Answer: It depends on the type of Christian you ask.

Calvinist Protestants affirm the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, rejecting the idea that genuine salvation can be lost and grounding assurance in God's character and promises.
Non-Calvinist Protestants believe that salvation can be lost through conscious, willful, and persistent rejection of Christ, emphasizing the need for ongoing repentance and obedience and finding assurance in a life of discipleship.
Catholics teach that mortal sin can lead to the loss of salvation, if not repented of before death, while emphasizing the importance of perseverance and growth in holiness and entrusting judgment to God's mercy.
Eastern Orthodox Christians understand salvation as a process of theosis and emphasize the ongoing need for faithfulness and spiritual growth, trusting in God's mercy to restore those who repent.
Progressive Christians acknowledge the potential for individuals to turn away from God but emphasize the mystery of God's mercy, the hope of ultimate reconciliation, and the importance of personal responsibility in the ongoing journey of faith.
The differences in perspective on the possibility of losing salvation are rooted in varying understandings of the nature of salvation, the role of human responsibility, and the interpretation of biblical passages related to perseverance, apostasy, and assurance.

I was emphatically taught “once saved, always saved.” I was also never taught the vast majority of Christians thought different.

Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai

Quick Comparison

Tradition	Nature of Salvation	Possibility of Losing Salvation	Assurance of Salvation
Calvinist Protestant	Sovereign act of God's grace, unconditional election	Impossible for the truly saved	Grounded in God's character and promises
Non-Calvinist Protestant	Gift of God received by faith, human responsibility	Possible through conscious, willful, persistent rejection	Found in a life of discipleship and growth in holiness
Catholic	Process of justification and sanctification	Possible through mortal sin, if not repented before death	Importance of perseverance, entrusted to God's mercy
Eastern Orthodox	Process of theosis, union with God	Not spoken of in same way, emphasis on ongoing faithfulness	Trust in God's mercy, ongoing need for spiritual growth
Progressive	Ongoing journey, continual growth and repentance	Potential for turning away, mystery of God's mercy	Personal responsibility, hope of ultimate reconciliation

Hear from Each Perspective

Ordered by number of adherents

John / Catholic

The Catholic Church teaches that salvation is a process of justification and sanctification, in which the believer cooperates with God's grace through faith, good works, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church. We believe that baptism and faith in Christ are necessary for salvation, but we also emphasize the importance of perseverance and growth in holiness throughout one's life. We affirm that mortal sin—that is, grave sin committed with full knowledge and consent—can sever one's relationship with God and lead to the loss of salvation, if not repented of before death (CCC 1033, 1861). However, we also believe in the possibility of restoration through the sacrament of reconciliation and the mercy of God. We reject the Calvinist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, arguing instead that salvation is a dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation with grace and the avoidance of serious sin. Ultimately, we entrust the judgment of souls to the mercy and justice of God, while emphasizing the importance of living a life of faith, obedience, and love.

Anthony / Eastern Orthodox

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, we understand salvation as a process of theosis, or union with God, in which the believer participates in the divine life through the grace of the Holy Spirit. We affirm that salvation is a gift of God that is received through faith and baptism, but we also emphasize the importance of ongoing repentance, spiritual growth, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church. Sin can disrupt our relationship with God and hinder our progress in theosis, but God is also loving and willing to restore those who turn back to Him in repentance. We reject the Calvinist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, arguing instead that salvation is a synergistic process that involves both divine grace and human cooperation. We do not speak of "losing" salvation in the same way as some Western traditions, but rather emphasize the ongoing need for faithfulness, spiritual struggle, and growth in Christ-likeness. Ultimately, we trust in the mystery of God's judgment and the hope of His infinite mercy for all who seek Him with sincerity of heart.

Caleb / Non-Calvinist Protestant

I believe that genuine salvation can be lost through conscious, willful, and persistent rejection of Christ. While I affirm the reality of God's grace and the assurance of salvation for those who trust in Christ, I also recognize the biblical warnings against falling away and the possibility of apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 2:20-22). Salvation is a gift of God that is received by faith, but I also emphasize the importance of human responsibility and the need for ongoing repentance, obedience, and perseverance in the Christian life. I reject the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional eternal security, arguing instead that true saving faith is evidenced by a life of discipleship and growth in holiness. However, I also believe that God's grace is sufficient to keep those who are truly His and that He will work to bring back those who have strayed, as long as they do not persist in unbelief and hardness of heart.

