A hypothetical question for born-again believers. This is a fictional story ending in a question.?

Question

Let's say John Q. is an unbeliever.. He lives his life pretty much any way he pleases. His (uncle, who is a born-again believer) confronts him with the fact that if he doesn't repent, he\ll burn forever. He is terrified about the thought of spending an eternity in hell, but nonetheless, tells his uncle off and hangs up the phone.
Later that week, he is sitting in his room thinking about what his uncle said. He is more scared then ever! He asks God to forgive him for what he has done, and invites Christ into his life. But for some reason, he gradually finds himself backsliding. Then he repents. Months later, he is not only backsliding, but rebelling against God. He stops reading his bible and praying, but still attends church occasionally because of guilt.. His heart is hardened, but he still feels a slight bit remorse. He keeps on repenting, but never fully commits himself. Eventually he starts to wonder to himself:"Is there a point of no return"? Is there?

Answer 1

Here's the problem: John Q was never truly Born Again, because he never came to God out of a spirit of true repentance; instead, he came to God out of fear. God knows our hearts and cannot be fooled. Since John Q was never truly Born Again, he didn't receive the Holy Spirit, which would have strengthened him and kept him in the faith.

Since John never went anywhere with his faith, it's a moot point to think about the point of no return. He was doomed from the beginning.

If he approaches God with a true spirit of repentance in the future, God would welcome him with open arms -- I'm absolutely sure of that. If he dies before this happens, there's no hope.

Peace.

Answer 2

Be careful listening to anyone who tells you after you die there is a chance to repent and come to God. The bible teaches "it is appointed for man once to die, and then the judgment". There are no second chances after death, that is why the bible also says "today is the day of salvation". With regard to the person in your scenario, I cannot see his heart. I don't know if this person was ever really saved or not. Only God knows if someone has truly repented of their sins and accepted His son as their savior.

If a person is born again, that doesn't mean they will never sin again. But I would have to leave it to God to judge if John Q was a person truly born again. That wouldn't be my call. Frankly, I think the closer you stay to God, the better off you'll be. Then you won't be facing questions such as I have about this person in your story.

Answer 3

The point of no reutrn is decided when the person decide they want nothing to do with God. God will continue to forgive. The young man if he wants should accept Christ and be baptized it can help to set a person on a stronger path to not backslide too far. We are all human and sin The uncle should not have preached fire and brimstone but the love and compassion of Christ, That would ahve made a better impression onthe young man. the fire and brimstone is just like a parents punishment of a child who disobeys.

Answer 4

He is a believer but when he starts rebelling against God, he is against God. Going to church because of guilt, he repents and God accepts him again, but since he never fully commits himself he is stopping himself from being sanctified. Three basic things are needed to get to heaven, without them, u cant. They are Salvation, sanctification/holiness and the holispirit. If he doesnt fully commit himself, the holyspirit wont enter and he wont be sanctified. His situation is just as if he knows he is wrong but he keeps doing the wrong thing without trying to stop doing that. He has to try! and there is no point of no return until u die, then u cant repent again! but if u repent and NOT DO IT AGAIN, u will find things much easier

Answer 5

His uncle is likely a burnt out alcoholic child abusing wife beater born again. The real problem here is that John Q likely still has more than two brain cells working and they insist on firing now and then. His only hope for lasting conversion is a drug lobotomy, like most of the rest of the born agains have had.

Answer 6

Not sure. Looks to me like he is in a dangerous position, according to the passage from 2 Peter 2:20-22:

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

This is a scary scenario. I don't know if the verses are talking about someone who knew the way to salvation and did not receive Jesus, or someone who actually got saved and "puts off" his salvation (which the bible elsewhere implies is not possible).
However, if his conscience is convicting him, that's a good sign. It probably means even if there IS a point of no return, he hasn't crossed it yet.

I have a friend who sounds exactly like this, and we are continually amazed to watch how God lovingly draws him even at his sheer rebellion and denial of Him. If there is a point of no return, it probably never happens for most people until death.

Answer 7

There is hope, as long as John Q. is alive. While we are alive, there is still time to confess our sins and repent. We serve a God of second, and even fortieth chances (my testimony)
When you are ready, pray to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive you. Tell Him that this time you really mean it and make Him the Lord of every aspect of your life. Tell Him that everything you have including your life is His. I pray that you are ready. When you are born again, you get your PHD. (past having doubt)

Don't be deceived and think that you have plenty of time, or that you need to "clean yourself up" to come to Jesus. Also, remember that Jesus loves you with a love that surpasses our understanding. God Bless

Answer 8

In this particular case, I would say that his heart is not hardened.

He still feels the pull to attend church and he has knowledge of his wrongness and disobedience of God.

The never fully commits himself comment is a good one and to understand that God loves even the ones that believe but do not commit to living for him and him alone, I urge you to read the Book of Genesis, particularly the story of Lot.

To get the whole story of Lot, you would have to start at the beginning of the story of Abraham, because it is Abraham that takes Lot with him when he sets out on his journey to the place that God is sending him.

Lot believes in God and understands fully that God is in control, but he leaves the nomadic tent city lifestyle of Abraham for the comfort of Sodom. Lot never stops believing in God, but he does marry a wife from the city and allows his daughters to be raised in the worldlyness of the city.

He is prime example of belief in God, but not living for God. God still counted Lot as rightous, but his fleshly life was for the most part wasted and unproductive.

So, no once you believe in your heart there is no point of no return. God looks at the heart, not the sinful acts (for they have been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ).

Answer 9

There is something in us, that causes more damage than another thing and its called DOUBT, we live by faith. I believe that John Q has many doubts (as a lot of people), but the thing is, what do you think every morning when you wake up? Are you thank full for another day, do you believe that God has a purpose for your life? or you are just like thinking my problems are bigger than everything. Well, God is bigger than the whole world.

Answer 10

In God, there is no point of no return. God will accept you if you have a sincere repent heart. But, you know that's a good question in that what about those who change/alter their genders? Are they at a point of no return?