Can a Christian who falls into serious sin lose their salvation when God takes their life?
Scripture says that even when God takes such believers out of their physical existence because of serious sin, they do not lose their salvation. Their sin may bring divine discipline, even death, and church discipline aimed at restoration, but the believer's eternal salvation remains secure.
Les explains that this is a serious matter in the believing community. When a believer falls into deep, open sin that others know about, God mandates disciplinary action by the church, first and foremost to restore that person to fellowship. But even though God may take such a believer out of physical existence, Scripture says they will not lose their salvation. Les connects this to 1 John 5:16, where John distinguishes sin not unto death from a sin unto death. In the less gross case, prayer can give life; but there is a sin unto death, and the believing community is never to pray for the death of someone like that.