Q: My friend and I are about to leave for the Teen Mania Christian Honor Academy in Texas. She thinks we can lose our salvation and I don’t. Can you help?

A: Death, taxes and this debate will continue until Jesus’ glorious appearing, and I wonder who will care in the end. Belief in Jesus Christ seems much more important than my stance on this issue, but here’s my two cents.

Christians could have their own television show called “Fooled Factor.” Since there are people who have acted as though they were authentic believers, led others to Jesus, and learned to speak Christianese, it seems logical that one can then lose salvation if they forsake Christ and revert to sinful behavior. Their behavior was so convincing. The trouble with that assumption is that you might pull the wool over my eyes, but we cannot fool God. He has said, “You thought I was just like you, but I will correct you,” (Psalm 51:20).

Is it possible to stand so close to Christians that you look like one without being one? Can a person taste food, but spit it out before digesting it? Peter wrote that a dog will return to his own vomit, and a pig returns to the mire. You can dress a pig in a tux, but take him to the nearest mud hole and he will still dive in despite the new wardrobe. Without internal regeneration he remains a pig. Just because people have gained biblical knowledge doesn’t mean they have surrendered their lives to Christ. What we do about that knowledge makes all the difference. (See 2Pet 2:20‑22.)

Personally, I don’t believe there is an end to anything eternal. Life in Christ is eternal. (See Mat 25:46.) I know I possess it. (See 1John 5:13.) We can debate this issue for hours, days or years and miss God’s intent for our lives.

No matter where you stand concerning security in Jesus, know this about Him: He wants us to abide in Him always. (See 2John 1:9.) We are to continue with Him and include Him in all we do. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches which are intended to bear much love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self‑control. (See Gal 5:22.) He lifts us up every day and washes our behavior as we read the Bible. We don’t produce these qualities; He does. We are intended to simply hang in there with Jesus each day and allow Him to produce this fruit in our lives. As we nurture this continual relationship with Jesus Christ we live a most impacting and fulfilling life.

You said you were friends. Stay that way.

1 Peter 1:23