Nathan / Calvinist Protestant

We believe in the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which teaches that those who are truly saved will never lose their salvation. This belief is rooted in our understanding of God's sovereign election and the efficacy of Christ's atoning work on the cross. We affirm that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace and that those whom God has chosen for salvation will be kept by His power and preserved until the end (John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39). While we acknowledge that believers may experience seasons of doubt, struggle, and even backsliding, we believe that true faith will ultimately persevere and that those who fall away permanently demonstrate that they were never truly saved in the first place (1 John 2:19). Our assurance of salvation is grounded in the character and promises of God, who is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us (Philippians 1:6).

Hannah / Progressive

I believe that the question of losing one's salvation should be approached with humility and openness to mystery. While I affirm the reality of God's unconditional love and the power of grace to transform lives, I also recognize the importance of human agency and the potential for individuals to make choices that lead them away from God. Rather than focusing on a binary understanding of "saved" or "unsaved," I emphasize the ongoing nature of the Christian journey and the need for continual growth, repentance, and faithfulness. I believe that God's grace is always available to those who seek it, but I also acknowledge the reality of human brokenness and the possibility of turning away from God's love. Ultimately, I trust in the mystery of God's mercy and the hope of ultimate reconciliation for all people, while recognizing the importance of personal responsibility and the call to persevere in faith.

The Key Differences

1. The Nature of Salvation

Calvinist Protestants view salvation as a sovereign act of God's grace, in which the elect are unconditionally chosen and saved by Christ's atoning work. They emphasize the perseverance of the saints and the impossibility of losing one's salvation.
Non-Calvinist Protestants understand salvation as a gift of God that is received by faith but emphasize the importance of human responsibility and the possibility of falling away through persistent unbelief and disobedience.
Catholics view salvation as a process of justification and sanctification, in which the believer cooperates with God's grace through faith, good works, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
Eastern Orthodox Christians understand salvation as a process of theosis, or union with God, in which the believer participates in the divine life through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Progressive Christians emphasize the ongoing nature of the Christian journey and the need for continual growth, repentance, and faithfulness, while recognizing the potential for individuals to make choices that lead them away from God.

2. The Possibility of Losing Salvation

Calvinist Protestants reject the idea that genuine salvation can be lost, affirming the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints and the unconditional security of the elect.
Non-Calvinist Protestants believe that salvation can be lost through conscious, willful, and persistent rejection of Christ, emphasizing the biblical warnings against apostasy and the need for ongoing repentance and obedience.
Catholics teach that mortal sin can sever one's relationship with God and lead to the loss of salvation, if not repented of before death, while also affirming the possibility of restoration through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Eastern Orthodox Christians do not speak of "losing" salvation in the same way as some Western traditions but emphasize the ongoing need for faithfulness, spiritual struggle, and growth in Christ-likeness.
Progressive Christians acknowledge the potential for individuals to turn away from God's love but emphasize the mystery of God's mercy and the hope of ultimate reconciliation for all people.

3. The Assurance of Salvation

Calvinist Protestants ground their assurance of salvation in the character and promises of God, who is faithful to complete the work He has begun in the elect.
Non-Calvinist Protestants believe that assurance of salvation is found in a life of discipleship and growth in holiness, rejecting the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional eternal security.
Catholics emphasize the importance of perseverance and growth in holiness throughout one's life, while ultimately entrusting the judgment of souls to the mercy and justice of God.
Eastern Orthodox Christians trust in the mercy and love of God to restore those who turn back to Him in repentance but emphasize the ongoing need for faithfulness and spiritual growth.
Progressive Christians recognize the importance of personal responsibility and the call to persevere in faith but also trust in the mystery of God's mercy and the hope of ultimate reconciliation.

Can a person lose their salvation?