Christ's Unbreakable Grip: Assurance of Salvation

The question of whether a true Christian can lose salvation is one that has weighed heavily on the hearts of believers throughout church history. This question is not merely theoretical or academic; it is deeply personal, pastoral, and theological. At its core, it asks: Is our salvation something we can lose, or is it something Christ holds secure for us? The answer lies not in our own ability to hold on to Christ, but in Christ’s unbreakable grip on us.

Historically, the assurance of salvation has shifted from being rooted in the sacraments of the church—particularly baptism—to being grounded in the objective work of Christ. In the early church, baptism became the assurance of salvation, leading to practices like infant baptism and the development of doctrines such as purgatory. The Reformation, however, marked a decisive shift. The Reformers moved assurance away from the church’s sacraments and placed it firmly in the atonement accomplished by Christ, emphasizing justification by faith alone and the sovereignty of God in salvation.

This shift is crucial. If salvation is something we possess and maintain, we are always at risk of losing it. But if salvation is Christ’s work, secured by His death and resurrection, then it is as sure and unchangeable as God Himself. The biblical witness is clear: those whom God has called, justified, and regenerated are kept by His power. Passages like John 10, John 6, Romans 8, and 1 Peter 1 all affirm that no one can snatch believers from Christ’s hand, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Yet, there are warning passages in Scripture, such as Hebrews 6, that seem to suggest the possibility of falling away. These must be read in light of the whole counsel of God. Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13 helps us understand that there are those who appear to believe but never truly possess saving faith. The warnings serve to exhort us to examine ourselves, but they do not undermine the objective assurance given to those who are truly born again.

Ultimately, the perseverance of the saints is not about our ability to hold on to God, but about God’s faithfulness to hold on to us. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. If it were up to us, we would be lost. But it is God who saves, keeps, and will bring us safely home.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Assurance of salvation is grounded in the objective work of Christ, not in our subjective experiences or even in the sacraments of the church. The Reformation’s great insight was to shift our confidence from what we do or feel to what Christ has accomplished and promised. This means our hope rests on the unchanging character and purpose of God, not on our fluctuating emotions or imperfect faith. [12:30]
• 2. The biblical testimony is overwhelmingly clear: those whom God has called and justified, He will also glorify. There is an unbreakable chain in Romans 8—no one is lost along the way. The security of the believer is not a matter of human perseverance, but of God’s sovereign and effectual grace from beginning to end. [36:28]
• 3. Warning passages like Hebrews 6 are real and sobering, but they do not teach that true believers can lose their salvation. Rather, they warn against superficial faith and call us to examine whether we have truly been born again. Jesus’ parable of the sower clarifies that only those with genuine, rooted faith bear lasting fruit; the rest, though they may appear to believe for a time, were never truly regenerate. [43:24]
• 4. The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is only as strong as our understanding of what it means to be “saved.” If salvation is merely a decision or a momentary profession, it can be lost. But if salvation is the new birth, effected by God’s sovereign grace, then it is irrevocable—because God’s gifts and calling cannot be undone. [25:35]
• 5. Our assurance is not in our ability to keep ourselves, but in God’s power to keep us. 1 Peter 1 reminds us that we are guarded by God’s power for a salvation ready to be revealed. If it depended on us, we would surely fail; but because it depends on God, we are secure forever. This is the anchor of our soul and the hope that endures. [46:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - The Weight of Funeral Hymns and Assurance
• [02:00] - The Hard Question: Can I Lose My Salvation?
• [03:57] - Flipping the Question: Whose Salvation Is It?
• [05:21] - Baptism and Assurance in Church History
• [08:37] - The Reformation and the Shift in Assurance
• [11:47] - The Objectivity of Christ’s Atonement
• [14:22] - Arminianism and the Human Will
• [16:18] - The Five Points of Calvinism and Assurance
• [18:58] - Revivalism and “Once Saved, Always Saved”
• [23:03] - Personal Testimony: Wrestling with Assurance
• [25:35] - Defining “Once Saved” Biblically
• [31:01] - Theological Debates and Hebrews 6
• [33:02] - Key Biblical Texts on Assurance
• [39:08] - Regeneration and the Irrevocability of God’s Call
• [43:24] - Understanding Hebrews 6 and the Parable of the Sower
• [46:15] - 1 Peter 1: Kept by God’s Power
• [47:40] - Closing Prayer and Final Assurance

Bible Reading

John 10:28-29 (ESV) — > "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 8:29-39 (ESV) — > "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... For I am sure that neither death nor life... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV) — > "For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit... and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt."

Observation Questions

1. In John 10:28-29, what does Jesus say about the security of those who belong to Him? What words or phrases does He use to describe this security?
2. According to Romans 8:29-30, what is the “chain” that Paul describes, and what does it say about the process of salvation from beginning to end?
3. In Hebrews 6:4-6, what are the experiences listed that these people have had? What is said about their ability to be restored if they fall away?
4. The sermon mentions that the Reformation shifted assurance from the sacraments to the work of Christ. What historical practices or beliefs were changed as a result? [[11:47]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus emphasize that “no one can snatch them out of my hand” in John 10? What does this reveal about who is responsible for keeping believers secure?
2. The sermon says, “If it’s yours, you can lose it. If it’s Christ’s, He cannot.” How does this statement help us understand the difference between our efforts and Christ’s work in salvation? [[03:57]]
3. How does the “unbreakable chain” in Romans 8 (foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified) support the idea that true believers cannot be lost? [[36:28]]
4. The warning in Hebrews 6 is described as “real and sobering,” but the sermon argues it does not teach that true believers can lose salvation. How does the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 help explain this warning? [[43:24]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says our assurance is not in our ability to keep ourselves, but in God’s power to keep us. When you struggle with doubt or fear about your salvation, what do you tend to focus on—your own faith or Christ’s work? How could you shift your focus this week? [[46:58]]
2. Have you ever based your assurance of salvation on something you did (like a prayer, baptism, or decision)? How does grounding your assurance in Christ’s finished work change the way you think about your relationship with God? [[12:30]]
3. The warning passages in Scripture are meant to make us examine ourselves. What are some practical ways you can “examine yourself” to see if your faith is genuine, without falling into constant fear or self-doubt? [[43:24]]
4. The sermon mentions that if salvation depended on us, we would be lost. Can you think of a time when you felt like you were failing in your Christian walk? How does knowing that God is the one who keeps you change how you respond in those moments? [[46:58]]
5. The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is only as strong as our understanding of what it means to be “saved.” How would you explain to someone the difference between a momentary profession of faith and true new birth? [[25:35]]
6. The Reformation moved assurance from church rituals to Christ’s work. Are there any “rituals” or habits in your life that you sometimes rely on for assurance instead of Christ? How can you remind yourself of the true foundation of your hope? [[11:47]]
7. The sermon says, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.” How does this humble you, and how might it affect the way you view others who are struggling in their faith? [[46:15]]