Who can rob us of our salvation?

Romans 8:31-34 (NKJV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

This verse is great encouragement for those who worry about losing their salvation. In this passage, Paul asks an all-encompassing rhetorical question, “If God is for us, who can be against us? ”

If (translated from the Greek conditional particle ei) signifies a condition that has been fulfilled rather than the mere possibility of it occurring.

God has already fulfilled what we need to be saved. Once we place our trust in Christ, we are saved forever, and nothing can take that precious gift away.

The obvious implication in this verse is that if anyone could rob us of our salvation, they would have to be greater than God Himself, who is both the giver and the sustainer of salvation. Although Paul does not mention any specific individuals who might be “successful” against us, it would be helpful if we considered some possibilities.

(1) Can people rob us of our salvation?

Among Paul’s initial readers, many were Jews, who were well aware of the heresy propagated by highly legalistic Jews who insisted that without strict observance of Mosaic law, especially circumcision, no one could be saved or maintain their salvation.

Paul, however, opposed this heresy in the following letter to the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 5:2-6 (NKJV)

2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 

3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

If anyone intends to make even one law mandatory for salvation, they must keep them all (which is practically impossible).

Similarly, the Roman Catholic church teaches that salvation can be lost by committing mortal sins. Furthermore, they claim to have the power to grant and revoke grace. But such ideas have no foundation in scripture and are thoroughly heretical.

Regardless of their spiritual or ecclesiastical status, no person or group of persons can bestow or withdraw from a believer the smallest part of God’s grace.

In Paul’s farewell remarks to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-30), he warned them of false teachers who would come speaking perverse things to draw people away. Paul’s warning here is not that believers can lose their salvation, but that they can be seriously misled, confused, and weak in their faith, which can seriously impede the gospel’s progress.

Even though false teaching cannot “prevent” the completion of a believer’s salvation, it can easily confuse an unbeliever regarding salvation and stamper their spiritual growth.

(2) Can Christians rob themselves of their salvation?

Christians often wonder if committing certain sins can nullify or revoke the divine work of redemption in their lives and remove themselves from God’s grace.

This is aided by the teachings of many evangelical churches, which instils doubt in people’s minds that their salvation can be lost.

Nevertheless, if we did not have the power to save ourselves in our depravity, how could our efforts (after being regenerated) negate God’s grace?

If we did nothing to free ourselves from the bonds of sin and become God’s children. How do we have any power within us to reject what He has given us?

It is true that once a person is truly redeemed and are truly in Christ, they will never be lost. It is not that the person is innately able to persevere, but it is because God promises to preserve His own, and we have the benefit of our Great High Priest interceding on our behalf.

There are, however, heinous sins that Christians can commit, including  even denial of Christ and betraying Him. The apostle Peter at one point was was so emphatic about not knowing Jesus that he even used profanities to emphasize his point (Luke 22:54-62).

Judas another disciple also betrayed Jesus and turned away from Him, and both betrayals were predicted by Jesus at the Last Supper. But when Jesus addressed Judas, He said, “Whatever you must do, do it immediately” and dismissed him. The Scriptures record Judas as the son of perdition (John 17:12) since the beginning and it is clear in Jesus’ High Priestly prayer (John 17) that Judas was never a Christian. So Judas’ betrayal was not an example of a Christian turning on Christ.

At the same time, the Lord predicted to Peter that he would also betray Him, saying, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-34)

If we notice that when Jesus predicted Peter’s betrayal, He said to him, “when you turn,” not, “if you turn.” Because as Jesus had prayed in his High Priestly prayer, no one could steal His people who are under His Sovereign care.

Yes, Christians can fall hard, but not totally and permanently as a final fall. They like David who realized his sin and repented, or like the Prodigal Son coming back to the father, and even like Peter who ultimately repented, likewise, all true believers will be restored in their relationship to the Father.

(3) Can God revoke our salvation?

Some people claim that if God can freely give the gift of salvation, He can easily take it away. Is there any biblical basis for any of this? The answer is no.

Theoretically, we could argue that the sovereign, powerful God could take away salvation if He wanted to. However, that idea falls flat in the light of scripture.

In Romans 8:32, Paul asks the question: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also freely give us all things?

For a moment, let’s consider that scripture. Why would God sacrifice His Son for those who believe in Him and then cast some of those blood-bought believers out of His family and kingdom later on? Does God do less for believers after they are saved than He did before they were saved? If God loved us while we were sinners that He would deliver His own Son for us, would He turn His back on us after we have been made righteous in His sight?

In the Old Testament account of Abraham being asked to sacrifice and Isaac, we talk a lot about Abraham, but we forget that Isaac was a picture of Christ. When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice His promised son Isaac, both Abraham and Isaac willingly obeyed.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is a beautiful foreshadowing of God’s willingness to offer His only begotten Son to atone for the world’s sins. Similarly, Isaac’s willingness to be sacrificed foreshadows Christ’s willingness to go to the cross.

As we know from the Genesis account, God intervened to spare Isaac and provides a substitute ram in exchange (Gen. 22:1-13). But what we tend to miss is that the analogy changes from comparison to contrast. This is because, on the hill of Calvary, God did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is not only the foundation of our salvation but also our security because of 2 simple truths.

• Because the Father loved us while we were still condemned, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
• Because the Son loved us so much while we were still condemned, He “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:4; cf. 3:13).

In addition, we have a future promise from Christ of an eternal home and a place prepared for us (John 14:2–3) and a present promise of the Holy Spirit, who will be with us forever (John 14:16).

Is there any power in heaven or earth that could rob us of the eternal plan of the Godhead?

Definitely not.

(4) Can Satan Rob us of our salvation?

A common fear people have is that Satan can rob them of their salvation (since he is a powerful supernatural enemy).

The book of Job illustrates how Satan accused Job of worshiping God selfishly instead of reverently and lovingly. Even though Job’s faith wasn’t perfect, it was still genuine, so the Lord permitted/allowed Satan to test him.

God knew that Satan could not destroy Job’s persevering faith, nor could he rob Job of his salvation.

In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus warned Peter that Satan would attempt to undermine his faith as well.

It must be noted, however, that not all accusations made against believers by Satan are false. Every one of us will fail at times in this life. However, the scriptures teach us that even if a charge against us is true, it is never sufficient to cause our eternal damnation since all of our sins past, present, and future have been covered by Christ’s who is our advocate  interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34).

(5) Can the Savior take back our salvation?

Can Jesus can take back the gift of salvation since He gave it to us? Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s words in the book of Romans.

Romans 8:34 (NKJV)

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Our salvation isn’t something Jesus provides and then leaves us to figure out. In fact, His intercession is vital component to our sanctification and eternal security. Because of Jesus’ continuous intercession for all believers, they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of His hand (John 10:28).

If Christ were to take away our salvation it would nullify His  promise of eternal life that He achieved for us.

We need to understand that Christ does not offer a ‘temporary’ spiritual life but an ‘eternal’ life. Therefore, He were to take the gift of salvation away, that would demonstrate that the gift was never eternal in the first place.