If I Could Lose My Salvation, I Would... but... // Pastor Eddy
Devotional
Day 1: God secures salvation and shapes us through testing
Everything that comes into a believer's life is under God's sovereign plan to make them like Christ; salvation is not a fragile thing you keep by your own effort but a gift given, called, justified, and already destined for glorification—tests are His fitness training, Satan tempts, and you are called to trust Him through it all so that you live out the certainty of being part of a glorified family. [36:11]
Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Reflection: Name one fear or doubt you carry about your eternal security; tonight write it down, bring it to God in prayer, and aloud declare Romans 8:28–30 as your trust statement.
Day 2: Recognize spiritual poverty to receive God's kingdom
True entry into God's kingdom begins when you admit you have nothing to contribute to your salvation—"poor in spirit" means surrendering self-righteousness and letting Christ's perfect righteousness cover you; any tiny righteousness you try to add is a theft from what Christ already bought, so choose humility and receive His gift completely. [30:36]
Matthew 5:3 (ESV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Reflection: Identify one habit, achievement, or attitude you secretly rely on for acceptance; today confess that to God, ask Him to replace it with dependence on Christ's righteousness, and write one sentence of thanksgiving for His gift.
Day 3: True faith shows in intimate relationship, not works
Doing religious things without a real, personal knowing of Jesus is empty; God looks for gnosko—an intimate, face‑to‑face relationship—so it's possible to perform and still be unknown by Him; pursue intimate time with Jesus rather than using works to earn or prove acceptance. [52:54]
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
Reflection: Choose one routine spiritual activity you do out of duty; instead of rushing through it today, spend 10 uninterrupted minutes asking God to transform that practice into real, intimate time with Him.
Day 4: God chooses the weak to display His glory
God's calling often lands on the unimpressive, the weak, the foolish by worldly standards so that no one can boast—what looks like weakness becomes the stage for God's wisdom, righteousness, and power; lean into humility, stop measuring yourself by the world's standards, and let God show His glory through your insufficiency. [55:09]
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Reflection: Pick one ministry opportunity or need where you feel inadequate; today take one concrete step to serve there (a phone call, a text offering help, showing up), trusting God to use your weakness for His glory.
Day 5: Love God; seek Him; let His Word guide
Love for God shows itself in pursuit—spending time, asking questions, and longing after Him like a deer panting for water; cultivate agape love by choosing God in daily decisions, leaning into Scripture (Psalm 119), and practicing the kind of close, persistent devotion that deepens obedience and fuels love for others. [58:25]
Psalm 119:1-8 (ESV)
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your just and righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
Reflection: Treat your time with God like a date—set aside 15 focused minutes today, open Psalm 119, write one honest question on a "clipboard" (paper or note), and bring that question to God in prayer asking for a deeper desire for Him.
Sermon Summary
If it were possible to lose salvation, I would—because I blow perfection daily. But the hope I live from is this: salvation begins with God, is secured by God, and is completed by God. Romans 8:28–30 shows that the God who foreknew us (fore-loved us), predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, called us, justified us, and—astonishingly—speaks of us as already glorified. That means the end is certain. I don’t live toward an uncertain outcome; I live from a finished one.
So what does that change on Monday morning? Everything. “All things work together for good” isn’t about easy days or convenient outcomes. The “good” is that God is forming me into the likeness of Jesus. Tests are not random; they’re custom-ordered for my transformation. Christ does the testing to strengthen my trust; the enemy tempts me to trust anything but God; my part is simple and hard—trust Him.
A key indicator that this life is real in me is love. Not sentiment, not convenience—agape. God’s own love working through me toward unlovely people in unlovely moments. That love doesn’t originate in me; it comes from Him and returns to Him in obedience. Loving God means choosing Him when it makes no sense, when the world calls it foolish, and when my flesh wants an easier way.
God is building a family—a redeemed, diverse, perfected people who will live together in joy forever. Your quirks aren’t accidents; surrendered to the Spirit, they become glory notes in His eternal symphony. He’s not asking you to become someone else; He’s forming you into a Spirit-filled you. Because the destination is secure (glorification), we don’t fight for victory; we fight from it. So don’t lose heart. Receive the tests as training. Embrace your present calling. Love God, love people, and make disciples while you wait for the day when what is true in heaven becomes visible on earth.
