What is Conditional Salvation?
Conditional salvation is the belief that salvation is not guaranteed once a person has been saved, but rather can be lost through sin. This doctrine is held by various Christian denominations, including some Calvinist and Wesleyan traditions.
Conditional salvation is in contrast to the doctrine of eternal security, which holds that salvation is guaranteed once a person has been saved, regardless of their future actions.
Proponents of conditional salvation argue that the Bible teaches that salvation is conditional on obedience to God’s law. They point to passages such as:
* “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
* “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
* “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Opponents of conditional salvation argue that the Bible also teaches that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be lost. They point to passages such as:
* “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
* “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
* “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
The debate over conditional salvation is a complex one, and there are strong arguments to be made on both sides. Ultimately, each individual must decide for themselves what they believe about this important doctrine.
Scriptural Support for Conditional Salvation
* *Romans 11:22* – “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”
* *1 Corinthians 9:27* – “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
* *Hebrews 3:6* – “But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and the boasting of our hope.”
Scriptural Support for Eternal Security
* *John 10:28-29* – “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
* *Romans 8:38-39* – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
* *Ephesians 2:8-9* – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Conclusion
The doctrine of salvation is a complex and controversial one, and there are strong arguments to be made on both sides. Ultimately, each individual must decide for themselves what they believe about this important doctrine.
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