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Yes, A Child of God Can Fall From Grace
We continue our study of the question, does the Bible teach the doctrine of "Once saved always saved"?
The third point we want to notice, as we continue our study, is that the Bible warns the child of God against falling (sinning). Paul, "unto the church of God which is at Corinth" said, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12). Why would Paul talk about a child of God falling if it were not possible for him to fall? Again, Paul asks children of God, Christians, to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates" (II Corinthians 13:5)?
The writer of the book of Hebrews says, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled" (Hebrews 12:15). Again, the writer was addressing children of God ("holy brethren" Hebrews 3:1) that is, folks that had been saved by the grace of God through obedience to the will (gospel) of God.
Question: Why would God warn His children of falling from grace IF man, once saved, could not fall?
Fourthly, the Bible teaches that a child of God can sin and be lost forever in hell. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come (the writer is talking about a child of God who has been saved by the grace of God, LS), If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6). Folks that have been saved by the grace of God can sin (1 John 1:8), and if unrepented of, will be lost in hell. "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26).
Finally, the Bible teaches what the child of God must do when he does fall from the grace of God. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8-9). John goes on to say, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:1-2).
Can a child of God fall from God's grace and be lost in hell forever? The Bible says YES!
