Can Salvation Be Lost By Falling From Grace? Galatians 5:4
Today, I want to look at Galatians, chapter 5, and specifically whether it is possible to lose your salvation by falling from Grace. Let’s look into it.
Galatians chapter 5 is cited by those who believe you can lose your salvation as another proof text that shows salvation can be lost. There are two verses in chapter 5 that they cite to try to prove this. Here are the two verses, where the Apostle Paul is speaking to saved believers in the church at Galatia who thought that, in order to keep their salvation, they had to obey God’s laws in addition to having faith in Jesus. So Paul says to them in Galatians 5:4:
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE.” Galatians 5:4
And then Paul gives a stern warning later in chapter 5:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Galatians 5:19-21
So, at first glance, these verses appear to be saying that it’s possible to lose your salvation. That, after we are saved, if we choose to place ourselves back under the law, apart from Christ, we will fall from grace, meaning so they say, that our salvation can be lost. And if we do any of these sins that Paul mentioned later in the chapter, then we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Our salvation, again, would be lost.
But wait just a minute. Is that what Paul is really saying? The answer is an emphatic NO! So, in response, here are:
8 Reasons Why Paul Is NOT Saying That You Can Lose Your Salvation
REASON 1: Context Shows Paul Is NOT Saying Salvation Can Be Lost
To correctly understand God’s Word, you have to look at each verse in context, what was said before and after, what the overall message is that the author intended. You can’t just pluck verses out in isolation, like I just did, and expect to understand them correctly. It would be like starting a book or a movie three quarters of the way through, or in this case 5 chapters into the letter, and expecting to understand what is being said, having no idea what came before it or how each point connects to what was said before. So let’s look at these verses in context and see what the real meaning is.
First, the Apostle Paul is writing this letter to believers in the church at Galatia. We know he is speaking to believers, for he calls them “brethren” over 9 times (e.g. Galatians 1:11).
Second, Paul is writing the entire letter to address a specific problem: Some Jews had come into the church and were preaching a different Gospel, saying that having faith in Jesus was not enough to be saved, but that you also had to obey God’s Law to keep your salvation, specifically in this case, the law requiring men to be circumcised and also that they had to obey regulations about certain days, months, times, and years. We see that in these verses:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7
“Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” Galatians 4:10-11
In his response to this situation and throughout this letter, Paul continually compares these two belief systems:
- Salvation by Grace Through Faith Alone, which he refers to as the Gospel of Christ, that we are saved and stay saved only by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus, not by any works of obedience to the law.
- Salvation by Faith Plus Obedience to the Law, which Paul refers to a “another gospel,” which says that to keep our salvation, we have to believe in Jesus and obey God’s laws. So if we don’t obey God’s laws, we could lose our salvation.
So to put our verses in chapter 5 in context, let me summarize what Paul said in chapters 1-4.
First, Paul makes 9 key points about the false gospel the Galatians were believing, that you had to believe in Jesus, plus obey God’s laws to keep your salvation.
Paul’s Points About This False Belief System Which Says
Salvation = Faith Plus Obeying God’s Laws
“You must have faith in Christ + Obey God’s laws to be saved.”
- Paul calls this belief “another gospel,” not the Gospel of Christ, and that it “perverts” the Gospel of Christ.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7 - Anyone who preaches this is accursed because they are not preaching the true Gospel.
“If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:9 - It results only in bondage, when saved believers think that they must still obey God’s laws for salvation. These Galatians had become free in the liberty of Christ, they were saved, but then subjected themselves to bondage by making themselves slaves once again to the law.
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:” Galatians 2:4 - All it accomplishes is it shows you to be a sinner if, after you are saved, you return to the law, placing myself under the law. It does nothing to help you.
