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Will my dad, who was saved when he was young, still go to heaven even if he denounces God now?
My dad said he thought he was saved when young (when I asked him). He now says that if God were who he claimed to be, he would have.... He doesn't believe there is no God. I know this because he said that he couldn't say he was an atheist. (He was raised as Southern Baptist in the hellfire & brimstone era of preaching in Alabama.) If he now denounces God, and has for decades (he's 91), will he still go to heaven when he dies?
Romans 10:13
ESV - 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
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Janet Austin
Supporter
I’m sorry to hear about your father’s change of heart. I don’t believe he will go to heaven unless he turns his heart back to God in complete submission. Those who are saved are those who, by grace through faith, accept Jesus as Lord. Consider the following verses: Matthew 7:21-23: 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" For your father: I pray that the eyes of his heart may be open to the truth of who our Lord Jesus Christ is. May God tug at him with a love that your father cannot deny. May your father be born again.
Danny Hickman
Supporter
I don't understand how a person can 'think they are saved' for a time, and then 'think' something totally different later; even to the point of 'thinking' that "there is no God." To be saved by God is to be born again of the Spirit of God. To be born of the Spirit of God is to be indwelled by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in believers; He teaches us, guides, chastens, comforts, consoles, etc. In other words, He moves in and choreographs the believer's life. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you (believers, the saved) are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (Romans 8:8,9) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself (II Timothy 2:11-13). Paul was telling Pastor Timothy that he could use his (Paul's) predicament as evidence of the faithfulness of God's calling. There Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel. He could ease his suffering if he would just DENY Christ as the Son of God and get on with his life. But he told Timothy why he continued in the ministry. Vs 10 - Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Paul has the Holy Spirit within himself. He won't deny Christ because that would be the Holy Spirit denying Himself. That's what he's telling Pastor Timothy. And he begins by saying, 'You can bet your last dollar on this.' (he called it ''a faithful saying.") For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 2:11) In plain language: No one can say who other than themselves is saved for eternal life. Only God knows the heart of a man. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God sees the heart. We are not to put ourselves in the seat of a judge. (We're not to condemn others). But this I will confess: no one is saved for a while and then lost again. You say your dad was saved when he was young. If he was, then he's still saved. Salvation isn't maintained by the saved! We aren't charged with speaking the right way, or any other lifestyle requirements to belong to God. (A king's children should behave like children of royalty, but if they don't, they are still the king's children... even if they refuse to live in their father's castle).
Donna Williams
Supporter
Dear Anonymous, I would like to say that nobody knows but God! I would like to share the scripture verses that came to mind, which is found in Romans 9:1-16. Particularly verses 15 and 16, for He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16. So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Paul wrote these verses concerning the Jews/the children of Israel; however, I believe that it is for all whom God chooses to show mercy to. It is very unfortunate that your dad has rejected the only one who can save him, and that is Jesus Christ. May I add that belonging to a certain denomination doesn't matter or save anyone. According to John 3:3-8, we must be born again. Only those who have put their faith in Him are eternally secure, and have been delivered from the wrath that is to come. May I encourage you to pray for him that the Holy Spirit will give him a change of heart and mind. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. I am praying as well that he will obtain the Lord's mercy!
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