Why Most People Who Think They’re Saved Aren’t

[bdavidc]

5 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

We don't come to tickle the ears of our readers,Heavens NO!Of course we do want to Comfort the broken hearted and Encourage the downtrodden but our main focus should always be to take captive our own thoughts & subject them to the Obedience of Christ,in this Way we do not hinder the Power of Holy Spirit ....You mentioned John 16:8 ,PERFECT reference of that POWER of Holy Spirit,the Power to Convict.....big difference between condemnation and Conviction. When a Christian feels guilt, worry,fear or doubt about whether or not he is Saved it's not characteristic of Holy Spirit ,it is however typical of another spirit and not of God

This Topic is in Bible Study and so if it's about folks questioning their own Salvation then we can reference the Word of God that they may Receive the Blessed Assurance of their Guarantee Seal of Redemption OR ask" Why do you think this way"- again Holy Spirit Convicts and so if there is no evidence of a New Creature then something is wrong but it's not our place to say " Nope,not Saved"- do you agree?

We have to consider many things like someone not Feeding their Spirit and there's no Growth,the flesh is weak etc etc.... Fire & Brimstone doesn't Convict a hardened heart- it's a complicated Topic,not everyone is Annointed to Pastor a congregation & people are deceived to think you run up to the Altar,repeat the " sinners prayer" & poof - Saved! I think this is more your point,isn't it

So there's always much to talk on the Topic of ' How do I know I am Saved ' or " How do I become Born Again but depends on who we are addressing how to Minister to each individual,doesn't it?

Ever speak with a so called atheist? It's like talking to a lamp,honestly--- and unless Holy Spirit is Softening that hardened heart and they are Convicted you may as well kick the dust from your feet to go where God's Word IS Received....it's not that much different speaking with a catholic( just for example) who been taught a false doctrine & believes he can earn God's Good Graces.....

So Faith Comes by Hearing,Hearing the Word of God- yes indeed but can I tell you that speaking ( what I call- Christianese) by that I mean  simply quoting verses of Scripture AT them-its speaking in the Love of Christ,leading by example & really listening so that Holy Spirit Can Answer through us- in His WAY that Reveals Himself to them

I think I've went on enough..... You began with John 18:12:20 Which in context is about Jesus Arrest & Trial- a record of the events up to His Crucification - Johns Gospel Shows Jesus LOVE- God the Son Gave His Life in place of ours.

For Bible Study we cannot just examine one verse of Scripture to say' This is Jesus Warning " when the entire Chapter John Identifies Jesus as Messiah and Rejecting Him is the unwillingness to be Obedient to God❤️

You're misunderstanding the purpose of the OP. It’s not judging anyone, it’s holding up the mirror of Scripture, just like 2 Corinthians 13:5 commands us to examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. The goal is not condemnation, it’s conviction, calling people to see if they’ve truly trusted in Christ and been born again. That is love, not harshness. Ignoring sin or false assurance would be far more dangerous.

And honestly, if someone gets offended just by raising this subject, that should be a wake-up call. John 8:47 says, He that is of God heareth God's words, and Proverbs 10:8 says, The wise in heart will receive commandments. When someone reacts defensively to biblical warnings, it may be the Spirit prompting them, and they’re resisting instead of humbling themselves.

You’re right to reject easy-believism. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that repeating a prayer guarantees salvation. Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). True saving faith (pistis) always leads to repentance, obedience, and transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:16). If someone claims Christ but walks in darkness without conviction or change, 1 John 2:4 says they are lying.

This isn’t about casting judgment. It’s about faithfully declaring the truth, urging people to examine their hearts, and pointing them to the only One who can save. That’s the most loving and biblical thing we can do.

Finally, faith does come by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and while love, patience, and listening are part of wise witnessing, it is always the Scripture that God uses to bring conviction and life (Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23). We are not called to replace the Word with human strategy, we are called to proclaim it faithfully and let the Holy Spirit do the work through it. Jesus Himself quoted Scripture directly when confronting sin and unbelief. If that was His method, it should be ours as well.

