Salvation is described as a new birth. A Spiritual birth, a quickening on the Holy Spirit followed by a sealing of the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.
A genuine born again blood washed Christian can no more not believe in God or really deny God than a butterfly can once again become a caterpillar.
The salvation that God works through His grace is so profound a change that it cannot be denied and cannot be turned away from. I am not only saved from eternal condemnation but I am made a heir to the kingdom of God. I have a place with my King, my Savior in His kingdom for all of eternity.
Shall I then prefer the eternal darkness of the lake of fire?
For the cause of Christ
Roger
A genuine born again blood washed Christian can no more not believe in God or really deny God than a butterfly can once again become a caterpillar.
The salvation that God works through His grace is so profound a change that it cannot be denied and cannot be turned away from. I am not only saved from eternal condemnation but I am made a heir to the kingdom of God. I have a place with my King, my Savior in His kingdom for all of eternity.
Shall I then prefer the eternal darkness of the lake of fire?
For the cause of Christ
Roger
When a child stops believing in Santa Claus, does that mean that child never genuinely believed in Santa Claus? When a devout Muslim of 20 years converts to Christianity, were they all of a sudden never a genuine muslim? And what do you mean by a "genuine" Christian? Their faith was genuine? How can that be quantified? If they believe it to be true and live their lives in tune with their belief, how is it not genuine exactly? Or are you saying it magically becomes ingenuine from the beginning once someone deconverts?
I understand why you believe this, especially if you follow the Calvinist doctrines of perseverance of the saints. But this way of thinking is a logical fallacy known as the No True Scotsman fallacy. I explained a bit more in an earlier post what exactly that is and how it relates to this discussion.