“For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians 2:18
Similar point in Romans chapter 3:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20 - Trying to live under the law “frustrates” the grace of Christ (lit. “sets aside, casts off, despises”). In effect, this negates the power of Christ living in you, so effectively, Christ died in vain. This is NOT saying that you lose your salvation. There’s nothing in this verse talking about losing salvation. It’s saying that Christ is not able to live in you and work through you by His grace because you, a believer, are misguidedly focused on trying to please God through your own efforts to obey the law. In effect, you are “frustrating” or blocking the grace of God living in you and through you.
“I do not FRUSTRATE the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21 - You are “foolish,” “bewitched” and abandoning what saved you, which is Christ alone, if you believe that you have to follow God’s laws to keep your salvation. In other words, you became saved by believing in Christ. So now are you trying to stay saved by obeying the law? You are bewitched and foolish.
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3 - Obedience to the law does not justify anyone and, if that is your standard, then you must keep the ENTIRE Law. I’ve seen comments from people saying that, even after you are saved, you must obey the Ten Commandments to keep your salvation, or you must be baptized, or tithe, etc. To that, Paul says NO, don’t do that, because you can’t just pick out some of God’s laws, like the Ten Commandments, and say those are the only ones you have to obey to keep your salvation. Paul says if your standard to be saved is obeying the law, then you are obligated to obey EVERY law – which no one can do.
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” Galatians 3:11-12
“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” Galatians 5:3 - Believing that you must obey the law to keep your salvation puts you under a curse. That’s because, if obeying the law is your standard, then you are obligated then to obey the ENTIRE law, which no one can do, so you will fail and be under a curse.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10 - Salvation is given by the PROMISE of God, not obedience to the law. Requiring obedience to the Law does not save anyone.
“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Galatians 3:18
So these are the key points Paul made about those believers who were already saved but who wanted to go back to having to obey the law.
In contrast, Paul makes a number of points about true saving faith, the true Gospel that teaches salvation comes only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, and that, once we are saved, we do not have to go on trying to obey the law to stay saved.
Paul’s Points About The True Gospel Which Says
Salvation = Faith in Christ Alone
“You only need God’s grace through your faith in Jesus to stay saved.”
- Being saved by grace alone through faith is the True Gospel.
“…Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” Galatians 1:3-4
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”Galatians 2:16 - Once saved, we are dead to the law, so that we can live unto God. So don’t go back under the Law.
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.” Galatians 2:19 - The key is to let Christ live in us through faith, instead of putting ourselves again into bondage under the law. In Galatians 2:21, Paul warned believers that by adding their own work to their salvation, that of striving to live in obedience to the law as a condition of their salvation, these believers were “frustrating” the grace of God. By contrast, in Galatians 2:20, Paul said:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Our goal should be to live by faith and allow Christ to live in us. This will allow the grace of God to work through us so that we live as Christ. When we do this, we will naturally become obedient to God’s will, but it will be His grace working through us that accomplishes that obedience by changing us to become like Christ, not our own work of obedience. So later, in chapter 5, when Paul says of those who are trying to live under the law as a condition of their salvation, that they are “fallen from grace,” the meaning becomes clear. He’s not saying they have lost their salvation, but that they are depending on their own work of obedience, rather than allowing Christ to live in them. In doing this, they frustrate the grace of God that wants to work through them in their lives. Chapter 5 builds on these verses in chapter 2. - The Holy Spirit works through faith, not through the law (example of Abraham).
“For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians 2:18
Similar point in Romans 3:20:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20 - We are blessed because of our faith, not because we are trying to obey the law. So striving to obey the law hinders God’s blessings. (“Ye are fallen from (His) grace.”)
“So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:9 - We are justified by grace through faith, not by trying to obey the law.
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11 - We are removed from the curse of the Law and given the Holy Spirit.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14 - God’s promises are based on faith, not observance of the Law (example of Abraham).
“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” Galatians 3:16-18 - We are set free and are no longer under the Law.
