10:27-29 Does this passage mean that once they are saved, Christians can never lose their salvation as some teach?
10:27-29 Does this passage mean that once they are saved, Christians can never lose their salvation as some teach?
No! If that were so then these scriptures and numerous others that teach the same thing would be meaningless (CP Ex 32:30-33; Psa 51:10-11; Pr 21:16; Eze 3:18-21; 18:20-26; 33:12-13, 17-18; Jn 15:5-6; Ga 3:1-4; 5:4; 1Th 3:8; 1Ti 5:11-15; 6:17-20; He 2:1-3; 3:6, 12-14; 4:1-11; 6:1-8; 10:26-31; 12:14-15; Jas 1:22-25; 2:14-17, 26; 2Pe 1:10-12; 2:1-2, 20-22; 3:17-18; Rev 3:5).
It is readily seen here that scriptures do not support any teaching that once saved believers cannot lose their salvation. God, Jesus, Moses, David, Solomon, Paul, James and Peter all teach in those scriptures that salvation can be lost; that it is not an unforfeitable possession in this life. It only becomes an unforfeitable possession at the end of this life for those sowing to the spirit (CP Rev 22:11-12).
The key to what Jn 10:27-29 teaches is found in V27. Herein are the conditions attached to the promises of V28-29 (CP V27). The clear teaching here is that the eternal security of believers lies in the fact that they are continually following in the way of Jesus and listening to His voice. Christ's giving of eternal life to believers in V28-29 is commensurate with their habitual following and listening in V27.
The faithfulness of both Jesus and God to keep us is contingent upon us being totally consecrated to the service of God and completely yielded to the authority of Jesus (CP Lu 9:57-62; 14:25-35).
To get into Heaven believers must meet the terms of the gospel to the end of life (CP Mt 5:13, 20; 12:30; Ro 6:16; 8:12-13; 1Cor 9:27; 10:7-12; 2Cor 6:1; 7:1; 13:5; Ga 5:16-26; 6:7-8; Eph 4:1; Php 2:12-13; Col 3:5-10).
See also comments on He 3:7-11, 4:11-12, 6:4-6, 10:26-31, 2Pe 2:20-22.