Salvation for always or not

The debate about can you lose your salvation is one that I have had with others and myself for a long time. Joff my roomie at College and i had an ongoing debate about it for a whole semester.  I swing on the topic knowing that God is merciful and that my salvation is not based on my doing but I am also well aware that my actions and sins are due their just punishment.

Once a friend asked, “If you forsake the gospel, turn to sexual immorality and theft, rob banks, and then die in a police shootout, what will be your eternal destiny?” I replied, “I will perish in my sins!” My friend objected, “Well, then, you don’t believe in eternal security! You believe that it is possible for a Christian to lose his salvation! Haven’t you corrupted the gospel with legalism and perfectionism?” I responded, “No. I believe that God preserves his children unto salvation in the Last Day by warning and admonishing us to persevere in faithfulness to him, so that none of his children will perish. Consider the question you posed. Romans 8:12-13 foretells the eternal consequence to the way of life you posed: ‘So then, brothers, we are under obligation not to the flesh, to live in keeping with the flesh, for if you live in keeping with the flesh, you will die, but if you put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, you will live.’”

My friend’s question and objection illustrate prevailing confusion that persists among Christians concerning God’s requiring us to persevere in loyalty to Jesus Christ in order that we may be saved from his wrath in the Day of Judgment. Each of the following five assumptions, fears, or failings contributes to misunderstandings of Christian perseverance such as my friend’s question and objection exhibited. Sometimes it is advantageous to present biblical truths by directly addressing common misunderstandings. In this brief presentation, I seek to offer important clarifications concerning the gospel’s call for us to persevere in faith in order that we might be saved in the day we stand before Christ in judgment.

It is a good article Click here to read the whole posting at Biblia Theologica so I still remain in a fux not sure what side of the debate I sit in.  So I will live my life like I can lose my salvation and live with perserverance, and when I should die I will die knowing my savlation to be secure in the the grace of a God of mercy!