Can You Lose Your Salvation?

One of the questions I hear often in Christian circles is this: Can you lose your salvation?

Many people believe you can. Personally, I believe that once you are genuinely saved, you are saved. And usually, the follow-up argument goes something like this: “Well, maybe they were never saved in the first place if they walked away from the faith.”

Rather than getting stuck in debates, I think Scripture gives us something grounding and reassuring to hold onto.

Paul writes this in Ephesians: “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13

That word sealed matters.

When I read this verse, I think about how kings in ancient times used signet rings. A king would press his ring into wax to seal a document. That seal showed ownership, authority and authenticity. Once the king sealed something, it was considered official and protected. The seal marked it as his.

In the same way, Scripture tells us that when we place our faith in Jesus and repent, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. That seal is not based on our performance. It is based on God’s promise.

Paul expands on this identity even more in Ephesians 2: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God… built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19–22

Notice the language Paul uses. Citizens. Family. A dwelling place for God. That is not temporary language.

Through Jesus, we are brought into God’s household. We are seated with Christ. We belong to Him. Our salvation is not something we earn daily or lose every time we stumble. It is something we receive by grace and are kept in by God’s faithfulness.

That does not mean our choices do not matter. They do. Our lives should reflect the work God has done in us. But our hope is not in how tightly we hold onto God. Our hope is in how tightly He holds onto us.

Being sealed by the Holy Spirit means we are marked as God’s own. It means He is present with us, working in us, convicting us, guiding us and reminding us of who we belong to.

This truth does not lead to complacency. It leads to gratitude. It leads to humility. It leads to a deeper desire to live a life that honors the grace we have been given.

We do not obey God to stay saved. We obey God because we are saved, and that makes all the difference.

Reflection Questions for the Week

Where do I tend to place my confidence more, in my performance or in God’s promise?

How does knowing the Holy Spirit has sealed me change the way I view my failures?

What would it look like to live from gratitude instead of fear this week?

Image Credit: Unsplash/benwhitephotography

Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.