Introduction
This is Page 2 of a 3-page study dealing with the question: "Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?" If you somehow arrived here without reading PAGE 1... You really should begin THERE.		This study covers three hypothetical cases... Case "A" -- Terry quits church Case "B" - Lila the adulteress Case "C" - Marty the stiff-necked Case "B" is discussed below.
Case Study "B" -- Lila the adulteress For our next case study, let's ASSUME that we "know-the-unknowable" about a person named Lila. Namely, let's assume we know for a certainty that Lila is definitely a born-again Christian. Now then, here's the situation... Recently, Lila has become involved in repeatedly cheating on her spouse. Moreover, Lila is fully aware that her adultery is a sin, but has firmly decided to continue doing it.
The big question about Lila's sins Here's the big question: "For which of Lila's sins did Jesus atone?" Did Jesus atone for only the sins that Lila did UP TO the time she received Him as Savior? OR... Did Jesus atone for ALL of Lila's sins -- past, present, and future -- INCLUDING her on-going sin of adultery?
Another day, another sacrifice In Old Testament times, priests had to offer DAILY sacrifices for the sins of the people... Day after day Year after year Why? Because people keep on sinning. They did so back then. We still do today -- ALL of us.		...daily those high priests (in the days of Moses) offered up sacrifices Heb 7.27b
The Perfect Priest A major teaching of Hebrews chapters 7 through 9 is that Christians have a perfect priest who offered up a perfect sacrifice... That perfect Priest is Jesus		For such a High Priest (Jesus) was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens Heb 7.26
That perfect sacrifice was Jesus, who offered up Himself and died on the cross		Christ does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Heb 7.27
Unlike all other priests, Christ does not need to continuously offer sacrifices, day after day. Why not? Because...		Christ does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Heb 7.27
Christ's perfect sacrifice was offered once for ALL! All WHAT? All sins! All WHEN? All time!		Christ does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Heb 7.27
Ergo -- For WHICH of Lila's sins did Jesus atone? ALL of them -- past present, and future: ONCE for all! And "all" means ALL -- including Lila's on-going sin of adultery On the cross, Jesus said, "Te telestai !" -- "It is finished!" WHAT is finished? The atonement is finished -- for ALL sins, for ALL time, for ALL who believe on Christ.		So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19.30
But... But... But!! But Lila values the pleasures of the flesh more than she values her salvation, right? Moreover, it seems evident that Lila has turned her back on God. Surely God will cast her out. Or will He? Consider...
Jesus specifically asked His Father to KEEP those who believe in Him. Ergo, denying that Lila will "stay saved" is tantamount to saying that the Father REFUSED to grant the prayer request of His only begotten Son!		Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You ... Now I am no longer in the world, but these (believers in Jesus) are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." John 17.1 & 17.11
Ah, but DID the Father refuse to grant His Son's prayer request? The verses alongside answer this question with a resounding, "NO!" A Christian, it is clearly stated, is KEPT saved by the power of God... Not by "the perseverance of the saints" But by the perseverance of GOD Himself!		Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pet 1.3-5
Wait just a doggone minute! Yes, Christians are kept saved by the power of God, BUT... What about those two little words, "through faith"? Does this mean that a Christian can LOSE his or her faith, and consequently will no longer be kept by God? Good question. Consider yet another question. Namely...		reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pet 1.3-5
Can any person -- solely by his or her own efforts -- OBTAIN a saving faith in Jesus Christ? In reply let's look at some verses...
The verses alongside don't specifically say a person CANNOT, under his/her own steam, have a saving faith in Jesus, BUT... It's difficult to avoid concluding that such a concept is strongly implied.		(Jesus said...) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him John 6.44a (Paul prayed...) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him ...and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power Eph 1.17, 1.19
Moreover, Ephesians 2.8-9 gives clear indication that a Christian's faith is itself a GIFT of God.		For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2.8-9
Finally, Hebrews 12.2 flatly states that Jesus is the Author or source of a Christian's faith. Moreover, Jesus is the Finisher (teleiotes) of a Christian's faith -- the One who will Himself carry out the Christian's faith to its ultimate completion or consummation. Ergo, we conclude that Lila's saving faith in Christ was a GIFT, bestowed upon her by God.		looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith Heb 12.2a
Can Lila forfeit God's gift? Next question -- Might not God TAKE BACK His gift of saving faith from Lila, who lives by the flesh rather than by the Spirit? To this question, Romans 11.29 (alongside) answers with a resounding, "NO!" The gifts of God are IRREVOCABLE "Irrevocable" means God WON'T take away the gift of faith He gave to Lila Moreover, Lila cannot throw God's gift away, even though she might loudly claim to have done so. Irrevocable MEANS irrevocable! It's something like the tar baby in the B'rer Rabbit story -- once you have it, you can't let go of it.		For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Rom 11.29 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Num 23.19
In summary... Lila is kept saved by the power of God, through faith Lila's faith is, itself, an irrevocable gift from God Thus, Lila cannot lose her salvation, because God won't let that happen If this sounds like a free ride for Lila -- a "license to sin" -- it isn't! To discover WHY it isn't, just read about a truly amazing fellow named Marty -- our third and final case

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