So yes, love matters. Compassion matters. But never at the expense of clarity. If we leave people unsure or falsely assured, we’ve failed to minister the truth. The most loving thing we can do is open the Bible, rightly divide it, and urge people to believe and obey what God has actually said.

[kwikphilly]

14 hours ago, bdavidc said:

You're misunderstanding the purpose of the OP. It’s not judging anyone, it’s holding up the mirror of Scripture, just like 2 Corinthians 13:5 commands us to examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. The goal is not condemnation, it’s conviction, calling people to see if they’ve truly trusted in Christ and been born again. That is love, not harshness. Ignoring sin or false assurance would be far more dangerous.

And honestly, if someone gets offended just by raising this subject, that should be a wake-up call. John 8:47 says, He that is of God heareth God's words, and Proverbs 10:8 says, The wise in heart will receive commandments. When someone reacts defensively to biblical warnings, it may be the Spirit prompting them, and they’re resisting instead of humbling themselves.

You’re right to reject easy-believism. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that repeating a prayer guarantees salvation. Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). True saving faith (pistis) always leads to repentance, obedience, and transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:16). If someone claims Christ but walks in darkness without conviction or change, 1 John 2:4 says they are lying.

This isn’t about casting judgment. It’s about faithfully declaring the truth, urging people to examine their hearts, and pointing them to the only One who can save. That’s the most loving and biblical thing we can do.

Finally, faith does come by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and while love, patience, and listening are part of wise witnessing, it is always the Scripture that God uses to bring conviction and life (Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23). We are not called to replace the Word with human strategy, we are called to proclaim it faithfully and let the Holy Spirit do the work through it. Jesus Himself quoted Scripture directly when confronting sin and unbelief. If that was His method, it should be ours as well.

So yes, love matters. Compassion matters. But never at the expense of clarity. If we leave people unsure or falsely assured, we’ve failed to minister the truth. The most loving thing we can do is open the Bible, rightly divide it, and urge people to believe and obey what God has actually said.

I don't think I'm misunderstanding your OP or what your saying- I don't disagree with you nor do I get the feeling you are being judgemental....your points are valid and your Topic is a good one- I guess the thing is you posted in Bible Study and referenced the 18th Chapter of the Book of John so if we were actually examining the context or the Theme of that Chapter( having a Bible Study) then we'd not be having the conversation about folks who call themselves Christians and probably are not- see?

Personally I like what your talking about,I'd like to see you having this discussion in the General Discussion Forum where it would likely get many more views and much more than 10 replies and only 142 views ..... understand?

We have many many readers and they don't even have to log on or sign up to read some Discussion and Topics- those are the folks that might just be CONVICTED to examine their own hearts and wonder" Hmmm,do I Know Jesus"? Am I really a New Creature or am I going through the motions,WHO am I.... am I Follower of God the Son,in a Relationship  or just a fan in the audience...

Well,we can do a Bible Study but typically it's not done by wanting to get a point across and finding verses of Scripture throughout the Bible to support a narrative.....I'm fine with you doing your study however you'd like to do it ,I'd suggest moving it to General Discussion and it just might turn into a hot Topic

So,its not so much about what YOU are saying but what the Context of the passage you referenced to lead with- which isn't a warning or instruction-The same as when Jesus Says " IF you love ME you will keep MY commandments" on 5 different occasions through the discourse of the 14th Chapter of the Book of John- He was not mandating nor instruction to Obey any rules or law- this was a Revelation- more evidence of the Power and Authority of the Love of Christ Abiding in us

With love in Christ,Kwik

Btw- I appreciate what you're contributing so don't misunderstand my replies.... it's what comes with singular verse quotes and not Contextual Study

[1to3]

On 5/14/2025 at 9:25 PM, bdavidc said:

(John 8:12–20)

In John 8:12, Jesus made a clear and powerful statement, “I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This wasn’t poetic language, it was a spiritual line in the sand. Jesus was speaking to people who had religious knowledge but no relationship with the truth. They were standing in darkness, and the Light of the world was right in front of them offering life, but they resisted.

