Question: "Is it possible for a believer to unbelieve?"
The short answer is an emphatic NO! But be sure and read this article from Got Questions for a fuller treatment.
Answer: The question of whether a believer can become an unbeliever usually arises in an attempt to explain puzzling situations involving people we know. Someone who at one time made a profession of faith denies the faith. By all outward appearances, he was a believer involved in church life and perhaps even in ministry. So what happened? Is this a case of a believer becoming an unbeliever?
There are a number of prominent skeptics who started out as professing believers. Dan Barker, atheist and president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, started out as a minister and Christian musician. Charles Templeton (now deceased) was an evangelist who at one time toured with Billy Graham but later became an outspoken agnostic. Bart Ehrman is a New York Times best-selling author and well-known skeptic who continually casts doubt upon the reliability of the New Testament. Ehrman describes himself as a former born-again fundamentalist. He studied at Moody Bible Institute and graduated from Wheaton College.
Aside from these high profile cases are the thousands, perhaps millions of people who have made professions of faith, often as children, but years later maintain no faith in Christ. Whether they call themselves atheistic, agnostic, or simply uninterested, they have left the faith. What are we to make of these people? Were they born-again believers at one time, but now they are unbelievers?
There are a number of possibilities that are often suggested.
The first possibility is to affirm that these people were and still are saved, born again, made part of the Body of Christ, and indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Since God’s salvation is irreversible, once a person has been saved, he will always be saved regardless of any future state of unbelief or disobedience. It seems that parents often take comfort in this idea, for, even though a child may be walking far from the Lord, the parent holds on to a specific time and place where the child “accepted Christ.”
The second possibility is to agree that these people were once true believers but that, when they stopped believing, they lost their salvation. All of God’s blessings have been reversed. The former believers have become unbelievers and unsaved.
The third possibility is that, although these people may have given outward signs of having genuine faith, their subsequent choices and statements reveal that they were never true believers. No matter what they say, they were never born again and sealed by the Spirit. True believers may experience times of doubt, uncertainty, disobedience, and momentary unbelief, but they will never renounce their faith. This idea is known as the perseverance of the saints—all who are truly saved will persevere (continue) in their faith, kept by the power of God. We can only know if a “decision for Christ” was genuine by the fruit that it produced. This is the approach that is most supported by Scripture.
Scripture and history are filled with examples of people who made an initial positive response to Christ only to fall away later. In the parable of the sower and the seed, some of the seed sprung up quickly, only to wither away or be choked out by weeds. “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:20–22). But the seed (the gospel) sown on good soil brings forth fruit for harvest. In the initial stages, it might be very difficult to tell which plants will make it or not. Time reveals the truth.
In John 6, Jesus calls himself the Bread from Heaven and makes some statements that were very hard to understand. Verse 66 says, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” There were people who had identified themselves as followers of Jesus, but they turned back when Jesus said something they disliked. It was not that they lost salvation; they never had it to begin with, and this incident is what showed their true colors.
Next in John 6, Jesus comments on Peter and Judas Iscariot. “Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.’ He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him” (verses 67–70). At the time Jesus spoke those words, Peter and Judas looked very much alike—both were disciples. On the night that Jesus was arrested, Peter and Judas looked very much alike—both denied the Lord. A few days later, however, they showed themselves to be very different. Judas, overcome with remorse, did not seek repentance and forgiveness but committed suicide (Matthew 27:5). Peter was filled with shame and wept (Matthew 26:75). Three days later Peter is still with the disciples and becomes an apostle of the Risen Lord.
Neither Judas nor Peter lost his salvation. Judas’ true nature was that of an unbeliever. He liked Jesus well enough and dabbled with faith for a while, but he never really believed—we might say he only pretended to be a believer. Judas was the treasurer for the disciples, and John 12:6 tells us that he was dipping into the money for himself. Peter, on the other hand, for a short period of time, “pretended” to be an unbeliever, but over the course of time his true, redeemed nature showed itself.
