Tell me more ×
Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

Possible Duplicate:
Once saved always saved. Is eternal security Biblical?

Recently, I had a conversation with a (new) friend that started off with him telling me how he had been a devout Christian, perhaps even a believer (to use some Christianese), but had lost his faith due to later events. This struck me as a bit odd, because I had always thought that once you had put your faith in Christ, then you could never lose it. I went hunting for the verse that I was thinking of (and that he confirmed as existing), but couldn't find it. So...was I right? Is it true that once you put your faith in God and Jesus, then you can never lose it, especially under persecution?

To clarify, I'm more interested in whether someone else can cause you to lose your faith as opposed to you turning away from God. The "Once saved always saved." question deals with people turning away from God, but does not deal with other people "causing" a deconversion.

Biblically-based answers are prefered.

share|improve this question
1  
Is this question at the core asking if you can lose your salvation? I have heard the phrase. Once saved always saved. Is that your question? – Neil Meyer Oct 6 '11 at 6:47
Being a believer and being saved are inseparable. If you are a true believer, you are saved. If you are saved, you are a true believer. False believers and shallow believers can be swayed away from their beliefs and are not saved. That's why I believe this is a duplicate of the salvation question. – Richard Oct 6 '11 at 15:02
Question: Can people change their mind? Answer: Yes. Was that complicated? – TRiG Jan 8 '12 at 23:02

marked as duplicate by dancek, Andrew, warren, wax eagle♦ Oct 6 '11 at 14:48

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote

There are numerous stories of strongly religious Christians converting to atheism or various non-Christian religions.

There are also a whole slew of Bible quotes about losing faith listed here. Here's one in particular from 1 Thessalonians 3:5-6 (ESV):

5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. 6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—

I'd say it's very possible to lose faith.

Edit: though people are not mostly given credit for making others fall from faith, there are a few passages in the link above. For example, 2 Timothy 2:16-18 (ESV):

16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

share|improve this answer
This passage is not related to the issue of salvation (as something provided by Christ) being retracted (or not). – Caleb♦ Oct 6 '11 at 7:22
2  
@caleb but the question is "once a believer always a believer?" not "once saved, always saved?". Much depends on the sense of "believe" being used here – Waggers Oct 6 '11 at 8:18

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.