Spiritual Security

Can I lose my salvation? Strangely, this is a question nearly anyone raised in a Christian home asks at some point. In many of the churches I've been in, I have heard, quite emphatically, "You cannot lose your salvation." However, this statement means very little unless the meaning of "salvation" is exposed for its true meaning. First, the Bible never says we need to "get" saved. I like confronting conservative Baptists with this statement: "No one has to get saved." It makes there jaws drop because, in their minds, I have just stated that Jesus Christ is not needed for people to enter eternal life. But that's not what I mean. Let me explain.
The Bible never says "get saved." Never. Rather, it says, "be saved" multiple times (well over 30 in the New Testament books). So salvation, as far as it applies to a sinner's conversion, is a state of being. Salvation is not dependant on a choice one made in the past. God sums up this idea in the book of Ezekiel (33:12-16).

"Therefore, sone of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns from his sin and does what is just and right-- if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live."

Therefore, if someone is righteous and then turns to sin and dies in that state, God will judge him. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The man who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to pleas the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7, 8). So the Bible is very clear. If you sin, expect destruction (Hell) and if you live by faith in the Spirit, expect eternal life (Heaven). Don't be a fool and bank on a past decision to save you from Hell. What you do right now is what God is concerned with.
People who seem to think they can sin and escape Hell without sincere repentance often quote John 10:28 and 29, where Jesus, speaking of the eternal life He gives, says, "No one can snatch them out of my hand" and "no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." They might also mention Romans 8:35-39 which says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Of course, the context of that verse is obvious. Hardships and persecutions shouldn't worry us because God can protect us. But notice that no sins appear on the list. And the John verses are also clear; Jesus is talking about those God has given him (of course, this brings up the whole "election vs. free-will" debate, that will have to wait for another post).
In summary, because I am running out of time; don't be a fool and keep sinning. Repent before it is too late. Don't think God will be merciful to you simply because you knew what truth was. You need to put your faith in that truth (Jesus' saving grace) and live by it. Secondly, God is more powerful than you could ever imagine. So when you do put your faith in Him, He has power ample enough to keep you from sin, if you just rely on His strength. So the answer to "Can I lose my salvation" is "yes" and "no." To God, who knows all things beginning and end, it is a resounding "no." But to man, who is finite in so manny ways, the answer is "yes." As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?"