To begin with on this topic we must make a distinction right from the start so we will follow the same line of thinking later on. There seems to be some confusion of the difference between

1. once saved always saved
2. the assurance of salvation and

How these are two distinct concepts we want to explore now.

The basis of `Once saved always saved' presents the idea of eternal security for the consenters to that believe.[50] They believe that once you are part of the family of God you cannot lose that status. A more technical term for that belief is `predestination', and so we begin by showing the Biblical logic for this view. Predestination basically says,

A) Man is born a sinner and therefore lost because of the fall of Adam,

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Eph. 2:3.

B) Man cannot save himself out of this condition,

"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.
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.

The rich young ruler of Matthew 19 kept the second table of the commandments perfectly, those laws which regulate human relationships, but he lacked a spirit of benevolence and pity. We ought not to think of this love relationship with Christ in terms of a point system, conformity to rules and norms. Loving Christ with all our heart, mind, and strength does not issue in isolated religious accomplishments. To have Christ in our heart means that it is with Him that we are concerned and occupied. We witness to Him, not to ourselves or to our achievements, even in religion.

C) Man's only hope is salvation in Christ,

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12; Jer. 33:22.

What is the issue in these texts?

The issue is, what is the answer to the question, `Will all mankind be saved?'

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1.John 5:11,12

We must have Jesus in our life in order for us to grow in that kind of life which leads to eternal life. We must remember, each time we study the Bible, we must know the context of a Bible verse or passage. Without knowing the context we certainly will not be able to interprete scriptures correctly and our Bible study will fail. In this case, in order to discover the context, we can ask the question,

`If all will not be saved, then who will God save?'

And we remember that God is the Sovereign over all the universe. God transcends everything. As such God has the power to do anything He wants to do - and so - some Christians concluded that God predestined some to be saved - i.e. the very elect - and all others to be lost. In effect then those who teach this, preach a limited atonement. They say,

D) Christ died only for those on the cross who were predetermined to be saved using the following Bible passage,

"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. " Romans 9:11-18; Lk. 1:50.

1) ... redeemed you in Christ on the cross
2) ... given you the gift of faith - to accept that salvation
3) ... made sure that you can never be lost

Why? - - Because God is sovereign. His will cannot fail.

These `predestined people then, have eternal security. They are `once saved, always saved.'

Evaluating the Doctrine of Predestination

On Bible doctrines the apostle Paul is the more eloquent of all authors of Bible books, especially his epistle to the Romans. In the lengthy passage quoted above from Romans 9 he deals with exactly this issue but to understand it, we must follow the rule of Bible interpretation to know the context or setting. In this case, the context deals with the startling question in Paul's days, `Why is Israel (the Jewish people) lost?'

Let us expound on that some more. We read,

"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Romans 4:13.

Therefore, if God promised salvation to the descendents of Abraham, the Jews, but then we read,

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." " Matthew 23:37,38.

... in other words, the Jews are lost - their house is left desolate - which means ostensibly God has failed to keep His promise ...

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel." Romans 9:6.

But is it true that God has not kept His promise? Was the promise of salvation given to the descendants of Abraham on the basis of being born a Jew? -- In Rom. 9:6, Paul says, `No!'

The promise of salvation is given on the basis of faith, a faith which Abraham exercised when he was told by God that he would be the originator of a great nation when he was already 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 years old. -- Yet, despite their great age, Abraham believed God.

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. ...
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:7-9,29.

Is God saying that He is the one who chooses who will be saved or lost?

Was God merciful to Israel? -- If `Yes', why then are they lost?

Let us read the answer to that,

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone." Romans 9:30-32.

Paul is saying, `Israel rejected God's way of salvation - Israel followed not after righteousness which is necessary for salvation.' `Why? Because they wanted salvation on their own terms, not on God's.' They did not study their Bible as they were taught to.

What does the Bible teach?

The following scriptures will demonstrate, that the cross made salvation possible for all people - from Adam to the last one born. Here are the scriptures,

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

We read here that God loved all people in the world and sent His Son for all of them so they could be saved. -- We also read,

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:18.

Here we read that the gift of salvation is available for all men and women. But will everybody go to heaven? We find the answer to that question in the previous verse.

