Can you continue to knowingly sin and remain a Christian?

[07/07/07]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

 

[Alfred Persson]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 Jn. 1:8-10 NKJ)

Didn't you sin after you believed? Didn't you know you were sinning? How many times can you lose your salvation?

Isn't it odd, the God who sees the future perfectly, would save a person who confessed their faith in His Son and believes in His Name, who sins a few minutes later?

Another question. When Christ died for your sins, they were all future to Him, correct? He dies in the 1st century, and your sins are in the 21st century, covered. But coverage stopped the moment you believed?

 

[07/07/07]

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 Jn. 1:8-10 NKJ)

Yes, we are to confess our sins, but to continue in known sin will void one's Salvation.

Galatians 5
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

 

[JLB]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

No. Christians must confess their to be cleansed, if not then they will become lost; considered as a sinner.


IOW we must give heed to ourselves and what Jesus taught, which was to remain in Him.


If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6


Here is how we are instructed to remain in Christ.


Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24





JLB

 

[Alfred Persson]

Yes, we are to confess our sins, but to continue in known sin will void one's Salvation.

Galatians 5
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

When an alleged Christian is hardened in the bad way, its because he is a child of the Devil, a Tare sown among the wheat.

You cannot lose your salvation if you are a child of God, nor would you live like a Tare. That's why "we can know them by their fruits":

16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matt. 7:16-20 NKJ)

Once we are in God's hands, no one (which includes yourself) can take you out. Eternal life isn't eternal if you can perish after you get it:

27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (Jn. 10:27-29 NKJ)

 

[Alfred Persson]

No. Christians must confess their to be cleansed, if not then they will become lost; considered as a sinner.


IOW we must give heed to ourselves and what Jesus taught, which was to remain in Him.


If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6


Here is how we are instructed to remain in Christ.


Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24





JLB

Your proof texts beg the question. When alleged Christians don't abide in Christ, its because they aren't Christians...they are tares sown among the wheat, children of the Devil. That's why they are destined to be cast into the fire.

Same with "he" who doesn't keep His commandments. They are children of the Devil. They lie claiming to be Christians, but they are tares sown among the wheat. We know them by their fruits, not their professions:

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me,`Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 "And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matt. 7:15-23 NKJ)

 

[Fastfredy0]

To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

This contradicts the perseverance of the saints. (note: some don't believe in this doctrine)
This contradicts salvation is not by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Galatians 5
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

You potentially make a good point.

• Tom Constable believes the verses mean: I do not believe the Scriptures teach that genuine Christians are incapable of committing these sins (cf. Rom. 13:13). However, I believe that there will be differences in rewards for believers depending on our faithfulness to God (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
• John MacArthur says: things like these indicates that Paul’s list of deeds of the flesh is only representative and not exhaustive. “What Christian can claim he has not committed a single one of those sins since he was saved? Who could possibly enter the kingdom of God if committing just one of those sins keeps him out?” The key word in Paul’s warning is practice, which translates a present active participle of prass image (Image), indicating durative, ongoing action. It is the continual, habitual practice of such things that marks a person as unregenerate and therefore barred from entrance into the kingdom of God.

Maybe, rather than saying " to continue in sin knowingly results in loss of salvation"
.......... you might say " to continue in habitual sin knowingly means you were never saved in the first place"

 

[JLB]

Your proof texts beg the question. When alleged Christians don't abide in Christ, its because they aren't Christians...

Only people who are in Christ: joined to Him, being one spirit with Him, are saved.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17


If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6

• If anyone does not abide in Me,

Jesus through John plainly and clearly spoke of “anyone” who is in Him, but does not remain in Him…

This is the unmistakable point being made in this sentence, which flows contextually out of His opening statement concerning the subject matter of a person who is in Christ.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2

• Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away

This same apostle John reiterates this understanding of remaining in Christ in His letter of 1 John.
Here is how we are instructed to remain “in Christ“.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24

• he who keeps His commandments abides in Him

JLB

 

[jeremiah1five]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

No man - even ourselves - can be plucked from the Father's hand. No man - even ourselves - can be plucked from Christ's hand.
What God began in a believer He will complete to the end. Sometimes God sends His people into the valley and on their own to learn something. They will enjoy sin for a season, but when the time is at hand call back His Beloved to repentance with a new knowledge and new wisdom. Pruning is involved. But like the Prodigal son there is always a way back.

