Can you lose it? It kind of begs the question - who would want to? However, I do know that there are opposing views depending on the denomination. I take a somewhat simplistic view.
Having received forgiveness and come into the family of God, I'm not going to get into arguments with fellow brothers and sisters, who - I believe that they believe what they are saying - may not believe in exactly the same way on those issues, important though they are, that are more of a opinion or interpretation of scripture call. (How's that for a sentence!) For me, as fundamental as Salvation is, 'losing it' is part of the 'opinion' call area.
I realize that those who say you can lose salvation are relying on a scripture (Hebrews 6:4-6) that talks about losing what you have. However this, in my opinion, is a conscious act, not an accident - you choosing to give away your salvation. And, if you read all of that scripture, it is also talking about the Holy Spirit.
I remember when I was a new Christian that this was one of the first 'disagreements' I witnessed - the you can and you can't lose your salvation 'camps'. I remember wondering about this because could I lose it and not realize I did? Could I do something, inadvertently and be forever lost? That was definitely scary.
Finally I felt that I got some understanding on this issue and the main point was that of choice. If I lost my salvation it would be a throwing away act not a mis-step - a conscious decision to walk from the Lord. It would also include a blaspheming of the Holy Spirit, again consciously.
Could I subsequently repent of that? Don't know. Scripture seems to indicate that I couldn't. However, in the final analysis... this is not my determination nor someone else's. This is between that person and God.
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I feel like the statement about "walking away... your choice" from salvation seems like an opinion as well. When a little kid gets angry at his parents or feels unloved, unnoticed, or what have you, they may pack up their bags and decide that they are running away from home. Although a foolish thought or decision from the child, they still belong with their parents... still bear the same name... will still have the privileges AND the consequences of belonging to the family they are in. Hopefully the parents who are more wise than the child will take action to look after the child's well being even when they do not recognize, understand, or appreciate it. The child's irrational behavior should not affect the parents' ability to handle the situation. I trust that when scripture talks in Romans 8:38-39 about "...neither the present nor the future... will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" and where Jesus states in John 10:27 [of those who are saved] "NO one can snatch them out of my hand", it is Christ's faithfullness and not mine that saves me, I do not trust in myself I trust in Christ to accomplish what He has begun in me. Just like the child who might be burdening to his parents and expressing the wrong attitude towards them, we can grieve the Holy Spirit instead of working WITH Him, we may fight, do nothing, or gripe and complain when the Lord is leading. Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." As humans, we always choose our own way, but it is the grace of God that saves us as undeserving as we are, and when God touches a thing, it is truly changed and His work can not be undone when it is sealed with His promise.
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