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This question is kind of related to the thread about eternal security, but not really related to the question. I see three possible answers:A) You can't lose your salvation if you are truly savedB) You can lose your salvation, but only once, and then there is no possibility to regain itC) You can repeat the process of gaining and losing your salvation many timesWhich do you affirm?For those who affirm 'C' -- how does this work in terms of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, etc?

You cannot “lose” your salvation. However, just because we become believers doesn’t mean that we lose our free-will. So, I believe that most people that are saved remain saved. I’ll go with A with a “however.”

With respect, this doesn't seem to be consistent (unless I am just misunderstanding it, which is entirely possible).If most people who are saved remain saved... what happens to the rest? How is it that they cannot lose their salvation but somehow do not remain saved?Do you mean they can choose to depart from it? (which would be 'B' or 'C', IMO)

Aa

This is why it's absurd to use Hebrews 6as proof that you can gain/lose/gain salvation. Hebrews 6:4says it is

With respect, this doesn't seem to be consistent (unless I am just misunderstanding it, which is entirely possible).If most people who are saved remain saved... what happens to the rest? How is it that they cannot lose their salvation but somehow do not remain saved?Do you mean they can choose to depart from it? (which would be 'B' or 'C', IMO)And follow up question, if they depart, can they choose to profess genuine faith again? How many times can this process be repeated?

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.It says to renew them unto repentance....not salvation, not forgiveness, etc.....How many christians meet those qualifiers? I think it is basically saying that you've tasted all that God has and if you still walk away, nothing will convince you to come back.Again, I know very few people who meet those qualifiers.

We can take this to be the person who falls away cannot be renewed again to repentance. But Hebrews lists some pretty high-level experiences for such a person. In other words, it can be interpreted as saying that people who get to this level in God, if they fall away, then THOSE PEOPLE cannot be renewed.

For instance, the Calvinist will insist that the Arminian thinks that a person can get saved a MILLION times, then fall away, then be saved again.The Arminian claims that Calvinist believe that one you get saved, you can become a homosexual, genocidal maniac...and still be saved.In other words, we paint such extremes that OF COURSE you have to be right.In truth, I imagine that a person can get saved, fall away, and be restored at least 70 x 7. I think I would at least win that case in heaven's court--assuming it is sincere repentance.But it is more likely that such often falling away is not followed by true repentance--which would, I think, lead one to make a better attempt to live for the Lord. HOWEVER, I have known a number of people who when through, oh, I suppose, a dozen or so episodes over a long period of years. They would be serving God...then they were out of church, perhaps living in sin, etc. And yet I feel that God forgave them EVERY TIME...because I think that every time they were utterly sincere. And I think they made it. I cannot go on anything but my own discernment, but I believe it is valid.

Okay, I understand now. When I said lose I meant lose by any means, but I will own the lack of clarity I used when framing the initial discussion.