A true Christian has spiritual understanding and therefore knows them by their fruits. A true Christian can ask a few questions and find out if someone is genuinely saved. It is called trying the spirits, a gift God gives to believers as a tool. However, those who are not truly saved have no idea how this is accomplished and probably won’t even believe it is possible.

서울비의 알림…

Why I Don’t Like “Once-Saved-Aways-Saved” — by Michael Patton…

This is probably the best Scripture in my opinion on once saved always saved. If you are truly saved, you won’t loose it, Peter tells us that here:

1 Peter 1: 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

[...] Michael Patton had a post on once saved always saved that asks many of the questions I’ve asked before. Why I Don’t Like “Once Saved-Always Saved” [...]

Lynn, re post #47:
My spiritual make-up uses a lot of foundation, but I usually enjoy applying a few highlights.
I’ve heard this sentiment before: why is it so hard to study the Bible? and I remember how much I disliked eating asparagus when I was young. I thought that I had to eat it just to satisfy my overbearing parents, who seemed fanatical about green vegetables.
Well, now I love asparagus, but I had to come to the point of encountering it and enjoying it for myself.
Sometimes I listen to tapes or DVD’s and get blessed just as much when the Word is spoken, so it is the delivery, perhaps, that some of us have trouble with.
Now I know that my parents wanted me to be healthy, not just obedient – God wants us to have the joy and other great things of our relationship with Him, not because He needs us around, but, I think, because He wants to share: love just naturally wants to share with others.

Sure, on the other hand, the thief on the cross next to Him simply had to ask; this is one of my favorite stories, because it speaks to me of unmerited grace, and of God’s unconditional love.
Can someone believe but not have faith? I honestly cannot tell you what that looks like – only Jesus can see into our hearts, but there are a few warnings to make it serious. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born of the Spirit; the theme of faith appears again and again, walk by faith, saved by faith, can’t please God without faith (not works, which are filthy rags in comparison), and I suspect that Jesus had joy over that man hanging beside Him, perhaps thanking the Father that He sent Him on our behalf. After all, Jesus came to save us, not to set up an earthly kingdom (a hiearchy of control, good works, etc.), at least, not yet, anyway!

…..and the fruit is the the product of the transformative work of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The same regeneration that causes faith, also causes a life of faith. We were once in the darkness of sin, rebels from God, totally hopeless and helpless. Now after regeneration we are alive unto righteousness and God. This is not to say that some Christians will not make bad spiritual mistakes. Some will stumble in their walk. On the other hand, if your friend is showing no spiritual interests, then I too would be concerned that his faith is made up of little more then knowing the right words to say. Faith must flow from a truly regenerate nature to produce the fruits of true faith. That faith will endure.

Or… it’s about what some people think the Bible really says versus what other people just as assuredly think the Bible really says.

I am not speaking on the behalf of a particular school of theology. What matters is what God teaches us in His Holy Word.
Yes, cherylu, I would expect there to be a variety of theological backgrounds here–it’s no surprise.
I have no desire to debate for the sake of debating. I only long for Scriptural doctrine (teaching) to come out. What good is following a denominational teaching if it contradicts God’s Word? I simply want to encourage us to go back to God’s Word, the Holy Bible. There is much false teaching going out in the name of Christianity these days. We can learn the truth of God from His Word. We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit first giving us life. It’s not about opinions. It’s about what the Bible really says!