Can a Christian Lose Faith or Salvation?

In Matthew 13, Jesus taught this parable: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground and immediately they sprang up. But the sun scorched them and they withered since they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them.

"But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

The disciples asked Him the meaning of the parable, so Jesus said, "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

"As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself. He endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he falls away."

"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit," because his faith is genuine.

There are people who might appear to be Christians for a time. But when their faith is no longer convenient, it turns out to be a passing opinion. They were never truly saved.

1 John 2:19 says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, so it might become plain" they were never part of Christ's body, when we understand the text.

What Does it Mean to be Made in the Image of God?

In Genesis 1:26-27, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over" all the earth. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God? Often this is interpreted to mean that we look like God. Surely you've seen paintings of God as an old man even wearing clothes.

But Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not man," and Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is spirit." So God has no human or even physical form. Rather, to be made in the likeness of God means that we are like God, in the sense that we are relational beings as God is. We've also been given dominion as God has dominion, to fill the earth and subdue it.

Most of all, being made in the image of God means that we are to reflect His holy and righteous character. Animals cannot make moral decisions. It is for men and women to glorify God in righteousness. Every person's life is sacred because we are all fellow image-bearers of the one who made us.

When we sin, doing what is contrary to God's righteousness, we desecrate God's image. Romans 3:12 says together we have become worthless before God, good to be cast into the flames. But Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and by faith in Him, we are being remade into the image of the Son, to reflect the holy and righteous character of Christ, when we understand the text.

"Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son..." Romans 8:29

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." Ephesians 1:4