Is it possible for a child of God to be lost, after having the gift of eternal life?
The last part of the question can be omitted without affecting it, for a person cannot be a child of God without having the gift of eternal life. The whole question, therefore, is this, "Is it possible for a child of God to be lost?" and the Scripture plainly teaches that it is. Judas was an apostle, and with the rest of the twelve was sent out with "power and authority over all devils, ... to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2)
Yet he became "the son of perdition." (John 17:12)
Paul, who was God's chosen vessel to carry His name before kings, and who received the most wonderful revelations, was obliged to practice rigid self-discipline, lest after he had preached to others, he himself should be a cast-away. (1 Corinthians 9:27) The exhortations in Hebrews 4:1-11; 6:1-9, are evidence of the possibility for those to fall who have been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come.
However, it must be understood that there is no necessity for any child of God to fall. Jesus said of those to whom He gave eternal life, "No one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, which has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:28-29,RV)
We may cease to trust, and thereby take ourselves out of the hand of the Lord; but as long as we by faith abide in Him, no power can prevail against us. The promise is, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) "[God] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," (Ephesians 3:20) able even "to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 24)
The statement by Christ, that "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved," (Matthew 10:13) shows that there is a possibility that some may not endure, yet no reason why they need not. Therefore, "Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12)--Present Truth, February 12, 1903.