Question of the Day: Is it possible...

[Philip]

Do you think it is possible that a person could have previously come to authentic faith in Christ / have been saved, yet later, for a TEMPORARY time of whatever length, go through a period of crisis and seeming unbelief?

[Nessa]

I don't know but I do know it's possible to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time... Hope that helps

[Nessa]

Seriously though, I don't know...

What if you die during that temporary time?

[RickD]

Do you think it is possible that a person could have previously come to authentic faith in Christ / have been saved, yet later, for a TEMPORARY time of whatever length, go through a period of crisis and seeming unbelief?

Yes, Ask Franklin Graham.

[Philip]

Do you think it is possible that a person could have previously come to authentic faith in Christ / have been saved, yet later, for a TEMPORARY time of whatever length, go through a period of crisis and seeming unbelief?

Yes, Ask Franklin Graham.

Elaborate.

[Philip]

Nessa: Seriously though, I don't know...

What if you die during that temporary time?

Remember, now, the idea is that a person IS saved forever saved - so there is no such thing as temporary salvation. What I'm speaking of has to do with a person's current PERCEPTIONS that are driving a period of unbelief / great doubt. I say this thinking of my own experience - as I truly believe I came to Christ at 8 years of age, in sincere belief that I never questioned until I was about 17 - at which point I had an atheist friend who was a pretty smart fellow (least I thought he was) - and thus I came to a period of conscious unbelief. But I had a reawakening experience at about 18/19.

[Nessa]

So it comes down to the old 'once saved, always saved?' debate?

[RickD]

Do you think it is possible that a person could have previously come to authentic faith in Christ / have been saved, yet later, for a TEMPORARY time of whatever length, go through a period of crisis and seeming unbelief?

Yes, Ask Franklin Graham.

Elaborate.

Elaborate? No. It’s pretty simple actually.


I remember reading his life story. He turned from God as a teenager. He was very rebellious.

[Philip]

Elaborate? No. It’s pretty simple actually.

NO, it's not simple, dummy - everyone else doesn't know his back story - as you apparently do. So he came to faith in Christ and later quit believing (I am vaguely aware he was once living an immoral lifestyle)? Because backsliding into all manner of sin is a different thing than what I am referring to - which is UNBELIEF after salvation.

[RickD]

Elaborate? No. It’s pretty simple actually.

NO, it's not simple, dummy - everyone else doesn't know his back story - as you apparently do. So he came to faith in Christ and later quit believing (I am vaguely aware he was once living an immoral lifestyle)? Because backsliding into all manner of sin is a different thing than what I am referring to - which is UNBELIEF after salvation.

After all these years, you STILL don’t get my jokes. It was a joke on the double meaning of elaborate. You asked me to elaborate-verb. I twisted it and pretended that you meant elaborate-noun, as in complicated. Capiche?

[1over137]

So it comes down to the old 'once saved, always saved?' debate?

No, we do not have to slip into the old debate (and let us all guard this.)
It can be talk about experiences, some people's stories and all...

[Kurieuo]

So it comes down to the old 'once saved, always saved?' debate?

Or is it, 'never saved, wasn't saved''?

Scripture says those who deny Jesus Christ here on earth before men, Christ will deny in heaven before the Father and angels.

I can only speak for myself that I feel assured by my hope that I have in Christ. As for others, I can only go by what is visible to me, but I think the focus should more be about correcting truth and trying to demonstrate Christ's love -- not whether or not someone else is going to be condemned or was really saved. We're all in danger if an all-righteous God exists and will judge us.

It is ultimately for Christ to know who authentically receives Him, but I expect in the end it'll be quite obvious because those who did will gather under his wings and be gathered like chicks to a hen.