"For if by one man's offence (Adam's sin) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17.

Death resulted because of Adam's sin. Jesus overcame where Adam failed and because of that salvation is possible - it shall reign.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 2.Corinthians 5:19.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, God is able to reconcile all people in the world unto Himself - - but is that going to happen? Will all people be in heaven? Let us read the answer,

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1.Timothy 2:5,6.

And again we read,

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." 1.Timothy 4:9,10.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men ..." Titus 2:11.

"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." 1.John 2:1,2.

In other words, Jesus Christ died for every sin that was ever committed. He is able to save all men and women in the world, but .... What but?

That does not mean, because Christ died for all, all will go to heaven. Why?

Didn't he make us just as we are?

God is a sovereign God. He created man with a powerful weapon - man has a free will.

God will not force anyone to accept the gift of salvation and to have to live in heaven.

What is the matter with that?

Just this, if salvation is a free gift and we have a free will, to have to accept free salvation is then not a free gift anymore but arbitrary force.

God's plan of salvation does not operate that way.

False guilt feelings are created by poorly based perfectionistic attitudes and unbalanced comprehension of doctrine on the part of parents toward children, religious leaders toward their church members, professed Christians toward the less morally favorable and the spiritually inadequate. The tendency is to communicate rejection, disapproval, of those who may appear to us to be "too liberal" in their thinking and living. When this happens personal relationships are destroyed. - But there is a Christian and an unchristian way of treating the failures of other people. The unchristian way is to express the registration of faults and failings, either in attitude or in words of scolding, disapproval, rebuke, and slighting remarks. -- The Christian response is always drawing those described to Him, to live in harmony with Him; always and patiently leading them back to our heavenly Father. This way sin, guilt and condemnation are discredited; but not love, mercy, and forgiveness and Christ wins by redeeming love; not by condemnation.

Why? Will anybody be lost?

People will only be lost because they deliberatley, persistently and ultimately reject God's gift of salvation. They chose not to be saved. That is why we read,

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 15:16.

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ...
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:17-18,36.

We learn here repeatedly the truth that, while Christ died for all mankind, only those who believe - that is, those who receive Him, invite Him into their life - will benefit from the sacrifice He made and have eternal life. Jesus does not want anyone to follow Him under false pretenses. Our choices must center in Christ. The real problem is many times not lack of knowledge of the truth so much as it is the warping of our judgment. When man has seared his conscience, it is no trick at all to rationalize or fool himself into choosing the wrong master. Men pay a frightful price for their illusions as to what they accept as the way of truth.[210]

Those who chose to live their life for Jesus Christ do so after recognizing their own inability to bring meaning into their life. They rather be with Christ, then follow the allurements of the world.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." John 10:27-29.

What does this passage mean? It means, as long as we follow Christ by faith, i.e. study the Bible and sense a personal Presence, do everything we are prompted to do after understanding what we read; as long as we do that no one can take our salvation from us - we cannot be snatched away from God - and our salvation is guaranteed. In the life of a Christian, two persons are involved with each other, Christ and you. To be truly Christian. faith must bring Christ, His life, and His death, within reach of your involvement.

Can believers lose their salvation?

Can believers change their minds about their salvation in Christ? What does the Bible say?

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:16-22.

We learn from this warning to be a follower of Jesus Christ will not be easy for many people. Some of them will not bear the problems and forsake walking with Christ. Others will say that salvation by faith is not enough and point to these Bible passages,

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians 5:4-6; See also Acts 15:1,5-11.

Basically this means, God looks at us as though we had never sinned - we are righteous in His Son.

The Family Argument

According to some Calvinistic views, once a follower of Christ has experienced the new birth - adoption into God's family takes place and from than on out, God will not disown you, or put you out of the family as a result of that new birth. They say, born again Christians cannot be lost, even if they leave the church and go back to their old ways in the world.

What does the Bible say?

"And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ...
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ...
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ...
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." Luke 15:11-32.

What is called the family argument, a Calvinistic idea, reads the parable of the prodigal son and sees in it that born again Christians are guaranteed salvation, that they are `once saved, always saved.' But what is the basis for that teaching? -- the answer to that question is, `The basis for that teaching is human rational.'

