Can a person willingly and knowingly give away his or her salvation

 

Now, you ask a simple question, but an important question, “the question should read “Can a person willingly and knowingly give away his or her salvation (justification)?” 

If I look at the following verses and someone who claims to be a Christian, is it possible?   

We all know that the Apostle Paul told us not to quench the Spirit or extinguish or put out the Spirit fire.  Paul is writing to Christians and if it was not possible, then he would not say, “do not quench the Spirit.”  To me, this is kind of scary. 

Our Lord Jesus told us to forgive others their trespasses, if we do not, our Father will not forgive our trespasses.  We should always be in a repentance attitude for others and ourselves. 

Paul tells us “; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”  This is another one of those verses that is kind of troubling.  Yes, I have a general feeling what others say about this, bitterness can make us defiled.  That is something I do not want. 

Paul now tells us “some will depart from the faith” and “having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”  When one conscience is seared, it is very hard to be in an attitude of repentance.  They will hate anything to do with our Lord Jesus.  This something none of us want for ourselves and others. 

Our Lord Jesus tells us from the Scriptures His feeling about the “Wicked” and this word is mention 342 times in 324 verses.  See especially in the Book of Psalms. 

The bottom line is we do not know the heart of the individual and only our Lord God knows the heart and all judgment is reserved from our Lord Jesus.  This is why I do not say so and so is lost or saved or lost their salvation because I do not know their heart.  I may see their fruits or works and not want to be around them and I do not know where our Lord Jesus is working with the Holy Spirit in other individuals. 

Just a few thoughts on your question. 

Steve 

1Th 5:19 NKJV  Do not quench the Spirit.

1Th 5:19 ISV  Do not put out the Spirit's fire.

Quench:  A prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; to extinguish (literally or figuratively): - go out, quench. 

Eph 4:31-32 NKJV  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  (32)  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 

Mat 6:14-15 NKJV  "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  (15)  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

1Ti 4:1-3 NKJV  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,  (2)  speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,  (3)  forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 

Depart: From G575 and G2476; to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: - depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. 

Heb 12:15 NKJV  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 

Heb 6:6 NKJV  if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.