Alpha wrote:I think the parable of the tares is the best answer to your question. There will be some who believe and bear fruit, it is these who are actually saved. Those who are saved will mirror our Lord and bear fruit. No fruit, no salvation.
I always thought the more you mirror Christ (produced fruit), the greater your reward would be. I never really thought it had anything to do with salvation, because we are not saved by our good works, but we are saved unto good works. So, I personally think there would be Christians who backslide that get into heaven, but their reward won't be as great as the ones who actually tried to mirror Jesus.
What do you consider backsliden?
I got an email from a man who has visited my website, he told me he has been an evangleical Christian for 40 years, is married with 2 children, and is now going into a relationship with a man the same age as his son. Is this being backsliden?
Rom 3:19-20
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. NAS
James 2:17-18
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." NAS
In conversations with gay men who have accepted gay theology they always fall back on: "If you are correct and I am wrong then 'Once saved always saved.'" Are these men backsliden or deceived and relying on a false doctrine?
Walking the aisle and repeating a prayer is not being saved. There are ways, we as Christians, can tell if a professed Christian is in fact saved. The primary way is "love your neighbor" and another is the presence of the fruit of the Spirit. Since all Christians are indwelled with the Spirit upon salvation lack of the fruit of the Spirit indicates His absence and therefore a lack of salvation.
A saved life is a productive life that yields fruit; no fruit then I would doubt a person's salvation. Also the Lord clearly states:
Matt 7:15-23
15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' NAS