First John directly addresses the issue of professing believers who seem to become unbelievers. Some false teachers, who had appeared to be true believers at one time, were troubling the church. First John 2:19 explains, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” Although those who departed the faith had appeared to be genuine, John makes it clear that they had never actually been “of us”; one of the marks of a believer is that he “continues with us.” People may be able to “fake it” for a while, but they cannot sustain the part forever. The truth will eventually outlast their fakery. First John 3:9 says, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” A genuine believer is kept from falling into continuous sin because he has been born of God—God keeps him safe.
A true believer may fall into disobedience and struggle with doubt, but a true believer will never renounce Christ. A person who has renounced Christ by his words or deeds has not lost salvation; rather, he is demonstrating that he never had genuine faith. This is one reason why church discipline is so important. In Matthew 18, Jesus outlines the steps. If a person in the church sins, he should be confronted and given the chance to repent. Once all the steps in the process have been followed and there is still no repentance, then the unrepentant sinner is to be put out of the church and treated as an unbeliever (verses 15–17). This process is designed to get the sinner off the fence. Either he will see the error of his ways and be brought to his senses, or he will decide that the church and the Christian life are not that important and walk away—either way, church discipline forces a person’s true nature to come out.
A genuine believer can never become an unbeliever because he or she has been born again by the Spirit of God. It is not one’s faith that keeps one safe but the power of God that enables continual faith.
Recommended Resource: The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation by Bruce Demarest
The 4000 pound gorilla in the room, who can hardly be overlooked but IS
OVERLOOKED by those who claim to “keep themselves saved” but really can’t.
BTW, how is it possible Jesus died for us while we were still sinners yet leaves it to us to keep ourselves saved???? Where’s that in the Bible ???? Just as I thought, NOWHERE!!
Hebrews 12:2 “...looking unto Jesus, the >>>author<<< and >>>finisher<<< of our faith...”
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6 and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
If, if, if a person is able to go from being saved, to being not saved, then that person could never be saved again, as Messiah went to the cross once to die to make atonement for the sins of each and every person, past, present and future sins. This person would need another type of sacrifice, as the Son of GOD Almighty was judged once for all of mans sins, once for all time.
Firstly, we are not warned from God for nothing about the mockers) quiznosdavid) in this last time, who teach ungodly lusts as their "religion"
But the true believers do build themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost ( so this is how born again is )
The true believer keep themselves in the love of God, to look for mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some then are taught to fear God, to show the fire they are heading for.
Now God keeps us from falling, by presenting us faultless before His presence, this we are to be a true believer in, only God is wise, the deceivers *littledavidquiznos) are fools..
Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 TO THE ONLY WISE GOD our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Connected together, is keeping ourselves in the love of God with continuing in the love of Christ, to keep His commandments to continue to abide in His love, even as we see the Son kept the Fathers commandments and abides in the Fathers love..
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE.
John 10 If ye KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, ye shall ABIDE IN MY LOVE; even AS I KEPT MY FATHERS COMMANDMENT, AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.
"John 3:9 says, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” A genuine believer is kept from falling into continuous sin because he has been born of God—God keeps him safe.
A true believer may fall into disobedience and struggle with doubt, but a true believer will never renounce Christ"
"A person who has renounced Christ by his words or deeds has not lost salvation; rather, he is demonstrating that he never had genuine faith."
John 3:9 says no one commits sin when they are born of God, the devils works are sins, destroyed means not around to be done ever again, and this separates the devils children from Gods children, the devils do no righteousness, and Gods do no unrighteousness..
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
A true believer cannot be separate from a fake believer by doing the same disobedience at all. When evil is done, they are the same doer and denier...
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
It is obedience to faith, or no faith with any disobedience. This is the revelation of the mystery kept secret, which the deceiving devil spirit cannot understand, and quiznosdavids wisdom is foolish, only God is wise..
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 TO GOD ONLY WISE, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
"Hebrews 12:2 “...looking unto Jesus, the >>>author<<< and >>>finisher<<< of our faith"
To look to Jesus to finish our faith is to lay aside the sin which puts us down from God, but to run the righteous race that davidquiznos and deceivers do not run..
