The chance of losing salvation depends on whose work it is ultimately. While we could undeniably fumble, God is entirely faithful.

Stages of Salvation

We should never fear that hands as strong as God’s would drop something as precious as our salvation.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out (John 6:37).

Justification

Justification is God’s declaration of our holiness.
God declares those in Christ as no longer guilty.
When you receive the gospel, God justifies you, and that status can never be changed.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24).
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

Sanctification is God’s process of our holiness.
Sanctification represents every critical day between believing the gospel and beholding the Savior.
Discipleship is our side of sanctification, and it will not be complete until we die.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Glorification is God’s completion of our holiness.
When you finally see Jesus, you will be wholly holy.
With eternity to enjoy, we will say good riddance to the unholiness of our lives and that which is present in this current world.
“When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4).
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18).
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).

The Trinity’s responsibility for our salvation provides the durability it requires.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor. 13:14).

If the Father is the One who initiates the relationship and extends us grace, nothing could change His activity or desire.
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
“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” (John 10:29).

If the Son’s work was complete upon the cross, then no sin of ours could outpower His grace.
“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” (Rom. 8:38-39).
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

If the Spirit secures our salvation, there is no force able to remove His seal.
“And who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Cor. 1:22).
“And not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

What about those who leave the faith? They were never truly converted.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us” (1 John 2:19).

Can salvation be lost? Not if God is the one responsible for it.

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation…” (Ps. 51:12).

Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.