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…” Galatians 3:19
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
- We are adopted into God’s family and are heirs through Christ. As heirs, we are no longer slaves to the law.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:4-7 - Therefore, stand fast in the liberty of grace and do not return to the bondage of trying to obey the law.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
So now, with this context, let’s now look at the first 5 verses in chapter 5, where the meaning becomes clear:
Galatians 5:1-4
5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Meaning: It is by grace through faith in Christ alone that we are saved and are now free from the law. Therefore, walk in liberty, not in bondage to the law.
5:2 “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
Meaning: So, as a believer who is saved, if you return to try and obey the law, you will be “frustrating” or hindering God’s grace working through you. You will not be able to please God and serve Him for you are no longer walking by faith, trusting in His promises. Instead, you are trusting in your own obedience. Your efforts will profit you nothing. You will not please God, because He will not be able to accomplish His will through you. This does not mean you will lose your salvation, just that you will not be able to bear the fruit of salvation that comes through faith. Christ will profit you nothing.
5:3 “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
Meaning: You who believe you need to obey the law are even misguided about the law, for you pick and choose which parts of the law you think are important to be obeyed. Paul says you can’t do that, for if obeying the law is your standard, then you must obey the entire law, not just parts of it. And that’s an impossible task.
5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Meaning: If you think obeying the law keeps you saved, you are not allowing Christ to live in you. So, even though you are saved, practically, there’s no effect of God working in your life. Going back to chapter 2, you are “frustrating” God’s grace by not allowing Christ to live in you and work through you. You are falling away from under God’s grace, not allowing Him to work in your life through faith. This is NOT saying you have lost your salvation.
5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
Meaning: By contrast, we who walk by faith instead of obedience to the law are allowing the Holy Spirit to live in us, allowing God’s grace to work through us, so that we are useful in the Kingdom (i.e. Christ DOES profit us) as we wait for our eternal salvation. Ironically, it is only through God’s Holy Spirit working in us by faith that we have any chance of walking in obedience. Obedience is very important, but it must be done through faith alone, allowing Christ to live through us, so that we become Christ-like, we obey God’s laws naturally, inwardly, by faith alone, not by striving to be obedient to the written law and, thereby, making ourselves a slave to the law.
So, there’s the context and main points of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. I hope you can see now that Paul is NOT talking about anyone losing their salvation. But in case you can’t, let me quickly give you all 8 reasons. Here they are:
8 Reasons Why Paul Is NOT Saying That You Can Lose Your Salvation in Galatians 5
REASON 1: Context Shows Paul Is NOT Saying Salvation Can Be Lost
Context shows Paul is NOT talking about losing salvation. He’s saying that trying to obey the law only “frustrates” God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit through you and does not allow Christ to live in you to accomplish what He desires.
REASON 2: . Use of the Greek word “ekpiptō“ instead of “apostasia” to describe “fallen” in Galatians 5:4
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul described a great “falling away” that will occur before the antichrist is revealed and he used the Greek word “apostasia,” which in English is the word “apostasy.” The word means “a falling away, defection from truth.” Before the second coming of the Lord, there will be a massive defection from the truth, where people will fall away from the truth of the Gospel so that they will not be saved.
By contrast, In Galatians 5:4, Paul did not use this word, “apostasy” to describe these Galatians as being “fallen.” Instead, he used a much milder word, the word “ekpiptō,“ which means “to fall out of, to fall down from, to fall powerless, to be without effect.” That is because Paul wasn’t saying that these saved believers would lose their salvation. He was saying that, by them trying to please God by obeying the law instead of allowing Christ to live in them through faith, they are “falling out of” God’s sphere of grace in their lives, where they are no longer trusting in God’s grace to uphold them. Instead, they are trusting their own obedience to the law to keep themselves right with God. And so God’s grace in their lives becomes “powerless, of no effect.” “Ye are fallen from grace.” God’s grace would no longer be effective in their Christian lives.
