“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
for His seed
The Greek word for “seed” is semen. This word is also the source for our English word “semen.” “Seed” carries the idea of descendants, children, posterity. The idea in this verse is the beginning or germ of new life planted by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. The sperm carries the hereditary characteristic and life principle of the parent. This resides continuously in the child of God.
remains in him;
The word “remains” conveys the idea of permanence. The believer will never lose God’s nature that resides in him once he becomes a Christian. Eternal life in the believer can never be reversed. As we cannot cease from existing as a human being and become a cow, neither can we lose our new nature or trade it in for a new one.
PRINCIPLE:
The Christian cannot lose his salvation once he becomes a Christian.
APPLICATION:
Can a Christian lose his salvation? Once we receive Christ as Savior, we cannot lose our salvation because we hold to the same status quo before the Father as Jesus holds. Positionally, we are perfect before the Father with Christ’s righteousness and Christ’s eternal life. These are permanent and can never be lost for any reason (Ro 8:31-39).
Jn 10:28-29, 28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Ro 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”
A Christian is still a Christian even though he disowns the Lord. The Bible assumes the possibility that a Christian might deny the Lord at some point in his life. Even though we deny Him, He will not deny us. He cannot go back on His promises. He can deny us reward (2 Ti 2:12), but He cannot deny us salvation.
2 Ti 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
We stay in the family in which we were born during our stay on earth. We are in that family to stay whether we ever see them again or not. Once we believe in Jesus Christ, God puts us into His family forever. He gives us an eternal inheritance (1 Pe 1:4,5) as part of His family.
God, Himself sovereignly keeps our salvation for us:
Jude 24-25, 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever. Amen.”
The Holy Spirit seals the salvation for every Christian so that no one can break that seal. He seals us until we meet the Lord face to face.
Eph 1:13-14, 13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Eph 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
There is nothing you can do, nor anyone else can do to lose your salvation. The onus is upon God completely to save your soul once you believe in Christ. Why try to keep something you already possess? Doing so distorts our walk with the Lord.
