Being "Saved," "Born Again," "Confessing Jesus" Does Not Guarantee Heaven.

[Helm]

I think there is some truth true in the sense that there are Christians with a very strong faith in Christianity/Christ/salvation/God who ultimately end up as hardcore atheists and end up writing books like this.

Loftus was an apprentice to William Lane Craig himself before falling into the darkside so that's certainly something that you do see happen. I don't particularly believe God instantly sends all non-Christians to hell/separates them from himself though. I'm guessing it would be a straightforward case of judgement on works without grace.

 

[PrivateTimm]

Oh, and the thread title is blasphemy.

I think I'd be more inclined to call it something else, but it seems like it was started to either be deliberately provocative or out of a lack of understanding and the original poster hasn't been back since the second day after posting.

 

[Messenger]

One question? Does it depend on what you do?

I believe you have asked a rhetorical question as I know that you already know the answer to that question. :yes

We both know that salvation is not achieved by any work a person does no matter how sincere his motive might be.

Many claim they are saved, and born again simply because they have responded to a church altar call, prayed "the sinner's prayer", have been baptized, have publicly acknowledged and claimed to have confessed Jesus as their Saviour, etc.

Yes, they have done all the things their pastor or that TV evangelist told them what they must do to become saved. And so, now they are convinced they are saved / born again.

It may be what the original poster of this thread had in mind when he/she entitled it, "Being "Saved," "Born Again," "Confessing Jesus" Does Not Guarantee Heaven." And he goes on to say that only those who persevere "unto the end" will inherit God's Kingdom.

According to what God says in His Word, that is correct!

You see, no one of himself, can endure to the end unless God had already chosen him and paid for his sins before the world began (Rev. 13:8: Heb. 4:3; 2 Tim. 1:9-10: Titus 1:2), according to His will and purpose (Eph. 1:4-11; Rom. 8:30, 9:11; James 1:18; Isaiah 26:12; Ezek. 36:27).

The only reason a true believer will endure to the end is because it is Jesus Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2); because "He that began a good work in you will perform it until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6; Psalms 37:18, 19). So, for him, it is guaranteed he will endure to the end!

The true believer has a fear of God that is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).

Now In contrast, the unsaved / non-elect will not endure to the end (Psalm 37:20); they are like the beasts that perish (Psalms 49:12, 20); the beasts, the unsaved, "could not endure", they will be thrust through
with a dart by the wrath of God (Heb. 12:20; Psalm 45:5).

But the elect (1 Pet. 1:2) true believer is not appointed unto God's wrath! (1 Thes. 5:9), he has fled to the mountain... to Christ! (Heb. 12:22; Psalm 121:1-2; Luke 21:21).

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
He is the One who instigated it, and finished it!

Our own faith had nothing to do with it at all; but His Faith alone (Gal. 2:16).

Our own faith is a result of salvation (1 John 5:4); it is a gift (Eph. 2:8), and a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22. HIS NAME IS FAITHFUL! (Rev. 19:11)

TGBTG!