When is a person considered not a Christian anymore ?

[QuestionQuest74]

When can we truly say a person is no longer a Christian? Is it few months of unrepentant sin or few years of repentant sin or when they say they don’t believe anymore ?

 

[Theadorus]

A person would no longer be considered a Christian when they decide to renounce their salvation.

When a person receives the gift of salvation and believes on Christ, their old, dead spirit that was within them is reborn and the spirit of christ now lives within them. Their spirits are united with Christ, and so that is the new born again us. Nothing we can do changes that. No amount of falling short, or no amount of sin changes that. Even if we blow it in this life, God is still faithful and will welcome us into heaven after we move on from this life.

Now let me clarify, this doesn't mean we can now sin freely without consequences. Yes, God will not hold our sins against us because he already punished Jesus for them, but when we sin, WE feel unworthy and turn our backs on God. We feel condemned and wonder how can such a good and holy God even love something like us.

Also, another consequence of sin is that it hardens our heart towards God, so even though God's attitude doesn't change towards us, our attitudes change towards God, and if we harden ourselves enough, we can actually get to the point where we begin to despise our salvation. We begin to hate God and hate anything good. We then get to the point to where our hate for God is so strong that we'd rchoose to live in hell for all of eternity, rather than spend it with God in heaven. Once you get to that point, you now have the opportunity to renounce your salvation, and once you do that, there is no coming back from that.

Just know, even though it's true one cannot "lose" their salvation, one can still renounce it, though. Just like how God did not force us to get saved, he will not force us to stay saved either. But do know that salvation isn't something that is easy to lose/renounce as well. God will not hold a baby Christian accountable for renouncing their salvation out of frustration or anything. But, he will hold a mature Christian accountable if they chose to renounce salvation. The book of hebrews talks in great detail about this if you would like to look into this. Also, the wilful sin is the wilful rejection of your salvation. That is the unforgivable sin they talk about in the bible because when you commit it, your spirit dies once again, and it cannot be 'reborn' again.

But to re-answer your question: you are not considered a christian anymore when you renounce your salvation. So hopefully this helps answer your question. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

 

[trophy33]

When can we truly say a person is no longer a Christian? Is it few months of unrepentant sin or few years of repentant sin or when they say they don’t believe anymore ?

When that person himself says he does not believe in God or that Jesus is Christ.

Living in sin will make such a person a bad Christian, but not a non-Christian.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

When can we truly say a person is no longer a Christian? Is it few months of unrepentant sin or few years of repentant sin or when they say they don’t believe anymore ?

Despite popular teachings we are not saved in our sins, we are saved from sin. Mat 1:21. Sin is breaking God’s law 1 John 3:4 Romans 7:7 Mat 5:19-30

We lose our salvation when we stop living for Christ and live for the world. If we are in Christ we are not going to let sin domain over over us. Sin separates us from God Isa 59:2 and it’s important if we sin to immediately get on our knees and pray for His forgiveness and sanctification. It’s a promise in scripture that if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us of all sin and unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Living in unrepentant sin is harmful to Christians. Heb 10:26-30 God’s law shows us our sin Romans 3:20 Romans 7:7 so we are depending on His righteousness Psa 119:172 and not our own. If we fall, get right back up and ask for forgiveness and ask Him to help overcome our shortfalls. Once you do that don’t give it another thought, trust His promise of forgiveness. Having a relationship with Christ is crucial and praying to overcome He can give us that power through His Spirit John 14:15-18. God bless!

 

[HTacianas]

When can we truly say a person is no longer a Christian? Is it few months of unrepentant sin or few years of repentant sin or when they say they don’t believe anymore ?

There is no clear answer to your question. The writer to the Hebrews first stated the elementary principles of Christ, meaning those things that make a person a Christian, then told of the fate of those who fall away, without defining precisely what falling away is:

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Heb 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Heb 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

Heb 6:8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

This is all believed to refer to early Jewish Christians who had forsaken the faith to return to Judaism. But there is no reason to believe that it doesn't also apply to an atheist returning to disbelief or a Mithraist returning to Mithraism.

 

[QuestionQuest74]

There is no clear answer to your question. The writer to the Hebrews first stated the elementary principles of Christ, meaning those things that make a person a Christian, then told of the fate of those who fall away, without defining precisely what falling away is:

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Heb 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Heb 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

Heb 6:8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

This is all believed to refer to early Jewish Christians who had forsaken the faith to return to Judaism. But there is no reason to believe that it doesn't also apply to an atheist returning to disbelief or a Mithraist returning to Mithraism.

What does Hebrew 6:6 mean ?

 

[HTacianas]

What does Hebrew 6:6 mean ?

A person is brought to repentance at the time of their salvation, as in "Repent and be baptized... for the remission of sins...", see Acts 2:38. After that repentance and baptism once one falls away they cannot be brought back to repentance. The meaning is fall away and you're all done. You can't come back.

 

[QuestionQuest74]

A person is brought to repentance at the time of their salvation, as in "Repent and be baptized... for the remission of sins...", see Acts 2:38. After that repentance and baptism once one falls away they cannot be brought back to repentance. The meaning is fall away and you're all done. You can't come back.

What is the meaning of Fall away ?