REASON 3: Use of the Present Tense: “ye ARE fallen from grace”
The present tense of the phrase “ye are fallen from grace” also shows its meaning. If this meant the loss of salvation, it would be past tense: i.e. you have fallen from grace, or you fell from grace, you have lost your salvation – past tense, speaking to those Galatians who were trying to be justified by the law. Instead, by being in the present tense, the meaning becomes clear: Paul is saying that by placing themselves under the law, these saved believers are now, present tense, living in a state where grace is no longer operative in their lives. No salvation has been lost, which would be past tense. Instead, they are living (present tense) in a state where God’s grace cannot operate in their lives. They are not allowing Christ to live through them by way of their faith. The grace of God working through them is therefore “frustrated” or set aside, referring back to Galatians 2:21. All because they are now living by works instead of by faith, trying to live up to the requirements of the law (and failing to do so, by the way, because no one can obey the law in their own strength), instead of standing by faith, allowing Christ and the grace of God and God’s Holy Spirit to live and to work through them.
REASON 4: Paul’s Statements That Following the Law Has No Effect
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:15
If getting circumcised and going back under the law would cause these Galatians to lose their salvation, do you think Paul would have written these two statements? He clearly said twice that being circumcised has NO EFFECT. It doesn’t help them and it doesn’t hurt them. If they were losing their salvation by doing this, that would definitely hurt them. But Paul said being circumcised has no effect. That’s because he’s not talking about losing salvation. He’s saying that what counts the most and where we can be most effective in our Christian lives, is when we are operating our lives by “faith which worketh by love,” or faith guided by love, becoming a new creature, a new creation by having Christ live in us and God’s grace work through us. That’s Paul’s message.
REASON 5: Paul’s Confidence That All Believers Will Remain True To the Faith and That None Have Been or Will Be Lost
“I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” Galatians 5:10
Paul is saying that he remains confident that all of these saved believers in the Galatian church will remain steadfast in their faith. He wouldn’t say this if people were already losing their salvation or were in danger of losing their salvation. So by Paul’s own statement of confidence, we can know that no one lost their salvation. Paul doesn’t even say that the person who was leading them astray would lose his salvation, just that this troublesome person would “bear his judgment,” whatever that judgment is, which does not require that he himself would lose salvation, just that he will come under judgment of God.
REASON 6: Paul Does Not Use ANY Familiar Words to Describe Hell (if that’s what Paul was saying, that they would lose their salvation and end up in Hell)
“furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 13:42
“…cast into the everlasting fire” Matthew 18:8
“These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord…” 2 Thes 1:8,9
We don’t see ANY of that language in Galatians chapter 5. Paul loved these people. Don’t you think Paul would have given them a stronger warning if he really meant that they were going to lose their salvation? But he didn’t use any of this language. That’s because he wasn’t telling them that they would lose their salvation.
REASON 7: The Brevity of Paul’s Concern for the Galatians, compared to the concern he showed for his countrymen in Romans
We do not see in Galatians the same level of concern Paul had for his countrymen who were not saved, as he wrote in Romans chapter 9, where he said:
“I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Romans 9:2-3
Paul spent 3 entire chapters, chapters 9-11, lamenting over fallen Israel. He was in agony over the fact that his countrymen had rejected Christ and were now bound for hell. His agony was so great that he even said that he wished that he himself would be sent to hell in their place. Yet, for the Galatians, and these were people that Paul knew and dearly loved, we don’t see any of that. Paul drops this phrase, “Ye are fallen from grace,” and then immediately changes the topic in the very next verse, saying
“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5:5
That’s because he’s NOT telling them that they are in danger of losing their salvation.
REASON 8: It Would Conflict With Other Teachings in the Bible if Paul were telling the Galatians that they could lose their salvation
“And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
Jesus Himself declared that He will not lose any of those whom the Father has given Him. This alone says that no one who is once saved can ever lose their salvation. And then Paul declared that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. This says that no one who is saved can ever be “unsealed.”