Key Takeaways
1. Saved by God, kept by God God authored salvation from eternity and finishes what He starts. If I could lose it, I would—but I didn’t gain it by performance and I won’t keep it by performance. My security rests in His foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and already-declared glorification. That frees me to live gratefully, not fearfully. [33:13]
2. Love is proof, not performance Agape doesn’t rise from my emotions; it flows from God to others through me. Choosing what pleases Him—especially when it costs me—reveals that I truly belong to Him. When I can’t love the unlovely, I ask the only One who knows what they need to love them through me. That’s worship with skin on. [43:36]
3. All things aim at Christlikeness The “good” of Romans 8:28 is not comfort; it’s conformity to Christ. God permits hard things—not to harm me—but to form me. Trials expose where I trust lesser saviors and invite deeper dependence. The goal isn’t surviving the moment; it’s becoming like Jesus in the moment. [60:36]
4. Live from glorification, not defeat Scripture speaks of glorification in the past tense because the outcome is fixed. When I remember who I already am in Christ, I face tests as a victor, not a victim. That perspective kills self-pity and fuels perseverance—this is training, not punishment. [38:25]
5. Your present calling is holy God’s call isn’t only a job title; it’s the holy stewardship of where He has you today. Each season, role, and responsibility is training for the family He’s forming forever. Ask Him how to serve there, and watch ordinary places become sanctuaries of obedience. [66:30]
Bible reading (ESV) Romans 8:28–30 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Observation questions
What sequence of God’s actions does Paul list in Romans 8:29–30, and what does each step (foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified) seem to mean in the sermon’s explanation? [33:13]
The verse begins “for those who love God.” How did the preacher describe this “love” (agape) as the proof of saving faith rather than an emotional performance? What indicators of that agape did he point to? [43:36]
Paul writes “those whom he justified he also glorified” in the past tense. What did the sermon say is the practical effect of treating glorification as a certain (already-declared) reality for the believer? [37:48]
Interpretation questions
How does understanding that trials are “custom-ordered” by Christ to shape believers into his image change the interpretation of Romans 8:28 in the sermon? In other words, what specifically is the “good” that God works toward in suffering? [01:00:36]
The preacher called God’s foreknowledge a “fore-love.” How does reading “foreknew” as fore-love affect how one thinks about God’s initiative in salvation and the believer’s assurance? [01:20:22]
When Paul says believers are “called according to his purpose,” the sermon linked that to everyday roles and seasons. How should a Christian interpret ordinary work, family roles, or current struggles as part of that calling? [01:06:11]
The sermon contrasted Christ’s testing (to build trust) with the devil’s tempting (to mislead trust). How does this distinction help explain why believers still face hard things even though God is for them? [01:00:16]
Application questions
Identify one current trial or difficulty you are facing. How might this situation be “custom-ordered” by Christ to make you more like Jesus? What is one faith-step (a specific prayer, choice, or act of trust) you will take this week in response? [01:00:36]
Think of one person you find consistently unlovable (family member, coworker, neighbor). What would it look like to ask God for agape love for that person this week? Name one concrete thing you can do for them in the next seven days that shows love rather than avoiding or arguing. [46:42]
The preacher said believers should “live from glorification, not toward it.” When a discouraging thought (“I’ll never get through this,” “God can’t really change them”) arises, what truth from Romans 8:28–30 will you speak to your heart? Write that sentence and plan when you’ll say it aloud this week. [38:25]
Where has the desire to “perform” or add your own righteousness slipped into your spiritual life (prayer, church service, parenting, work)? Identify one small behavior or attitude you will stop doing this week that trusts Christ’s righteousness instead of your performance. [30:36]
List one part of your life (job, neighborhood, team, parenting season) you tend to treat as “secular” or unimportant for God’s kingdom. How can you reframe that role as your present holy calling? Pick one specific way to serve there with gospel intention in the next three days. [01:06:11]
The sermon emphasized that God calls people and believers are to make disciples. Name one person in your circle who is curious or open about faith. What is one concrete step (a conversation, invite, share a resource, pray for them) you will take this week to move toward discipling them? [01:39:11]
Assurance practice: what habit can you put in place this month to remind yourself of God’s initiative in your salvation (fore-love, calling, justification, certain glorification)? (Examples: memorize Romans 8:28–30, weekly journaling of God’s faithfulness, a small group accountability check.) Which habit will you start and when? [33:13]
Sermon Clips
``If I could lose my salvation, I would, and so would you, because man, we blow it on a daily basis, but because salvation is holy, and solely from God, and what you're even going to see today, from scripture, is that he chose you, before the beginning of time, he chose you before you could do something good, or even do something bad, he chose that, he's been in a love relationship with you, forever, waiting for the perfect time, to save you, and so you have nothing to do with it, even before it happened, there's nothing you can do to get it, nothing you can do to lose it, so if I could lose my salvation, if it was possible, I would, but because it's from God, I can't, it is impossible.
[00:33:47]
(44 seconds)
#EternalSecurity
If you look in Scripture, there is no way you can be saved and not love God. Period. That's one of the qualifications and by the way, this word love here is not eros, it's not a me love, it's not even a storge love that a natural parent would have for their children, you know, that mama bear love. It's not even that, that's storge love. It's not phileo love which is an us love. Well, as long as God's good for me and I'm good for him, we love each other. No, it's an agape love. The only place agape love comes from is God. He's the source of it and God gives you the ability to love somebody regardless of who they are, regardless of what they've done, regardless of what they're not going to do.
[00:43:03]
(45 seconds)
#GodGivesAgape
If you got an issue with somebody? You got an issue with a bunch of people? You're having a hard time loving some people? You know what that means? That means you need to get a little tighter to God. Because you're not seeing them through God's perspective. You're not seeing you through God's perspective. Again, all the forgiveness that God has given us and we, that's often why we don't love is because I'm not going to love, you know, I'm not letting them off the hook, whatever, in all of that. But when you have that relationship with God and you see the unconditional love he has for us, especially concerning forgiveness that we didn't deserve. Oh my goodness, when you realize what he's done for you.