 

[Alfred Persson]

..LB

JLB's words are black font, Alfred Persson's are in green font:

Only people who are in Christ: joined to Him, being one spirit with Him, are saved.
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

Still begs the question. I agree those "in Christ" are joined to Him, but this says nothing about those who pretended to be in are not.

To illustrate:

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matt. 13:3-8 NKJ)

The way you define "in" as meaning "Christians" can be tested. Lets use that premise here:

According to your premise, the Sower sowed so some Christians were devoured by demons (birds = demons Rev. 18:2), some Christians died eternally because God didn't feed them, other Christians were choked to death by the cares of life. Only those lucky enough to fall on good ground are saved.

But if the "seed" is only a potential Christian, then by the seed's fruits is it known to be a Christian or not. Then "seed falling by the wayside"; "fell on stony places" "fell among thorns" in the parable refers to what the seed did to itself. Then we interpret the Sower sowed but some who heard the gospel chose evil and demons devoured them; Others had hard hearts and little soil so the initial joy of the gospels wore off, others allowed the cares of the world to crowd out practicing Christianity. But those who really took the Gospel to heart can be known by their fruits.

What is said about "false Prophets" in Matthew 7:13-20) also applies to "False Christians" Their fruits identify them (Matt. 7:16). The "false prophets" did not go through Jesus (the narrow gate), they went some other way (Matt. 7:13-14), through a counterfeit Jesus. There is an "another Jesus" and it is possible Tares receive a "different spirit" (2 Cor. 11:4).

4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted-- you may well put up with it! (2 Cor. 11:4 NKJ)

"Tares" look like "wheat", its only by their "fruit" they can be distinguished. If you don't look at the fruit, they seem to be "in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 13:24-30)

So "in" Christ are two groups, TARES and WHEAT, and because the Tares don't abide in Christ, they are cast off as not part of Him.

We see this premise in the other texts you cite.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6

Tares claim to be "in Christ" but He "never knew them":

22 "Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 "And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
(Matt. 7:22-23 NKJ)

If anyone does not abide in Me,
Jesus through John plainly and clearly spoke of "anyone" who is in Him, but does not remain in Him…
This is the unmistakable point being made in this sentence, which flows contextually out of His opening statement concerning the subject matter of a person who is in Christ.

"Anyone" includes the Two groups, Tares and Wheat. Confirming this is the imagery of the branch. Like the seed at first it seems alive, but it is not and withers and dies not producing fruit. Then it can be easily distinguised from living branches (good seed), and cast into the fire.

Like the seed, its the branch's fault it didn't continue to seek nourishment from the tree. That's why it dies in the parable. But that is the nature of a Tare, it looks like Wheat at first but really isn't.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away

True and False Christians are the branches, but only True Christians "listen to Christ and get life from Him". Put another way, False Christians go to church also, but they don't listen to Christ and get their life from Him so they don't bear fruit.

Just as with the Sower of Seed, its not God's fault the seed or the branch don't bear fruit, if these really were connected to Christ they would bear fruit. We know by their fruit they were not of "the good tree"

This premise is clearly stated here:

17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matt. 7:17-20 NKJ)


This same apostle John reiterates this understanding of remaining in Christ in His letter of 1 John.
Here is how we are instructed to remain "in Christ".
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24
he who keeps His commandments abides in Him

Yes, the Wheat bear fruit keeping His commandment proving they abide in Him; the Tares have no fruit and so don't abide in Him.

Christ gives the gift of eternal life to His sheep, not the goats. Eternal life that can be lost is not Eternal life. Christ's sheep having eternal life and in Christ's hand and no one is able to snatch them out.

To make this doubly certain, Jesus said we also are "in the Father's hand" and all should realize no one can snatch anything out from the Father's hand!