So there are 8 reasons why Paul is NOT telling the Galatians that they could lose their salvation.
And then lastly, let’s address Paul’s statement toward the end of chapter 5 that also appears to say you can lose your salvation.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Galatians 5:19-21
Let’s talk about this verse in context. Paul just spent 5 chapters telling the Galatians that they do not need to obey the law because it “frustrates” or holds back the grace of God working in their lives. Instead, they need to stand and walk by faith, allowing Christ to live in them and the grace of God to flow through them.
So, is Paul now telling them the exact opposite of what he just spent 5 chapters explaining, that they must indeed obey the law and not do these sins or they will not inherit the kingdom of God? That would be a complete contradiction of the previous 5 chapters. Paul is NOT telling them that they will lose their salvation if they do these things. If they could lose their salvation by committing these sins, then they would indeed be REQUIRED to obey the law, which means Paul was completely wrong in everything he said in chapters 1 through 4.
So what is Paul saying in this verse?
Throughout the entire letter to the Galatians, Paul gave examples that compared two belief systems: walking by faith versus walking under the law or in the flesh. He ends chapter 5 doing this same comparison, letting the Galatians know that, by trying to go back and obey the law, they are in effect, living as if they weren’t saved. They would be living in the flesh, trying to please God by their own works of obedience. And so he then lists out the works of the flesh, stating all of these sins, saying that these are the works you get when you try to live in the flesh instead of walking by faith. This is all that the flesh produces. You won’t please God and you won’t gain anything. Instead, you are living just like the people who are not saved.
Paul then contrasts this in chapter 5 to walking in the Spirit, and this is Paul’s main conclusion to the Galatians:
“This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ” Galatians 5:16-18
So the message is clear. Paul is NOT telling the Galatians, or us, that salvation can be lost by committing these sins. He’s saying, “don’t live like that, don’t live in the flesh, trying to obey the law as if you were not saved or could lose your salvation, not living in the liberty of Christ.” You would be, in effect, living just like those who are not saved, even though you are saved. Instead, walk in the Spirit and, by letting the Spirit of Grace work through you and change you, you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
You are no longer under the law with its penalties. Instead, you are under the law of liberty of Christ. You are free. And the irony of this is that, by living in this freedom by faith, the Holy Spirit will work in you and will change you so that, inwardly, you become like Christ and the result is that you will end up obeying God’s laws naturally, not because you have to to be saved, but because God’s grace working through you has changed you and you’ve become Christ-like.
So in conclusion,
Paul’s Message To The Galatians is this:
- Walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh
- Those who are saved are no longer under the law
- So stand firm in the liberty of Christ
- Your personal efforts to try to obey the law will NOT cause you to lose your salvation. It only “frustrates” God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit through you and does not allow Christ to live in you to accomplish what He desires.
- So instead, walk in faith, in the Holy Spirit, and you will NOT carry out the deeds of the flesh but you will bear the fruit of the Spirit to God.
….
Finally, I do this in all my videos, if you are not 100% sure that you are saved, that if you died today, God would welcome you into heaven, I urge you to make your commitment to Jesus secure right now. Here’s a prayer for salvation that you can pray. But keep in mind that a prayer does not save you. You are saved only when you place your trust in Jesus alone, believing in your heart that He died to pay your debt of sin to God and that He rose from the dead to show you the eternal life that He offers. This prayer, then, is just a way of formalizing that decision, putting a stake in the ground, saying that you are trusting in Him and never going back. If that’s what you would like to do, please pray with me:
“Lord, I have sinned and I need you to save me. I believe that Your Son Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins and that He rose from the dead to show us the new eternal life You have for us. I believe solely in Jesus to save me, that He paid my debt of sin 100%. Please forgive my sins and save me now, Lord, according to your promises. In Jesus Name.”
If you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, know right now that you are eternally saved.
