The question is often asked, "Is it possible for a Christian to die and go to hell?" The answer that is most often given is, "No, once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, it is impossible for one to go to hell; just go read; John 3:16, where it says that if you believe in Christ, you will be saved."
Well, what is often missed is that there are other Bible verses that surround that one verse. We cannot take one verse, and apply that one verse, to everything there is to Salvation. Yes, it is true that if a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they will indeed have their name written in the Book of Life. However, understand too, that the title; Christian, is only a demeaning title, given from unbelievers, to those who identified themselves as to being a Christ follower. The title; Christian, itself does not justify or save a person. Anybody can wear the title; Christian, whether they are a full fled faith believer, or one that only believes Christ for entitlements, or one that believes that Christ existed, but for less than what He is to be given entitlements. Nonetheless, to be really considered; saved, goes beyond just the recognition that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and that He died for the sins of all mankind. There is what is also called; Sanctification.
Sanctification, is defined as: to set apart, or to declare holy, to consecrate. Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are added to the Book of Life; however, they are responsible for involving themselves in the sanctification of justification. The believer must live their life according to the commandments of God, just as Jesus lived His life upon the earth in submission to His Father. The act of obedience to God isn't to be taken as a way of "doing works", to get into Heaven, because there is absolutely nothing man can do in works to win God's approval outside of Jesus Christ. The sanctification of the believer shows God that you are serious about your belief in His Son, and that you are completely surrendered to allowing; Jesus Christ, to be the Lord of your life. Jesus Christ has said, "If you love me, then keep my commandments" (John 14:15). The more a believer keeps God's commandments, the more they become conformed to who; Jesus Christ, is. God is only able to use a believer for His complete and divine purpose, once they acknowledge the fact of sanctification, and begin to seek the Will of God for their lives. Jesus has said, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing," (John 15:5). And what He has said to those who have bared no fruit behind accepting Him as Savior, with no sanctification, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned" (John 15:6). Hebrews, 6:4-6 states, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen 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." The bottom line is, many will come close to the saving grace but fail to complete the full transition through faith simply because they chose to turn back to the ways of the world, denying Jesus Christ. For whatever wave of reason may come: offense, persecution, disappointment, persuasion, influence, self-righteousness, or the lust of the flesh, some will chose to fall away from the truth. Yet, those who stand strong in the faith, enduring all trials, affirming their sincerity through obedience, will be the elect that receive their full reward of eternal life.
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