Christians are born of God, not self made. Only God can make a flower. We cannot. Only God can make a real Christian. Only in Christ can we have perfect righteousness, not in ourselves. The Christian religion is a religion of redemption, a rescue operation by the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is true because only God can forgive sin. All sin is against God. When we sin, we sin not against rules posted on a wall, but against a loving heavenly Father. Sins are not merely social errors about which we can say, `It doesn't matter.' The experience of forgiveness is reserved for those who come to understand sin within our relation to a personal God and to our fellow men. Otherwise we will not seek forgiveness with a contrite heart before God. -- Redemption also means that only Christ has control over the past. We all have a past. We cannot turn back the pages of time and begin all over again. Sin commands a stiff price. It sinks into our blood stream and into our nervous system. Only God has power to lay His remedial hands on the past. We ourselves have no power to cleanse our past. yet the past must be cleared if we are to experience redemption. -- It is also only Christ who has control over the future. As dreadful and scary many problems and circumstances in this life are, they belong only to this life. Christ offers us life eternal, an entirely new kind of life in the future.

Let us step through the Biblical aspects or parameters which deal with this issue. There is this scripture,

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ...
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ...
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Romans 5:6,8,10.

Verse 6 says, while God has saved us unconditionally, will He ever force a believer who has left the church for the world, to return to Him? Would the prodigal son have received all of his father's blessings if e had not repented and returned home?

No! he would not have received those blessings. Love does not force. God will not take anyone to heaven who has said goodbye to Him.

Therefore, can a Christian lose hie or her salvation? What does it say?

"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,
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." Hebrew 6:4-6.

Paul addresses here what it means when we turn our backs to Christ. There are only two things we can do with Jesus Christ.

- we can crucify Christ - This is what the unbeliever does with Jesus Christ.

- we can be crucified with Christ - The believer is crucified with Christ.

Predestination in the form of the `Family Argument' is based on a misunderstanding or misuse of the sovereignty, i.e. the love of God.

- In the New Testament - as long as we are resting in Christ for our salvation - our eternal salvation is guaranteed. We can have full assurance of heaven.

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2.Timothy 1:12.

- With the assurance of salvation we no longer worry about getting to heaven. Without this assurance of salvation, we cannot or will not serve God for anything other then for selfish reasons or ego-centric concerns. With the assurance of salvation we can serve God with the right motive - We have eternal security in Christ.

- The moment we say goodbye to Christ with a deliberate act of unbelief, we are saying goodbye to salvation itself. Faith does not save us, faith always has an object - faith in Jesus Christ saves us. To give up our faith is to give up Christ. To give up Christ is to give up our salvation in Christ and leaves those with nothing. Nothing at all, Luke 9:62; Hebrews 10:27.

What is Satan's basic plan for the unbeliever?

Satan wants to keep as many as he can from seeking Christ.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2.Cor. 4:3,4.

We just confirmed here Satan's goal, to keep as many people away from committing themselves for Christ and destroy their faith.

How does Satan destroy people's faith? - He uses certain means or tools to do. He uses mainly three tools.

1. Satan uses persecution - Matthew 13:20,21

"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Matthew 13:20,21.

2. Satan uses materialism -

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1.Timothy 6:10.

3. Satan perverts the Gospel.

"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?
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:1-3.

How does Satan destroy the young men in our nation?

He destroys countless young men by causing them to believe that the signs of manhood are:

Goliath height and strength

Being able to control and entice women

Material wealth

Therefore, If you want to be intelligent you must give up being ignorant. If you want to be courageous then give up being weak and cowardly. If you want to be patient, give up being impatient. If you want to be honest, give up being dishonest. If you want to be pure, give up being impure. If you want to be a Christian you have to give up what prevents you from being one. -- To end up being the richest man in a cemetery is no accomplishment. If a man has nothing that he can take with him beyond the grave he is poor indeed and the only two things we can take is our character and converts. But this is man's folly: to turn to his wealth, to his sports and his amusements, then to count them the principal thing worthy of his time, his energy, and his thoughts. We ought to listen to Jesus Christ with the utmost earnestness. We ought to consider the carrying of the gospel to men as having absolute priority. There is no quicker way to spiritual disaster than to treat the spread of His kingdom and the triumph of His righteousness as simply a matter of personal convenience.

