Say a person "prays" the salvation prayer and says that they accept Jesus Christ as savior. If they go and get drunk everyday, beat their spouse, hate their neighbors, and live the exact opposite of how Christ did are they truly saved?
What does the bible say about that?
2006-06-28 07:22:10 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."
"By this, we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfectd." (from 1 John 1 and 2)
"Everyone who PRACTICES sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. NO ONE who abides in Him sins; NO ONE who sins has seen Him or know Him. Make sure no one decieves you; the one who PRACTICES righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who PRACTICES sin is of the DEVIL; the the devil has sinned from the beginning." (1John 3:4-8)
The verb, "practices", in the greek conveys the idea of making sin a habitual practice. Although genuine Christians have a sin disposition, and do commit and need to confess sin, that is not the unbroken pattern of thier lives. A genuinely born again believer has a built-in check or guard against habitual sinning due to a new nature.
The best teaching on the subject is called "True and False Conversions", by Ray Comfort. Go to http://livingwaters.com where you can either listen to or watch this crucial teaching from you computer.
Do not be confused or decieved! Many, if not millions of churchgoers who call themselves "saved" have never had a true conversion experience. It is Christ's acceptance we need. And this only through repentance and faith in Him can we be cleansed of all our unrighteousness and delivered from eternal death.
2006-06-28 07:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by Adamray 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Martin Luther might have said yes -- in fact, he pretty much did say it while he was alive -- but the Bible says differently.
We're all going to "screw up" and sin sometimes, but living in sin -- that is, habitually committing many sins over and over again with no willingness to turn away from them due to a warped view of salvation -- is another story.
In Romans 11, St. Paul writes that "there is graciousness in God, and there is also severity ... His graciousness if for you, so long as you continue to live in HIs grace -- otherwise you too will be cut off."
This verse -- and many others -- clearly tell us that a "saved" Christian can easily become "unsaved" through continual turning away from God through sin.
These verses tell us that we cannot rely solely on a one-time declaration of Christ as our Savior in order to be saved -- we must "continue in His grace," as Paul writes, or we will be "cut off."
The sins you mention are all indications that this "saved" person has forfeited his salvation just as Paul warns in Rom 11 -- at least for the time being. If the person repents and cleans up his act, then he's back on a salvation track.
2006-06-28 07:31:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL How funny. I'm laughing because this happens ALL OF THE TIME. There is a certain word for it...I can't remember it right this moment, but the bible does talk about a person like this and says that they are in danger of not being able to repent because at some point in time (only to be determined by God), God just allows them to live in sin without quickening their spirit to repent. I'll edit my answer if I find the scripture before the question is resolved. A person can act like this and truly be saved...because salvation encompasses a wide variety of principals and is not a simple act. We receive the grace of salvation immediately when we accept Jesus, but we do not receive the perfection of the holy spirit or our faith right away. There are alot of aspects of christian living that need to be perfected within in us over time. For example...right now....I'm seriously working on the perfection of my faith in certain areas of my life. It's a personal thing and that's why the bible tells us to restore such a person in the spirit of love. You can read Corithians OH...and the books of Peter...they are awesome to read if you really want to know about ministering to this type of person or even just to know what the bible says about sin/salvation/restoration and our responsibilities. Something grabbed my attention:
1John Chapter 3 vs. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Basically saying that our hearts let us know when we've done these things, so at least if the person doesn't act like their sorry...deep down inside....they are. But how would you act if you knew in your heart that you were wrong, but people treated you like they were all righteous and you were an outsider...etc. Love covers a multitude of sins.
2006-06-28 07:42:14 · answer #3 · answered by fiteprogram 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I beleive Paul put it nicely and forgive me for being Lazy and not having a Bible to quote it but it went something like. When one becomes one in Christ they are a new creation free from the life of sin, since the person willingly became baptised knowing their new obliegations they must show that they have given up sin, if they obviosuly haven't did they really become one in Christ?
2006-06-28 07:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by Andrew L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Key word you used was True Christian. An Anointed of God will not practice hurting others. in goes against their Spirit. They may have gone through the turning around and being Baptized in Water for forgiveness of Sins. But they did not become a New Creature, through the Adoption of Jesus Anointing. Read Romans 8
2006-06-28 07:38:11 · answer #5 · answered by kritikos43 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. You cannot
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
That means new life. We don't go back to the life of sin but walk in holiness.
2006-06-28 07:49:03 · answer #6 · answered by lulu 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the whole book of first John. There is about 8 things in there where it says ;;if you hate your brother you are not of God, or if you have His spirit. You can read them. You can not be saved and live like that. You can still do a sin, but you will feel too bad to do it again.
2006-06-28 07:31:14 · answer #7 · answered by Terrence J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe they are truly saved, Salvation involves a relationship to Jesus Christ and making him Lord of your life. It is more than confession and going to church -it is about submitting your life to his authority and letting him reign and rule in your life. They need to repent of their sins and ask forgiveness for what they have done and come under submission to Jesus as Lord.
2006-06-28 07:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by proverbiallady08 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My faith teaches me that you have to continue to walk with Christ and do good works as well as being saved. Continual sin doesn't not make you a truly saved Christian.
2006-06-28 07:34:26 · answer #9 · answered by Candice H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its says you have to be born again (John 3:3) to enter the kingdom of heaven and to be born again means renewed, old self has gone the new has come, new spirit, new life (2nd Cor. 5:17). Seems to me, he hasn't have a change of heart at all but I couldn't say he's saved or not because only God can tell that. Hopefully, he'll repent and follow Jesus's ways.
2006-06-28 07:34:44 · answer #10 · answered by *♥£öVe§♥* 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