"No one" includes you. You can't "jump out of His hand", you don't have the power to overcome God. He doesn't permit it. You get eternal life when you believe, guaranteed by the Father's power, not potential life that can be lost:

27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (Jn. 10:27-29 NKJ)

Only the "Wheat" are 'My Sheep who obey My voice', not the Tares claiming to follow Christ, but they do not.

 

[Consecrated Life]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

Who was the first person mentioned by God in scripture as an example to lose their salvation in this way ?

 

[jaybo]

I haven't read the previous post because it is too long.

My initial response to the OP is that if a person knowingly continues to sin then I doubt if they are truly a Christian.

1 John 3:6...

"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." NIV
"No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him." ESV
"No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him." NASB
"Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is." NLT

 

[Hopeful]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

You are on the right track !!!!

 

[Hopeful]

This contradicts the perseverance of the saints. (note: some don't believe in this doctrine)
This contradicts salvation is not by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)


You potentially make a good point.

• Tom Constable believes the verses mean: I do not believe the Scriptures teach that genuine Christians are incapable of committing these sins (cf. Rom. 13:13). However, I believe that there will be differences in rewards for believers depending on our faithfulness to God (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
• John MacArthur says: things like these indicates that Paul’s list of deeds of the flesh is only representative and not exhaustive. “What Christian can claim he has not committed a single one of those sins since he was saved? Who could possibly enter the kingdom of God if committing just one of those sins keeps him out?” The key word in Paul’s warning is practice, which translates a present active participle of prass image (Image), indicating durative, ongoing action. It is the continual, habitual practice of such things that marks a person as unregenerate and therefore barred from entrance into the kingdom of God.

Maybe, rather than saying " to continue in sin knowingly results in loss of salvation"
.......... you might say " to continue in habitual sin knowingly means you were never saved in the first place"

To continue in sin manifest from whom one is born.
Grape seeds cannot bring forth figs.

 

[Hopeful]

No man - even ourselves - can be plucked from the Father's hand. No man - even ourselves - can be plucked from Christ's hand.
What God began in a believer He will complete to the end. Sometimes God sends His people into the valley and on their own to learn something. They will enjoy sin for a season, but when the time is at hand call back His Beloved to repentance with a new knowledge and new wisdom. Pruning is involved. But like the Prodigal son there is always a way back.

There are no murderers, thieves, adulterers, or liars in God's hands.
And as you mentioned, a true "turn from" sin will initiate one's actual salvation.

 

[Hopeful]

Who was the first person mentioned by God in scripture as an example to lose their salvation in this way ?

NT?
Ananias and Sapphira.

 

[Consecrated Life]

NT?
Ananias and Sapphira.

There is no mention of them losing their salvation .
If you read the passage you will not find any.

 

[DJT_47]

This is an important topic for Christians, as it's crucial to our Salvation. To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation. We must forsake that sin(s) and do our first works over by being cleansed in the blood of Jesus for the remission of sin. If we cling to that sin(s), we are fallen from grace and are considered backsliders.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

Being a good Christian or bad Christian is the real point of your question. Either way, you're still a Christian. By willfully sinning doesn’t make you a non-Christian, just an errant Christian.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

To continue in sin knowingly certainly results in a loss of one's Salvation.

You're describing an unbeliever, not a believer. To knowingly live in unrepentant, deliberate sin is what unbelievers do, not believers. Believers struggle with sin, not live in it willfully without conviction or pain of conscience.

The fall into unbelief itself is what causes a person who once believed to lose their salvation. If they were still a believer 1) the blood of Christ that they believe and trust in would keep them in a continual state of being forgiven, and 2) God won't let believers get away with sliding into a lifestyle of sin and is careful to chastise them. Eventually not being chastised for sin shows they are no longer a child of God, assuming they were one to begin with.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

And as you mentioned, a true "turn from" sin will initiate one's actual salvation.

A person is saved the moment they believe and are justified, receiving the righteousness that is from God in that moment of believing. That's how it happened for Abraham, our example of how we, too, believe and are made righteous with the righteousness that comes from God apart from the performance of works.