During the Nightline debate, Does God Exist between Christian evangelists Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron against proclaimed athiests Brian and Kelly, both athiests claimed to have been Christians in the past. Of course, that is between God and themselves, however, we can get a hint about their spiritual condition based on what the Bible tells us is the "sin unto death" and what the two athiests are saying now.
So-called "ex"-Christians are often revealed as formerly false Christians anyway. They may have had "head" knowledge about Christ, but hadn't made the decision to invite him into their hearts as Lord and Savior. The act of being born-again is not reversible. We get a hint about this fact from this verse:
Mat 24:24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (bold mine)
Once the Holy Spirit indwells the heart of a believer, it is a permanent conversion. Believers are then "sealed with God," just as the angels who didn't rebel against God (at the fall and casting out of Satan and 1/3 of the angels turned demons) were sealed unto God.
Rom 15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
2Cr 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (bold mine)
The meaning of "until the redemption of the purchased possession" refers to the fact that we were purchased by the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary and when we stand before God at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will be his righteousness that is imputed upon us for redemption; not anything that we did here on earth.
Also, since we still have that "human sin nature" to deal with, Christians still sin (I just did yesterday), but we regret and repent of it because we know that it grieves the Holy Spirit.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (bold mine)
In the cases of Brian and Kelly, their final act of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not just a sin, but the "sin unto death" (meaning, the only unforgiveable sin leading to spiritual death and separation from God forever). They, as well, have sealed their fate.
Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
1Jo 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Powerful verses! For easier understanding, read the New Living Translation version:
1Jo 5:16 If you see a Christian brother or sister[fn3] sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
1Jo 5:17 Every wrong is sin, but not all sin leads to death.
1Jo 5:18 We know that those who have become part of God's family do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them.
1Jo 5:19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.
1Jo 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
1Jo 5:21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.[fn4
Footnotes:
5:16Greek your brother.
5:21Greek keep yourselves from idols.
Interesting--I have the same feelings about people who claim to have been atheists. To be ignorant about philosophy, the history of religions, and to not *think* about the issue of god, while lazily claiming you're an atheist doesn't really make you one, in the sense that you are still vulnerable to superstition.
ReplyDeleteI was raised catholic, but I don't claim I was ever one. I clearly remember sitting in mass as a kid, wondering whether all those people were pretending, or really buying all the nonsense I was hearing. I was genuinely curious about this, but only in an intellectual way, and not in what you'd call a 'spiritual' way. Never felt a need for any of that...
Juan,
ReplyDeleteThere is a HUGE difference between what is deemed "superstition" and what is genuine and true faith. But I can understand your feeling that they are one in the same. It is obviously what you need to do to ignore God's calling upon your life.
Being raised Catholic and never claiming to have faith in that religion is exactly what I meant when I said that there are "false" Christians. In effect, you were a "false" Catholic because you considered what you were hearing as "nonsense."
What exactly were you "genuinely curious about?" The fact that people can pretend to believe but not actually be spiritually transformed? Or was it something else?
I don't think you can say I was a "false" catholic, because I never really claimed to be one.
ReplyDeleteWhat was I curious about? Mostly I would wonder, are these people pretending? do they really believe? are they afraid of looking bad in front of their neighbors if they call this for what it is? That kind of questions.
And Christine, I am not doing anything actively to ignore god's or anyone's calling. If he exists, he has my number, he could call. I usually don't pick up for numbers not in my phonebook, but I'm sure he could fake caller id as well :) Seriously--you seem to think that I'm making some kind of effort to not have faith. That isn't the case. In the same way that I assume for you faith in your god is your nature, non-belief is mine. We don't really choose what we believe in, do we?