. To lose either half is to lose the biblical answer: deny God's control and evil becomes an accident He is helpless to stop; make God the doer and He becomes a sinner. Scripture holds the narrow line between them.

And it insists that God permits no evil pointlessly. He does not merely tolerate it; He overrules it, bending even the worst that men intend toward a good they never imagined. Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, said it to their faces years later: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). This is the pattern that runs through all of Scripture, reaching its height at Calvary: God takes the evil that creatures freely choose and makes it serve the very good they set themselves against.

So evil is real, and it is grievous, but it is neither outside God's control nor charged to His account. It exists for a season, under His hand, permitted for reasons that will finally display His mercy, His justice, and His glory. The God who governs it is not its author. He is its Master, and one day its end.

GOD MADE EVIL POSSIBLE BY CREATING FREE CREATURES, BUT THE FREE CREATURES MADE EVIL ACTUAL.