Revelation 3:5 and Revelation 3:15

“If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).
 
“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15).
 

Question:

Does this mean that you can lose your salvation? Some believe once saved always saved, but others use these Scriptures to show you can lose salvation. One pastor teaches me once saved always saved, but I personally have never believed that.

Comment:

These passages are both from the seven letters. John is commanded, in his first vision, to write to the seven churches located in what was then Asia Minor (now Turkey). The number seven appears many, many times in Scripture—from the seven days of creation in Genesis to many different sevens in the Revelation. It also appears in many other Scriptures and spiritual paths as well. Metaphysically, it suggests that there are seven stages involved in achieving our spiritual purpose within this human experience. The letters to the churches are a way of awakening the spiritual centers within us (chakras in Eastern belief, in Unity they relate to the Twelve Powers).   The verse at 3:5 is from the letter to the church at Sardis—the fifth letter, which is related to the power center. And 3:15 is from the letter to Laodicea, the seventh letter, which concerns the crown chakra. We cannot accomplish our spiritual purpose of expressing the creative Power of God as the new consciousness Jesus described as the kingdom of heaven until we are fully awaken to our spiritual purpose and process.   I can’t think of anything more opposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ than the idea of “once saved, always saved.” At no point, in no teaching or story, does Jesus suggest to his disciples that “being saved” is what his ministry is all about. He tells his disciples—and, by extension, us—to believe what he teaches, and then to use our new understanding to transform the world by extending love and healing wherever they are needed. The only “salvation” that’s needed is to come to our right minds, to reach through the fog of confusion, fear and misunderstanding and express the Truth of our eternal Oneness with God. We are only lost when we believe the illusion of mortal duality and forget the spiritual truth of our innate, eternal creative Power. Once we do “come to our right minds,” is it possible to forget again? Absolutely! That’s the whole point of Jesus’ time in the wilderness. Having fully embraced his Christ purpose, he was tempted to use that power for selfish, fear-based purposes—basically to fall back into believing in human priorities. He successfully resisted that temptation. The many histories of spiritual leaders who cause great harm by clinging to flawed and fear-based human appetites should be enough to teach us that the process of creating the kingdom requires energy, focus and constant vigilance so that our actions, choices and intentions are consistent with the new spiritual truth we have come to embrace.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed