The Big Taboo

One of the biggest taboo's in Christian circles is to speculate if a professed Christian is really saved. Just mention it sometime and see the kind of responses you get.

I believed the same thing for many years until recently. After reading a biography of Jonathan Edwards by Phillip Marsden, I started seeing this issue in a new light. The new light, of course, includes where your own heart is in even contemplating the question about someone. Because, after all, we will be judged by the same measure we judge someone else. But scripture tells us a believer will bear fruit.

What if someone claims to be saved and after say, a year or so, there is no change in their life at all? You may want to prayerfully inquire about the fruit on the tree. For their sake.

But in this day of church growth movements, seeker churches, emergent churches, etc., we really ought to prayerfully and with scripture study this issue in depth. All of us should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12)

Mark Dever has blogged on this and since he is a great pastor, check out what he has to say on the subject.

http://blog.togetherforthegospel.org/2006/07/should_evangeli.html