Christ's performance on the cross compared to our performance as we live our lives presents a deep chasm. Genuine justification by faith produces always good works - it changes our desires, motivations and behavior.

"At the devil's booth are all things sold,
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold;
For a cup and bells our lives we pay,
Bubbles we buy with a whole soul's tasking:
'Tis heaven alone that is given away,
'Tis only God may be had for the asking."
[Prelude to Sir Lowell's "Vision of Sir Laufal."]

Justification and sanctification by faith does not change our sinful nature, our bent to sin. Our sinful nature will only be changed when Jesus returns in the clouds. Until then we will struggle, fight the good fight of faith and walk in the Spirit. Our bent nature will tell us that we are lost. Satan will knowck us down. He will try to convince us that we are not good enough to be saved. He wants us to give up and leave the church. Satan is constantly working to get us to turn from Christ to ourselves. Our only hope is in what Christ has done for us. He is the source of our salvation. Until then we must ...

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Hebrews 10:35-39.

"The present message - justification by faith - is a message from God; it bears the divine credentials, for its fruit is unto holiness." [Rev. & Herald, Sept. 3, 1889, par. 10.]

We learn here that justification comes by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone.

We hear the whistle blow

There is no such thing as a last chance for us all. The last call is this one - now. Only God knows when the moment of last opportunity passes for we all must be saved by faith alone. To come into contact with truth leaves no room for delay. To brush God aside in this way leaves us weaker and poorer spiritually. (See also here.)

Scriptures that Sinners Once Saved Can Again Be Lossed

Not long ago I heard someone call in to the Bible Answer Men Radio Program asking if one can be lost after having become a Christian. The caller said, she never read anything in the Bible to that effect. Saying that makes it obvious that the caller was not well read in the Bible. But the answering person struck the most positive note, not wanting to discourage a seeking, inquiring caller in their Christian walk. After all, a thoughtful word spoken at a time of need goes a long ways to keep the right spirit alive and burning in the heart of a seeking person. But here are some scriptures which show that salvation is conditional followed at the end with some texts which encourage and reassure:

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22.

While these Christians who were hated for "my name's sake" were certainly born again the specter is raised, what if they do not endure to the end? Can one be born again and again and again? Of course. Like we are to forgive 70 times 70, so God will forgive the sinner who returns. Any and every sin we commit puts us in jeopardy if we let it take root in a far corner of our heart. As Christians we are to garner and sweep our house of sin and cleanse our soul temple. But the Christian walk does not need to be wildly fluctuating, up and down and down and up, etc. . . . We can have a steady faith by developing diligent habits of living. If some modes of living cause us to be on and off for Christ, we must make changes so Phil. 1:6 can be our text.

While it is pleasing to people to believe that, once they decided to be a believer in Jesus Christ, they cannot be lost, certain scriptures do paint a different picture.

The next scripture reads as follows:

". . . he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13.

It is therefore possible that someone who does not endure, one who collapses under pressure of persecution or the like, may end up denying his faith once held and not be saved. Or if it is less dramatic, someone may just slide back into living a worldly life style again and forsake his former faith.

The next scripture is this,

"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Hebrews 3:6.

In other words, once a person has decided for Christ, is part of His house, then if he holds confidentially fast on his convictions and faith he has a firm hope till the end of his life and will be saved. But it is conditioned on if he hold on to his faith. If he does not and forsakes God, he may be lost unless he comes to his senses and returns like the prodigal son.

And so quotes the apostle John Jesus in his gospel as saying,

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you . . . if a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:7 followed by verse 6.

So, we get the picture that salvation is conditional on us abiding, keep hanging on to Christ. And so we read one more scripture:

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1.Cor. 9:27.

Quite a strong statement in this Bible text. Even Paul had to strife hard to remain in the faith and not lose sight of what he was living for.

So its stands, that salvation is not something we can regard lightly. It is something precious and we must not let us be persuaded that everything is ok if we just go to church.

Nope, dear friends, we must make our salvation sure every day. Like a tree, we must grow every day in our love of God, faith, understanding and willingness to obey the sayings in His Word. But for those living at the very end of time, they must be without sin as you learn here.

