Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation?

Can a Christian loose there salvation? 2 Peter 2:20-22


When reading chapter two of 2 Peter this question is bound to be on more than a few minds and since it is not the focal point of Peter’s letter but rather a conclusion to the fate of a false teacher I have chosen not to focus on it in this sermon. However, I felt it profitable to address it as sort of an appendix to the sermon and to put it in writing. Of course to do so is to my own ill fate, for whenever anyone puts anything in writing they are opening themselves to all sorts of criticism. I accept that reality and only beseech you on behalf of our Christian unity that if you disagree with me do so in a manner that brings glory to God and builds each of us up. If you should happen to agree with me then I beseech you to not let this “seemingly peripheral” issue be a cause of undue gloating and finger pointing but rather in all things be gracious. If you would like to discuss this may I suggest that you do so in the blog that I will post this to which can be found on our website www.cccofg.com

Attempting to come at this passage in its context as though I had never read it before and had no preconceived ideas I studied very carefully the wording, the context to the original audience and the language used for the original audience as well as the intimation, or what the author was alluding to. I later read a commentary that was in favor that a Christian could indeed lose their salvation, referring to it as “apostasy” then later reading a commentary that was in favor that in fact a Christian could not lose their salvation.

What I would offer you, regarding this passage 2 Peter 2:20-22 (as the only text being considered for this discussion at this time) is that according to this passage Peter is clear throughout this letter and very particularly in chapter 2 to show that these “false” teachers were never Christian and therefore did not lose their salvation, you cannot lose something you never possessed. I will highlight 7 points of reference on this point, though there could be more I limit myself to these 7.

1. Starting with the simplest: In verse 1 of chapter two he refers to both false prophets and false teachers, false in the Greek is our word for pseudo which means in essence to fake or pretend for the purpose of deceiving. Peter’s implication is that they are pretending to be something that in actuality they are not. They claim to teach something they have not embraced, doing so for personal gain.

2. 2:12, 22 Peter refers to them as brute beasts, creatures of instinct, dogs and pigs. They show no evidence of conversion they are still slaves to their sinful human nature. In verse 2:19 he says they are slaves to corruption. Christians ( I will not play the game of using terms such as “true” Christians I simply mean by the term Christian those who have confessed their sin; trusted by faith, Christ as Savior and Lord; and there is evidence of that in the fruit of their life in Christ) as I was saying, Christians are recognizable not only by their correct thinking but equally by their correct living.

3. Verse 2:2 “even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.” John in his first epistle says it best, 1 John 2:22-23 “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father whoever acknowledges the son has the Father also.” Paul in his charge to young Timothy puts it this way, 2 Timothy 3:41-9 “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (v.5)

4. In light of the fruit of their life: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:21 “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Their fruit exposed in 2 Peter 2:1-15)

5. 2:5,6 A godless Christian is an oxymoron. Peter refers to these false teachers as ungodly which is the same Greek word for godless (read Jude 4-16 for a strikingly similar passage).

6. Verse 2:20 The word “if” is a Greek word used to imply a condition which fruit has determined. Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 ”Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them”.

7. Verse 2:-20-21 Peter uses the word “known” and “knowing”, as we have seen and had our attention drawn to already the word “know, known, knowing” has many meanings in the Greek language as it does also in the English language. In this particular use the word is “epignosko” full knowledge but not the same as “Epignosis” which we understood to mean personal and intimate, relational knowledge. These false teachers have a very thorough and working knowledge of Christianity and Christian doctrine. How dreadful and sad to become so knowledgeable about Christianity and Christian teaching and never to surrender one’s life to Christ.

The argument in the case of these false teachers in this passage covered in 2 Peter 2:20-22 isn’t an argument of whether or not on can lose their salvation but rather an argument as to whether or not they were Christian in the first place and Peter succinctly points out that they in fact were not. Though they were very knowledgeable and even were able to pretend very well they were in fact unconverted.