This passage shows how dangerous it is to be religious on the outside while still lost on the inside. These people had the Scriptures, the temple, and traditions, but they refused to follow Christ. And Jesus warned them plainly, if they did not believe in Him, they would die in their sins. That means standing before God with a lifetime of guilt still on your record, unforgiven and unwashed. It means entering eternity with no Savior and no hope.

What led to that judgment? Pride. Unbelief. A stubborn love for sin and darkness. Jesus was not vague, He told them the truth over and over. Yet in John 8:19, they still asked, “Where is your Father?” They weren’t looking for truth, they were dodging it. And it happens today just like it did then. Many are content with religious talk, spiritual curiosity, or moral living, but they reject the only One who can actually forgive sin.

Jesus didn’t say to admire Him, He said to follow Him. And those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. But following means believing. It means surrendering. It means admitting that you need Him because you cannot save yourself. If you don’t come to Him, you remain where you are, and if you die in that condition, you will die in your sins. That is not fear-mongering, that is the plain teaching of Jesus.

The world offers endless distractions, philosophies, and arguments, but none of them can cleanse your sin. Jesus alone is the light of the world. If you truly believe He is who He claimed to be, then you will turn from sin and trust Him. And when you do, He gives you life, light, and the forgiveness your soul needs. But if you harden your heart, delay your response, or continue to trust in your own goodness, you will face judgment with full responsibility for your sin.

The good news is this, you don’t have to die in your sin. You can turn to Christ right now. He is the light, and He still calls sinners out of darkness into life. Don’t be like those who stood in front of the Savior and argued. Come to Him while there is still time. The warning is clear, the gospel is true, and the door is open. Step into the light, or you will die in your sin.

Hello @bdavidc;

Thank you so much for writing another beneficial,helpful post,with a loving warning from Gods Word to all who may come to read this post.

Gods Truth Is worked through obedience to to Him and His Word ,instead of constantly trying to find an easier softer way, a broader road, a little bit of the world , a little bit of Christ. No, no, no. That does not work to Gods pleasure and hopes for His true children, that many of us know through experiencing this can, and can attest to the plain truth of what happens when we choose to live with a little bit 0f satan, and a little bit of God  : It will 0nly make things worse.

How much would my 0wn life be different had I only chosen God and
His Word to be my guide, and have been lovingly, caringly warned through Gods truth, Gods Word, of what happens when we choose to disobey God as you have written it so well.

Instead I got swayed by the coddlers, and got even further swept away from living the life God always intended for me to have. So sad really.

What time I wasted in being side swept like I was, by the calling seductions of the world, that could have been time used for Gods True purpose and Glory had I only. been more obedient to Gods Word, and received better guidance from some of the churches I attended to WAKE Me UP . They did n0t wake me up, they coddled and put more and more to sleep.

Praise God, All you need is Him, and to begin a living relationship with Him and His Word.

God will guide you, gently or quickly rebuke you, and teach you, heal you.

Seek God always over seeking mens' wisdom or approval. The later can be like the pied piper sending you towards hell.

I sadly, had to learn through a lot of pain. But praise God! God did give me three important warnings in my thirties of what can happen if I continued to chose to let myself be seduced by mammon, over turning all things over to Gods care alone.

Praise God, I finally heard the urgency of His calling me back to Him a third time by the age of 38.

I was hurt badly enough, and ready and willing to let go of the philosophies of this world and ready to surrender and follow Him alone.

When I finally made that firm decision, was the true beginning of Him being able to help me,truly guide me, and truly teach me and truly heal me.