[00:47:42]
(42 seconds)
#LoveThroughGodsEyes
Love often is what you accept and what you reject. If all of a sudden you're faced with a choice. I got to do this or I got to do this and this is what I want to do. This is what my flesh wants to do. This is what Satan wants me to do. This is what the world wants me to do and this is what God wants me to do. How are you going to show him you love him? By doing what? Choosing him. And even when it makes no sense, how many of y'all have been asked to do things by God that make no sense? In fact, everybody in the world is telling you, no, do this, do this. You're an idiot. Don't do that. Do this. But out of faith, you do what God tells you to do because it's what the word of God says.
[00:54:18]
(41 seconds)
#FaithOverFlesh
If you were saved, he chose you because you weren't that impressive in this world. you probably kind of, to get saved, you sort of figured that out. The more you try in the world, the more you realize how unimpressive you really were and you're just like, God, I can't do it. God, I quit. I'm a loser. And he says, nope, you're a winner. Give your life to me and you're in it. Go read chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians. I dare you this afternoon. He's not looking for the cream of the crop. He's looking for the bottom of the barrel and praise God, I fit. How many of y'all were at the bottom of the barrel? Amen. Isn't that good news?
[00:55:44]
(40 seconds)
#GodUsesTheLeast
God doesn't give his children things that harm them. Listen to that question. So if God loves you, will he allow things to harm you? Come on, oh no, no, but in your real answers, yeah, how many of y'all have been harmed in life? Yeah, how many had harmful things happen? Who orchestrated all of that? Again, God does the testing, the devil does the tempting. God doesn't do the bad thing to get you to fail. He does the good thing. He does it, allows Satan to do things. So you'll choose God over Satan and your faith grows, which is more valuable than anything you could ever have on this planet.
[00:59:48]
(40 seconds)
#TrialsGrowFaith
With everything that happens into our life, we have to understand that who's allowing that and who's orchestrating that. It's God Almighty and according to the next verse, which we're going to get to in a second, the whole purpose of it is to make you more like Christ. And if you don't really want to become more like Christ, you probably should check your salvation. Check your relationship with Christ. Because if he's all that awesome, how many of y'all think he's awesome? If he's that awesome, wouldn't you want to be like him?
[01:02:14]
(35 seconds)
#BecomingLikeChrist
He made us that way, and you know what? When he called me to preach, I told him, I said, God, I can't be like them guys on TV. God, I can't do it. He said, I don't want you to be. I want you to be a spirit-filled you. And I'm still trying to figure out what that actually means, but he wants you to be you. Because if you're not being you, who are you being? Who are you being, bro? If you're not being you, who are you being? Somebody else, right? And if you're not being, oh, you just said God. That was wrong. This one doesn't work. That answer doesn't work on this question. All right. So, if you're not being you, who are you being? Someone else. Are you gonna be as good at being someone else as you are at being you? And if you don't even want to be you, do you think anybody else wants to be you? And if no one's being you, you're ripping this world off. Because God thought you were necessary. So, be a spirit-filled you.
[01:13:40]
(52 seconds)
#BeSpiritFilledYou
If you chose him, you chose him because he called you first. He chose you first. So again, why would Paul even say, man, God, Dylan, of encouragement in the fact that God's loved you forever, bro? What kind of encouragement could you get from that? A lot. Because if he's loved you before you could do anything wrong, then he also knows everything. He loved you knowing all the screw-up things you would do. You probably don't do many, but I'm just saying. There's all kinds of encouragement knowing. That's what Paul's writing this for, to encourage us. God loves you, man.
[01:24:51]
(36 seconds)
#ChosenBeforeTime
So everybody comes in this world lost. They're lost. They're dead. You are dead. God, and in God, through his foreknowledge, his gnosko, loving you forever, God gave, he called you. He gave you the grace, the desire and ability to have faith, to believe what his word says. And, and yes, you have a responsibility to make a choice, and you did. And now, from the time you're born again, now you're born again, you have Christ's righteousness. And from the time you're born again to the time he brings you home, he's putting stuff in your life, giving you the desire and ability to do it his way, so that you can become more like him.
[01:36:14]
(38 seconds)
#GraceToGrow
But for those of us who've done that, don't lose heart. Don't lose hope. Don't get distracted. Don't get discouraged. Stay on track for the most important thing that he's got for us right now. And that is doing your part to become through his righteousness, through his power, who you're supposed to be in that family and represent him to this world. Make disciples. Because one day it's going to be over and it'll be bliss. But we're going to give an account and he's going to say, what'd you do with that situation? What'd you do with that one? And what is it we want to hear from him? Well done. Good and faithful servant. We'll want to hear that. This is the time where you can do the things to be able to hear that. And that's what we want to hear from someone that we love.
[01:38:49]
(48 seconds)
#FinishWell
