Really Knowing Who is Saved

The only way we have of knowing who is saved, this side of heaven, is if they tell us they are or are not. Just because we see bad behavior does not mean they are not, a consistantly bad lifestyle, with no desire to live better, could mean not saved, but we don't know,and we aren't to judge if they are or are not, all thats up to God. Not us. All in all, it's not our call.

 

I suppose there's no way to be sure, but the Scriptures give us a little help.

By their fruits you shall know them.

You were created unto good works.

Tom B

 

I don't think we can know for sure about any other person. But thats also why I think we need to be careful not to assume a person IS saved just because they "look right." Its better to discuss the issue with someone rather than assuming they know what you mean.

 

One cannot know if a person is truly saved by looking upon another and how he or she acts. We are accountable to God for our own salvation alone. If we as individuals believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repent and are born again according to God's word we ARE saved. We have passed from death to life.

 

This passage has nothing to do with determining ones' salvation, though it has often been misused this way.

The scripture refers to false prophets.
To expand it beyond this application is entirely unjustified.

"Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

MR

 

I agree with you. Imagine that.

 

Yes, imagine that!

 

mountainrun said

You are right and I am wrong. Thanks for the correction.

Tom

 

saturneptune:

==That is certainly a tricky question. No doubt about it. However I think we can know, in general, who is in heaven and who is not. The Bible gives us several "lists" concerning the lifestyles of the lost (ie...those who will perish). See Romans 1:18-32, 1Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 5:3-12, 1Jn 2:19, 3:9-10, Rev 21:8, etc, etc. We can also know that all who have passed and who had turned to Christ as Lord are in heaven. However the tricky part concerns people like those mentioned in Matthew 7:21-23. They look good on the outside but are spiritually dead on the inside (See Matt 23:25-28). So I guess in some cases we know, in some cases we don't know at all, and in other cases we can't really be sure. Does not really answer any questions, does it? The one thing you can be sure of is YOUR salvation (1Jn 5:13).

____________________________________________

You said:

==Sadly the later is not always truly saved. For the former I would just say that drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21). Could a Christian backslide and get drunk? Yes but it would not be a way of life (1Jn 3:9-10). Christ makes a FOREVER change in the life of the person He saves. That person cannot be the same old sinner they were before salvation (1Cor 6:11). So the person who stumbles out of the bar is probably not a Christian. However we do need to keep in mind that some true Christians have fallen into all sorts of horrible sin(s). They are still saved however they could be headed for serious trouble (1Cor 11:32). However we must assume such a person to be lost.

There is nothing wrong with praying for anyone's salvation. No matter how "holy" they may appear.

In Christ,
Martin.

 

==I have no reason to believe that Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, or Hal Lindsey are lost. However I have no real way of knowing they are saved. I just assume that based on their public imagine. Which I have to assume, in the case of someone like Billy Graham, is probably accurate.

Do I expect to meet Billy Graham in heaven? Yes.

I think Dr Graham gets a bad rap by people who take things he says out of context. Graham certainly believes the Gospel, and he certainly believes that Christ is the only way of salvation. After all he has spent his life proclaiming that message. I have on my bookshelf his book, "How To Be Born Again". It is filled with the message that Jesus is the way to salvation. Now I am aware that he has made unclear, or foggy, statements about this in recent years. However we must keep several things in mind. (1) Dr Graham has several very serious physical elments. One of which does affect his memory and speech. This can cause him to get his facts messed up (etc). (2) Dr Graham is an old man. Old men will do one of two things: soften or harden. Dr Graham has softened. That is not all together a good thing but it is the way some go. (3) Dr Graham is careful not to offend listeners for no reason (like Dobson, and others do). People need the Gospel, not politics. People need Jesus, not the right wing. That is Graham's focus. I think those who are overly critical of Graham need to step back and look at the larger picture.

In Christ,
Martin.

 

In general,I believe we should not judge other people who claim to be saved. However, Paul seemed to know the people he was writing to were saved. Just a thought.

drfuss

 

Don't tell Benny Hinn that.

 

After 25 years of soul winning(leading someone to God) I know the answer to this question. And the answer is yes you can know. But you must know how to lead someone in a sinner's prayer. You must know what question to ask them after the sinners prayer. And you must be able to prove to them, by the Word of God, that they are say. Sealed by the Holy Spirit is the term used in the Bible.