Scriptures which give reassurance of salvation: John 5:24; 1.Corinthians 1:8; Jude 24; Eph. 1:13-14 cmpr John 6:27.

---

Notes & References

[050] The following list of scriptures do not agree with the idea of `once saved, always saved.' See 1.Sam. 10:6,9; 28:6,15; Ezek. 18:24; 28:14.15; Matth. 24:13; 1. Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:4; Hebr. 3:12-14; 6:4-6; 2.Pet. 2:4,20,21.

[210] Our conscience is a very tender thing. We ought not to violate our conscience. Here are some observations and counsels regarding our conscience.
Sometimes it is good to be reminded of a few thing in our life. This is one of those times. Please be reminded of this potentially awful fact that we do not like to face very often, but it is the truth. If you live a life of sin, there are a lot of people, young and old, that the devil is trying to deceive to think that you can live a life of sin and you can enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while and then after a while you can come to God and be forgiven. Let me tell you something. When you go through life and you enjoy the pleasures of sin, even if you come back to the Lord (the dangerous thing is that a lot of people do not come back to the Lord) but even if you come back to the Lord in later life, you will have lost something and you will have lost it for eternity. We do not like to face that. A lot of people like to think that when God forgives you, everything will be made just as it was before, but it is not so. One of the things that you lose by a life of sin is the sensitivity of the conscience. Ellen White says that the effects of that go on into eternity. That is why you want to choose to leave the life of sin now before your conscience has become damaged and distorted.
I have some statements here about this, but I think that we will not take time to read them. One or two? Well, here is one. This is a way that your conscience can be partially destroyed. "Satan sees that he cannot have so great power over minds when the appetite is kept under control as when it is indulged, and he is constantly working to lead men to indulgence. Under the influence of unhealthful food, the conscience becomes stupefied, the mind is darkened, and its susceptibility to impressions is impaired. But the guilt of the transgressor is not lessened because the conscience has been violated till it has become insensible." [Fundamentals of Christian Education, 143, 144.]
So, what do you do?
Maybe there is somebody here and you are saying, "You are giving me terrible news. I know that in my past I have violated my conscience and maybe now my conscience is very hard. What am I going to do?" Do you know what one of the best things about the gospel is? No matter how bad the situation, if you surrender your life to the Lord, God will do everything in your life that it is possible for God to do to straighten things out.
The Bible says that if I regard iniquity in my heart, what will happen? The Lord will not hear me. Oh, friend, are you in a condition so that your conscience is clear so that you can walk close with the Lord and you can see Him work in your life?
This is one of the reasons why there are many people who think that the Christian religion is not real and that God does not work for them and their prayers do not get answered. But the reason is, not because God will not work for them, it is because their conscience is not clear and they are not living up to what they know is right. God cannot work for them because He would be dishonoring His own name if He did. He would be promoting sin.
Here is a statement that Ellen White wrote to a person that was living in sin. They were living in violation of the seventh commandment and they had been for a long time. They had been violating their conscience so long that they had become hard. Notice what she says to this person, "Now you have no hope; you are without God; and yet [that is in their present condition] Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. Will you now cry to God with a broken, repentant heart, 'Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me'? I press this matter upon your conscience. May God urge it upon your soul with arguments of mighty power. Oh, that the blind may see the solemnity of eternal judgment, and deepen the appeal that I make to you at this time. I am writing in the early morning hours, while all the house are locked in slumber. Be not determined to be lost. You cannot comprehend what a terrible thing it is to be lost. Your conscience has become hardened in sin and transgression and unbelief; but you may, if you will, fall on the Rock Christ Jesus and be broken before it is utterly too late, crying, 'Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me.' If you do this, God will not leave you to perish. . ." [Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery and Divorce, 144, 145]
Isn't that good news? If you have a hardened conscience, do not depend on your conscience, just do what the Bible says. Come to Jesus and say, "Lord, I am choosing to surrender all to you now. I don't want my conscience to get any more hard. Lord, I'm surrendering everything to You. I'm going to change." And if you will come on the basis of the Word of God and claim the promises, He will work a miracle in your life.

---