Where does the concept that anyone who leaves Christianity was never really Christian come from?

Question

I'm not by any means judging, but I see this mentioned many times and I was wondering if someone could point me to the scripture that discusses this. This in particular caught my curiosity.

Thanks in advance!

Oh, and by the way, I've never been Christian ... so I just want to re-emphasize that I'm NOT here to argue the point. Thanks!

I understand the concept, I'm just looking for scripture that backs it up.

Man, I said I'VE NEVER BEEN CHRISTIAN. I'M ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT CHRISTIANITY.

Answer 1

One that came to mind when I've heard someone justify this interpretation is Ephesians 1:13-14

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

These verses CAN be interpreted to mean that once you are "saved" you are somehow "marked" by the Holy Spirit who guarantees your continued salvation. People that profess to have faith in Jesus but never accept the gift of the Holy Spirit would, in this context, be the only one's that could possibly turn away completely from Jesus.

Interesting question...I'm not sure what I believe...I do know that the bible makes it clear that people are saved by faith in Jesus AND that faith is something people can and do lose (numerous verses talk about lost faith). I also accept that it is possible that some don't take the next step of faith that brings the certainty of the Holy Spirit and that the spirit is part of what it means to be a true "Christian"...perhaps faith says "I want to follow" and the Holy Spirit compels us to follow...those with it can't stop while those without it are vulnerable to a loss of faith???

Answer 2

There is a verse in First John, near the end of the New Testament, that may be what you're looking for. It reads:

"They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us, but [they went out], that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us (I John 2:19, King James version)". This basically means that not all who professed to be Christians actually were. This is one way of looking at your question, as there have been and sadly will be those who do not exercise saving faith to become a Christian.

But there were some who left or abandoned the faith. The Apostle Paul tells of Demas, who "deserted" him. You can find this story in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 and verse 9. Was Demas a genuine believer? We'll never know, but no matter what, he let Paul down when Paul needed a friend. I hope Demas got things right, even after this.

Thirdly, Paul tells of some who will "depart from" the faith, meaning more literally they will "stand aloof" from the faith, so please read 1 Timothy 4:1 and following. Some folks believe this refers to people who had expressed an interest in Christianity (Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, for one) but had never become a Christian themselves. We have to remember that Christianity was a very novel thing in those days, and there was a sense of "What's this all about?" among the peoples of the Roman Empire. Anyway, they may have said something like "My, that's interesting" but when things got tough, they must have looked for something else.

Several web sites exist which may help you discover other things, too. Please add to your post if you would like to find some of these other websites. You can find a lot of good information out there!

Answer 3

It is not a scriptural teaching.

Many Christians believe in "once saved always saved".

Therefore... if someone falls away, leaves Christianity, they can't have been saved to begin with!

It is a way to cover their bases and uphold the "once saved always saved" mentality which protects them from having to REMAIN saved!

Interestingly, Jesus said that a person has to "endure to the end to be saved" and the scriptures also admonish people to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling". Both verses showing that a person must remain faithful until the conclusion of things (be this death or the end of the system) to be "saved".

Matthew 24:13
Phillipians 2:12-13

Answer 4

because to actually become a Christian in the Biblical sense means to have an a life shattering phenomon experience with the Spirit inside your own heart and mind and honey once you have personally met and talked with and have His Essense and personality now living inside your own heart and mind in the depths of your spirit, it's like luxouriously inhaling suberb cheese cake compared to the canned cheez whiz, you will NEVAH want to eat that crappy cheez whiz EVAH again, the way that real cream cheese cake just melts and lanquishes on your tongue, the way pure real silk chocolate oozes down your throat. Too many human beings know of HIM, learn and memorize the Scriptures, and actually think they KNOW HIM, but they don't, no matter how much they protest they do. A REAL Christian you don't even have to ask them if they are, the minute they walk into a room even the densest atheist will KNOW it, there is just something otherwordly about them that is all peace and goodness and kindness and sheer love. Many other religions come very close but no cigar. the real Word Christian means Christ = The Anointed One and the Anointed Power to do the supernatural while in a flesh and blood body and sure lots of folks can emmulate that, but then there's the "ian", meaning "little" clone, exact likeness, carbon copy, xerox copy, in the exact image of, REAL Christians are those going around healing the sick in Jesus Name, healing the lame to walk and the blind to see and the dead to be raised and teaching the ways of love and peace that means standing your ground in the face of all opposition, and we recognize we are not perfect, but He is, and He is the rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, and their prayer life is powerful calm and effective, beyond imagination.

And no it isn't for everyone, only those with an open mind and humble believing heart above and beyond anything any mere moral can think or imagine.

It's not really defined by a given Scripture, but once you have tasted the lovliness of Jesus, your own mind can't ever even conceive or imagine turning your back on that. Someone who would so easily give up the intmate communion of one on ONE Spirit just did NOT connect with Him at all to begin with, that's basically all there is too it. It's difficult to explain the concept of the Three in One to begin with and now the Four in one that lives in and with oneself that once you've experienced love in it's purest deepest intensity, there are no human words for it at all. It's basically how can you leave if you never arrived in the first place.

"For without faith it is impossible to please, know, understand, comprehend God, for he/her that comes TO God must BELIEVE that He is and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him" that's the only one I can think of, I'm running a research on my e-sword.net program now and will get back to you when I find the others. there are many in Proverbs that would fit your bill as well.

lol k

Answer 5

I feel that you didn't really understand what you were doing by calling yourself a Christian.

The Gospel is the good news of the coming kingdom of God. Jesus died that we may have life. Jesus was tempted like us but sinless.

What we are offered by the grace of God is forgiveness of our sins and a fresh start through baptism.

Either we love and serve God and His son Jesus or we turn our backs on them, how dreadful is that!

Perhaps you haven't been shown a very warm and loving experience as a follower of Jesus?

Do give it another chance, read your Bible thoroughly, and make your life a matter of prayer. If you genuinely want something enough you will find a way.

Answer 6

It is necessary to explain those who leave Christianity in such a way since those Christians who say that have painted themselves into a corner by declaring that once you are "saved" and feel the Lord, you would never want to leave.

Answer 7

It is the silly idea. I was raised by a fundie family. I went to church three days a week. I went to religious school and took Bible class and chapel. However, since I now reject it all, I was never a "real" Christian to begin with. Personally, I think that people who say that are afraid that the "atheist" is catching and they might have to start thinking for themselves if I get too close.

Answer 8

I don;t think there is a scripture but the point is christians should have christ in their life and if thay have accepted him into their life they would never leave him or rather he would never leave them.

Answer 9

that is a calvanistic view point ....

taught by a man by the last name of calvan...i cant remember the first name.....i think john...just google it.

....to explain the reason a little bit.....once you see that you are guilty in the eyes/standard of God becuase of your sin, and then realize that he has made a way to forgive you if you just accept Him and believe then the gift of salvation is free, and you wont spend eternity away from him in Hell...you have your eyes opened to the Love of God....you just cant walk away....you recieved something you didnt deserve....

....now who would walk away? suggestivly those who genuinly didnt repent of their sins or really Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

does that make sense or help...?

Answer 10

The Baptists say that a lot, but it doesn't appear in the scripture.