The verses I mentioned earlier that seem troublesome either misuse or have nothing to do with us today. They mainly pertain only to those of Israel’s program, which is currently set aside for a time (cf. Rom 11:25). We live under today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” that Paul received directly from the ascended Christ in heaven… for the Gentiles. Paul’s gospel concerns “the mystery (secret)” plan of God that Christ would indwell the members of “His Body.”

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; ²⁶ Even the mystery (Gk. musterion, formerly secret plan of God) which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints (the believers): ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ In You, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:25-27)

Consider now this passage that Peter wrote to those of Israel’s program, near the end of his life, saying, (I paraphrase) anyone who turns back after believing is lost – but note who is this written to?

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to Turn From the holy commandment delivered unto them.” (2 Peter 2:20-21)

Peter here, as the “Apostle to the circumcision (Israel)” (Gal 2:7) is speaking about the teachings of the false teachers in Israel (cf. v1, 18). It relates to what we discussed earlier in Hebrews 2 and 6. Peter here refers to those who saw or know of all the miracles God did among Israel historically, but still opposed God’s working and used false teaching to encourage other Jews to rebel against God’s purpose and program for Israel.

If anyone today who claims to be a believer understands “the gospel of the Grace of God” (Act 20:24) and how to be saved by the grace gospel for today, and still rejects it in unbelief, then yes, they would not be saved. I would say they never had salvation to lose, so this is not loss of salvation! The falsehood is that they claimed to be a believer. We, however, can never judge whether someone is regenerated or not.

Sadly, I find few Christians who really understand the basis of their salvation. Read Paul words here, which prove we are forever saved.

“Wherefore I give you to ‘understand,’ that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but (except) by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Today, during this “the dispensation of the Grace of God,” the Bible says that God accepts all those who are “in the beloved,” in His Son.  “To the praise of the glory of his (God’s) grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

How do we get into Christ? We simply trust in the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the one time, all-sufficient, payment for all our sins.

Paul’s “gospel of grace” is “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day for our justification.” (1Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation from sins and judgment, unto justification, that is right standing before God. This is instantaneous the moment one believes, not a lifelong process.

If a true believer in Christ could lose his salvation, it would mean GOD has rejected His Son’s sacrifice for our sins! Jesus was raised from the dead “by the glory of the Father” (Rom 6:4), proving His sacrifice was accepted by the Father… thus we are “accepted IN the beloved” (Eph. 1:6).

The grace believer’s salvation is forever secure and they are “sealed with the Spirit.” (Rom. 5:1-2, 8:29-39, 6-8; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30; Phili. 1:6; 2Tim. 1:12).  

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, Ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit Of Promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)

“our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it be fashioned like unto his glorious body (Philip. 3:20-21).

 “For we KNOW that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (our body) were dissolved (decayed), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, ETERNAL in the heavens.” (2Cor. 5:1)

Note that the Corinthians believers were the least spiritual and the most immature believers in Scripture but they were secure “in Christ.” The Apostle Paul wrote that God would confirm (preserve) them unto the end so that they would be blameless at the rapture (cf. 1 Cor. 1:7-8). Then verse 9 says “God is faithful.” Believers in Christ may make mistakes, but “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7), from all our past, present and future sins, because “we have (possess) redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” We have already been forgiven of all trespasses and sins for “Christ’s sake” (Eph. 4:32). Our salvation is not gained or enhanced by our efforts, so our salvation cannot be maintained by our efforts (cf. Rom. 11:6; Gal. 3:3; Col. 2:6-7).

Upon our salvation, we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit” unto the Rapture (cf. Eph. 1:13, 4:30). God does not want you as a believer in Christ doubt your salvation. Our salvation by grace does not depend on our performance or even our faithfulness. The salvation we enjoy today as believers is solely dependent upon what Christ has already done for us at Calvary’s cross!

How can we as sinful people, such as we who still sometimes sin, be Raptured to heaven?

When a person believes the grace gospel, the blood of Christ and His righteousness is imputed (applied or counted) to them – to their sin-debt account (cf. Romans 4:1-5). When a believer sins today, God does not see the sin, He only sees “the blood of Christ” shed on their behalf (cf. 2Cor. 5:21).