Let’s start with Romans 11: 19-22. This is about Israel and the believers.
“You will say:” The branches have been broke off so that I could be grafted in. ” Good. They [he means Israel] were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith: do not be proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, then see if he will spare you too. So, you see the goodness and severity of God: severity is for those who have fallen away, and goodness for you, IF you abide in the goodness of God; otherwise you too will be cut off. ” (Russian Bible translation)
This passage of Scripture speaks of people “keep the faith.” God’s goodness is with those of us who hold on to faith. However, it is not unconditional. The word “if” is a prelude to the definition of a condition.
What is this condition? Our abidance in the goodness of God. What happens if we renounce this goodness, not wanting to be with God any longer? The Scripture gives a very clear answer: “We will be cut off.“
In 2 Corinthians 13: 5, the apostle Paul also speaks of the possibility of losing faith:
2 Corinthians 13: 5:
“Test yourselves whether you are in the faith; examine yourself. Or do you not know yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you? See if you are who you are supposed to be. ” (Russian Bible translation)
It is quite clear that a Christian can lose his faith by publicly or not publicly denying it. Otherwise Paul would not have written to us about the need to examine and test ourselves, whether we are in the faith. This may have been the main reason why Paul and Barnabas admonished others to remain in the faith.
Acts 14: 21-22:
“Having preached the Gospel to this city and having acquired enough disciples, they went back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, admonishing them to remain in the faith and teaching that through many sorrows we must enter the Kingdom of God.”
The apostles had no need to admonish believers to remain in the faith if it was no chance for them to fall away from the faith. Therefore, a believer can fall away from faith and from God’s goodness. What can happen then? Romans 11:22 gives us a clear answer: “He will be cut off.”
Jesus expressed the same thought when speaking of those who do not abide in Him.
John 15: 1-2, 6:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He breaks off… He who does not abide in Me will be cast out like a branch and wither; but such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, and they are consumed by flames. “
Therefore, to be “cut off” is not something impossible, as many people believe, but a completely realistic picture that can materialize in the life of someone who does not dwell on the vine, as John says, or does not abide in faith and God’s goodness, as Paul says. …
