18 years ago a 32 year old man tragically died in a car wreck. His mom told me…
I know my son didn’t live a Christian life and I know he hasn’t been to church in years. BUT when he was 11 years old he walked the aisle and got baptized. I know my son was saved in his own way… (Emphasis mine). Note: He was living with a woman… hadn’t followed Christ publicly for years… was killed as a result of driving while drunk… and was a user of illegal drugs
“In his own way?!” I know those were the thoughts of a grieving mother. And I suggest she was struggling with the validity of her son’s conversion. The question is… was this young man saved?
This is a follow-up to a previous post on this topic (Click here). Consider two statements: 1) It is possible to know that you are saved! 2) Paul writes that we are to evaluate ourselves in relation to our salvation (Click here). Given these, this post is designed to help us in knowing our spiritual state.
Just because a person has “believed” in the past… OR prayed a prayer to be saved… OR walked an aisle… OR gotten wet in a baptistery does not mean they are saved (See previous post). When it comes to eternal security (Knowing you are saved and stay saved), a genuine salvation is essential. Once a person is genuinely saved, they are saved forever. The proof of salvation is…
Continuing in the faith. Consider the following Scriptures… (These are descriptive, not prescriptive).
Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Romans 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed…
Hebrews 8:8 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The proof of a genuine conversion is continuing… throughout all of life… in Christ. Oh… there is no chance of a person who is genuinely saved not continuing in the faith.
“The proof of a genuine conversion is continuing… throughout all of life… in Christ. Oh… there is no chance of a person who is genuinely saved not continuing in the faith.”
Sobering, but true.