S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

To convert is to be "born again." At the moment of conversion, the converted person is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins a journey of turning away from sin and beginning to worship and serve t...

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July 01 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Dan Rivers Supporter Christian, Husband, Grandfather, Son, AT&T retiree

Jesus' parable of the sower in Matt 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8, tells us that there will be those that "appear" to have been converted.

The parable clearly describes those that for a time will call themselves Christians, but will fall away and NEVER produce any fruit. Only those of the GOOD soil can and WILL produce fruit!

Those not of the Good soil never really "hear and understand" the ways of God, they have "become" christians with a "what's in in for me" attitude.. The opposite of what Jesus did, always putting others and their interests first...We are to love others before ourselves...

It seems that the meaning of this parable was very important, as Jesus said, 
[Mar 4:13 NLT] 13 Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

If we don't understand that those that "claim" to be Christians are not and will fall, then we won't be able to understand the other things of God...

All Glory and Praise to the Lord!

June 03 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Philip Davies Supporter

It is not part of our role to judge the conversion of others. We are not called to be false conversion detectives and to root out pretenders. If a person claims to be a Christian then we treat them as any good neighbour would treat another. 

It is only God who knows the heart and it is only God who can judge these things. Our job is to treat all people well and love them as we love ourselves, no matter what we think of their profession. And our hope is that that they would do the same for us.
Regards
Philip

January 24 2017 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Beverly Jones Supporter

If you are asking about your personal salvation, this is a valid question. Many times Satan will come to us and try to tell us we aren't really saved. However, the Bible says that if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God, that He died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day, ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, then confess our sins, and ask Him to save us, WE WILL BE SAVED! Hallelujah! Do not let Satan tempt you into believing otherwise. Stay in your Bible, pray without ceasing, and have faith in He who created you, and saved you.

November 29 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

We can not tell whether a person has ever trusted Jesus alone by faith alone and is saved by how they live. Many people believe they are saved because the have given up their bad habits and changed their life. They are trusting in their works to save themselves.

Another person may have trusted Jesus for salvation, and might be living like the devil. The only requirement for salvation is a one time faith in Christ alone. How we live has nothing to do with salvation by grace. Once we have accepted Jesus free offer of salvation by grace, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, and can never be cast out.

But God does chasten those He loves, even to taking our life, but our Spirit will be saved. If we have ever trusted Jesus as our savior we are saved forever not based on what we do, our works, but based on His work where He paid for all sin. Second Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, (after we have believed) yet He abideth faithful; He can not deny Himself. All who have he Spirit in them are saved and have eternal life. Ephesians 1:13.

So we can not tell whether a person is saved or not. Some live highly moral lives and are trusting in their works to save them. Others have trusted Jesus and may be living like the world.

How a person is living at one time or another has nothing to do with whether they are saved. Should they be living in sin? No, but a saved person is under grace and where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. We are all sinners, saved by grace. What Jesus did for us on the cross. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me, will come to me, and ALL that come to me, I will in no wise cast out. John 6:39 Jesus has never lost one.

After we have received the free gift of salvation by grace, our works add to our rewards in heaven, but have nothing to do with salvation. That was paid for by Christ's own sacrifice for all sin. 

Some live like they are saved, but are not, others live like they are not saved, but are.

August 15 2017 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report