Does Peter imply in this verse that a saved person can be lost after he has been saved? Some will disagree, but there must be a danger of falling if we're urged to do something to keep us from falling.

Far too many people think that just because salvation is free, it costs nothing. But think about this: it cost Jesus His life and it cost those who follow him as well. So it is sinful to consider Jesus' sacrifice not worthy of a corresponding diligence on our part.

Salvation is free, but it should not be taken for granted and considered cheap. It's true that grace is extended to any willing taker through the grace of God alone, but that doesn't free us of obligation to pursue righteousness vigorously. But, what if you don't? That's the real question.

In thousands of churches tomorrow, people will meet to worship God on what we call the Lord's Day. But of those thousands, only a small number will carry their Christian conviction into the world on Monday. In short, too many of us bow before the Lord on Sunday, but serve the god of this world throughout the week.

Simply stated, salvation changes a person, making a new creation out of him. If you profess to be saved, but have never become something different (in a better way) than what you were before you met Jesus, you have reason to doubt your salvation. Losing salvation is not what you should worry about. Instead, you should consider the possibility you were never saved in the first place.

Apostasy is the word the Bible regularly uses to define a believer's fall from faith. The second chapter of Peter speaks of the apostasy of God's people just prior to the Day of the Lord. In John's revelation, the church of Laodicea is the epitome of falling from grace. There is no reason to doubt our churches today are filled with people who claim to be saved but have fallen away. Jesus is knocking at your heart's door. He bids you come out of the worldly church and follow him.

Listen: don't worry about what apostasy means to anyone else. You need to answer this question: am I growing closer to the Lord today than I was yesterday? There's no way a person can steadily keep moving away from God and expect to be counted among the redeemed when He returns. The thought of God's grace covering our sin is fundamental to our faith. But to believe we can't refuse salvation by rejecting or ignoring it cheapens it. To believe people never change their mind is absurd. To promise a person that they'll never have to worry about losing something they never had is irresponsible.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru (Dn. 4:1-37 2 Pt. 1:1-21 Ps. 119:96-112 Pr. 28:17-18 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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