Hebrews 12:2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS. Now THEY DO IT TO OBTAIN A CORRUPTIBLE CROWN; but WE An INCORRUPTIBLE.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 BUT I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
"If, if, if a person is able to go from being saved, to being not saved, then that person could never be saved again, as Messiah went to the cross once to die to make atonement for the sins of each and every person, past, present and future sins. This person would need another type of sacrifice, as the Son of GOD Almighty was judged once for all of mans sins, once for all time"
The words are not told for nothing for mockers to try to dissect.
Receiving the knowledge of truth, (these are quiznosdavid) and they teach to sin.
The word witnesses against them, there is no more sacrifice for sins for them.
This is because those who first despised Moses's law died without mercy.
No mercy goes to those who despise the Gospel of Godliness of Christ, and they do this DESPITE THE SPIRIT OF GRACE..
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Help me Marcouse, don’t you see the “flack” I’m taking form Adam??
You spoke about all the flack Adam gets!!
Actually, Marcouse, Adam receives correction for teaching serious error and spreading his false teachings.
You might refer to correction as “flack” but maybe you need to read the accounts of Jesus giving “flack” to the self-righteous Pharisees who thought of themselves more righteous then others, kinda like Adam does.
As for helping me, I’m just kidding Marcouse, you’ve chosen sides and that’s ok, you have that right to believe the way you want. I’m don’t need help. When I became a believer I knew that involved being subject to false accusations and such from false teachers and their disciples.
The prophets of old, Jesus and his disciples have suffered long at the hands of false teachers, so it’s not thing new
what if somebody is a born-again believer and was preaching the Christian essential doctrine for 20 years started backsliding in their walk and started preaching a false gospel of Salvation by works and that Jesus is not God ....... Ignoring the conviction by the holy Spirit and therefore became a stumbling block unto others ...... Would they lose their salvation be deleted from the Lamb's book of Life? Well I believe it's possible having turned away from the truth and dogs gone back to their vomit is a form of blasphemy
Christianity is chalk full of “professors” of Christianity who are not possessors. Judas is probably the most infamous example. The article above lists some recent ones.
Nobody except Jesus knew Judas’s deceitful heart. But long before Judas’s defection and betrayal, Jesus predicted as much, “...have I not chosen you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil...”—John 6:70. Even an OT prophecy predicted the betrayal.
Fact is, many “Christians” are not true Christians and have NEVER been saved. Lots of people around you might believe you’re saved—but GOD KNOWS THE HEART. A person isn’t saved by what they claim.
Perseverance of the saints is a biblical doctrine. True believers persevere, they don’t defect!! See the Lord’s seed and soil parable in Luke 8:11. All kinds of false believers portrayed in the parable but only one true believer.
“Once saved always saved” is taught biblically and those truly saved never walk away.
The Bible also teaches that fake Christians will walk away. But those walking away DID NOT “lose their salvation”! You can’t lose something you never had!!!
See 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not >>>>>really belong to us.<<<<< For >>>>if they had belonged to us<<<<<< they would have >>>>>remained<<<<< with us; >>>>>but their going<<<<<< showed that >>>>>none of them belonged to us.<<<<<<
For those of you who think otherwise, read the verse AGAIN without my emphasis.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
Let it sink in, especially those of you who think you can lose salvation and stop being a stooge for your incompetent pastor!!
Salvation does not belong to you, myself, or anyone else, it is the LORD which saves.
His salvation is not conditioned upon obeying the law, good works, or anything man is able to perform.
GOD Almightys salvation is by Grace thru faith in Yahshua Ha Meschiach.
Yashua GIVES - bestows eternal life to believers in Him, without good works, or obedience to the law, and He cannot lose those FAITHING into Him.
John 10 verses 22 - 30
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
23 and Jesus was walking in the temple courtsc in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
26 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Once a person has been saved by Messiah, it is the respnsibility of Yashua to protect that person, and to present that person Blameless, Holy, Justified, Sanctified, before the Father.
Messiah mediates in Himself,between believers and the Father.
