Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, there will surely be a personal spiritual growth accompanied by sinful struggle. Is it true that a believer struggling with sin can still make it to heaven? Can we really maintain our salvation by performing good works? These are some of the outstanding questions pose by many.  

Some sincere believers are quoting Matthew 7:21 to prove their point about “good works.” But the context of Matthew 7 is focused on unbelievers who pretend to be believers. In fact, they are not really following the “will of the the Father” which is to “know” His Son by having an intimate relationship with Him. The word “knew” came from a Greek “ginosko” that also means “intimacy” between a husband and a wife. You can read this in the following verses,

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:23

²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. – Matthew 1:24-25

Once a person denies (or renounces) his faith in Jesus by turning away from the truth then there is no way for him to be saved. In other words, a person remains in that state of condemnation if he continues to reject the truth offered by the Holy Spirit. 

The Greek word for “deny” (or “renounce”) is ἀρνέομαι which means “to deny a person” by saying “I have nothing to do with him.” In fact, this is what Peter did when he was interrogated three times where he finally said, “I do not know the man.” (See Mt. 26:74) 

He is different from Antipas, a faithful witness for Christ who loved not himself even to the point of death. 

A person usually commits the sin of apostasy by denying the truth about the identity of the biblical Christ because he is fearful for his own life; loving himself so much than loving Christ. (See Heb. 2:1-4; 3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39; 12:1-3; 18-29) This happened in the time of Roman persecution and currently in an anti-Christian dominated country. This is why it is impossible to fool ourselves by denying Christ in the outside while remaining “true” from the inside. The Bible says, 

“for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – Lk. 6:45   

If renouncing or denying forfeits somebody’s salvation then what about backsliding? The term “backslide” refers to a believer who returned, once more to the world’s ways and practices by becoming carnal (fleshly) and worldly without renouncing Christ. If to become worldly can forfeit a believer’s salvation then how much carnality could a believer commit to merit damnation? If this is the case, then isn’t that working to maintain your salvation? When Demas forsook the Apostle Paul, it doesn’t mean he apostatized. 

For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. – 2 Timothy 4:10

As Dr. John Gill explans, “It does not appear by what is said in this clause, and in the following, that he entirely apostatized; he might forsake the apostle, and yet not forsake Christ and his interest, or make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience: his faith might be right, though low, and his love sincere, though not fervent; and through a fear of persecution, and loss of life, he might be tempted to leave the apostle, and withdraw from Rome, for his own safety.” – John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible Commentary

Some probably are not aware but there was a sexually immoral believer in the Corinthian church who had ongoing immoral relationship with his step-mother. His father might have already died or is not around to address this domestic matter. Surprisingly, the Corinthian believers were not correcting this young man’s behavior and that he remained to be in good standing with the leaders. They have been ignoring the elephant in the room. So Paul wrote a letter reprimanding the church leaders and pronouncing a judgment on the person involved. His advise was to put out fellowship the young man and treat him like an unbeliever. In this way, the man will be open to possible consequences that will surely affect his life to the point of death but saved nonetheless. 

you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of he flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 5:5

Notice that it Paul explained that the sinning believer will experience the consequence of his sins but nit affect his eternal standing in God. Did he say, the believer must repent of his sins referring to his wicked ways before he makes it to heaven? 

No! 

It is exegetically clear that a Crown of Life is already the default reward once there is no departing from the orthodox faith by abandoning the biblical Christ and His works. But what can be forfeited would be some of the rewards that he is supposed to obtain when Jesus Christ comes. The rest of the rewards are as follows:

1. Imperishable Crown (1 Cor. 9:24-25) – To the ones who practice a disciplined life. 
2. Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19) – To the ones who have led souls for the Jesus Christ. 
3. Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) – To the ones who loved His second coming. 
4. Crown of Glory (1 Pet. 5:4) – To the ones who cared for God’s flock.     

A careful study of the passage will reveal that salvation is not based on maintaining our good works nor will it be forfeited by becoming worldly but by renouncing and denying Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, the man in the Corinthian church did not humble himself by confessing and repenting of his sins to spare him from possible divine disciplinary action. 

Is it possible for a believer to continue on sinning? 

Yes! 

If this is the case then God will surely step in as a disciplinarian even to the point of allowing His children to experience physical death if necessary. 

But who are we to know if a person is being disciplined or not? How are we to know if he is a true believer or not? 

There is no way to know the extent of struggle that a believer is experiencing with his own personal sins. Even Paul had experienced struggles as well when he admitted, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Rom. 7:15) However, if a person is a genuine believer then he must learn always to depart from iniquity just like what Joseph did when he ran away from Potiphar’s wife.   

I know a believer who went to Vietnam to work. But instead of seeking His righteousness and kingdom, he travelled the road towards worldliness. He engaged in sexual immorality. He did not denied Jesus but continues to acknowledge Him but without any commitment. I am sure the Lord is speaking to him. But His words are landing on deaf ears. Until such time that the Lord allowed him to experience a severe disciplining that he was diagnosed to have AIDS. This medical result immediately made his company to decide to send him back to the Philippines. He now understood that this was the terrible consequence of his own worldly action. While in the Philippines, he once more attended church, spoke to a pastor, and confessed and repented of his sins. He focused on his spiritual growth and became very involved once more in his local church. Then a great news came that his medical result stated the virus is dormant. And he receieved another good news that he can now go back once more to Vietnam to work. 

Now, I spoke with him and reminded him that the Lord gave him another chance that he should refrain from going back to his old life life. But instead be there not just to work for the money but to advance the name of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. After several years, he once more came back for a year of vacation. And this time there was gladness in his heart as I saw him after my preaching. 

Truly God is good!   

Let us not judge a person who professes to be a believer but goes on sinning. Who knows if he truly is a child of God. After all, the Lord knows those who are truly His. And if he really is a legitimate child of God then the Lord knows how to bring them back by divine discpline. 

Our role as a leader is not to judge believers who are struggling with sin but to help and lead them at the feet of Jesus Christ so He could continually transform them by the power of the Holy Spirit under God’s grace.

 

Other Biblical References 

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” – 2 Timothy 2:19

“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” – Revelations 2:13

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. – Mark 14:68

Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. – Matthew 26:74

but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:33

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”- Hebrews 12:6

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. – Luke 8:13

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. – Hebrews 3:12

 

Book References

See ἀρνέομαι Adapted from Geoffrey W. Bromiley, “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged In One Volume,” (Grand Rapids: MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Compaby, 1985), 79.   

 

Questions for Discussion

1. How does a believer know that he is truly saved?
2. Why is being worldly does not affect ones salvation? 
3. Why is it important to follow the Lord Jesus Christ?