Gods teaching us and moulding us and healing us,  is only truly possible to the degree we are willing to truly follow and obey Him and His Word without compromise.

satan attacks through : steal, kill, destroy

1. obsession

2.oppression

3.possession

Gods Word in the Holy Bible is Clear

You cannot serve two masters,

You cannot drink of the devil cup and then of the cup from God and then go back to drinking some more of from the devils cup

and expect God to reward you for this type of living.

Because this type off living, many are sick and many are asleep and are existing in a living death.

Gods promises and blessings for our lives cannot be fulfilled when we choose and keep choosing to be seduced to return to the vomit .

 

What is there about Gods NO that some choose to not be wiling to understand?

and pridefully think they know better??

God is not mocked.

Like in the garden of Eden, as is the same for today;

when pride takes over obedience to Gods resonating and loving caring commands to us.

 Evil Struggles and Hardship take over.

[lrs68]

James explains those who have true faith in God their works will prove their Faith.

 

Now, this is not a works based Salvation post because that is unbiblical.  This is a post that true believers will be doing works that prove their Faith in God.

[farouk]

4 hours ago, lrs68 said:

James explains those who have true faith in God their works will prove their Faith.

 

Now, this is not a works based Salvation post because that is unbiblical.  This is a post that true believers will be doing works that prove their Faith in God.

Another, similar verse, @lrs68:

Ephesians 2.10:

" For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

[farouk]

On 5/16/2025 at 11:16 PM, kwikphilly said:

I don't think I'm misunderstanding your OP or what your saying- I don't disagree with you nor do I get the feeling you are being judgemental....your points are valid and your Topic is a good one- I guess the thing is you posted in Bible Study and referenced the 18th Chapter of the Book of John so if we were actually examining the context or the Theme of that Chapter( having a Bible Study) then we'd not be having the conversation about folks who call themselves Christians and probably are not- see?

Personally I like what your talking about,I'd like to see you having this discussion in the General Discussion Forum where it would likely get many more views and much more than 10 replies and only 142 views ..... understand?

We have many many readers and they don't even have to log on or sign up to read some Discussion and Topics- those are the folks that might just be CONVICTED to examine their own hearts and wonder" Hmmm,do I Know Jesus"? Am I really a New Creature or am I going through the motions,WHO am I.... am I Follower of God the Son,in a Relationship  or just a fan in the audience...

Well,we can do a Bible Study but typically it's not done by wanting to get a point across and finding verses of Scripture throughout the Bible to support a narrative.....I'm fine with you doing your study however you'd like to do it ,I'd suggest moving it to General Discussion and it just might turn into a hot Topic

So,its not so much about what YOU are saying but what the Context of the passage you referenced to lead with- which isn't a warning or instruction-The same as when Jesus Says " IF you love ME you will keep MY commandments" on 5 different occasions through the discourse of the 14th Chapter of the Book of John- He was not mandating nor instruction to Obey any rules or law- this was a Revelation- more evidence of the Power and Authority of the Love of Christ Abiding in us

With love in Christ,Kwik

Btw- I appreciate what you're contributing so don't misunderstand my replies.... it's what comes with singular verse quotes and not Contextual Study

Hi @kwikphilly I think with regard to assurance of salvation Romans 8 and John's First Epistle are very searching and helpful passages.

[Starise]

Unforgiveness is another hang up.

[enoob57]

pertaining to this topic is God's approach to this topic Biblically

Matthew 6:23 (KJV)

[23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

[24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

[streeter]

Doesnt John say in ch 3.

Something like  It was just like the serpent on the rod where all they had to do is look and be healed.    All you need is to believe in Jesus and recieve eternal life?       I always took that as God wants us back so much he literally makes it as easy as he can.    

 

[Prycejosh1987]

Jesus makes alot of demands, which only someone who truly loves and accepts Him will do. Love people. Most people dont do that. Never get jealous or be lustful. Forgive and do not hold grudges. These are all things a christian naturally does. I havent met someone at any church who does none of these things.