Yes, a person who ends up in Hell, was never saved in the first place. Jesus will not say “I knew you once, but later I didn’t know you” No, Jesus says, “I NEVER knew you. They were lost from the beginning.
It brings us around in a circle, since if a person says he is saved, and believes he is saved, turns out to be finally impenitent, he is lost and never was saved. He ought not to have said he was: it is presumptuous.
I don’t get into presumption. It’s something I never worry about. There are millions of people who think they are saved, claim they are saved, and go on through life this way, who are going to be utterly shocked when they wake up in Hell. Again, He will say, “I NEVER knew you.”
Per definition, the sin of presumption is saying you're now saved no matter what you do. The similar but opposite sin of despair is saying you're now damned no matter what you do.
Again, I am not concerned with presumption. It’s not important to me. Now, despair might be closer to the truth. We are all truly damned, no matter what we do. That I agree with. As Dan says, until one realizes they are a poor, lost, damned destitute sinner, without one single, solitary ray of hope, one will never be saved.
That's why Catholics generally don't talk about being "saved." It is because that determination is made only at judgment upon the moment of death.
I totally, completely, 💯% disagree with that statement. We can know right here and now we are saved. If someone waits till they die, to see if they “attain” Heaven, it is an iron clad guarantee that they will wake up in Hell. Absolutely guaranteed.
My opinion (just my opinion) is that 97 to 98% of the world’s population, will end up in Hell. Not very good odds. That is why we are to enter through the strait gate. Not many people will go to Heaven.
1 Cor 4:3-4
I care very little if I am judged
by you or by any human court;
indeed, I do not even judge myself.
My conscience is clear,
but that does not make me innocent.
It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time;
wait until the Lord comes.
This is true of those of whom He spoke, however, the reality is that as cited, Scripture does warn believers as believers against having an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, drawing back unto perdition, back into bondage, making Christ of no effect, to no profit, falling from grace, etc., (Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 10:38,39; Galatians 5:1-5) thus forfeiting what faith appropriated .
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:1-4)
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. (1 Timothy 5:12)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35-39)
Thus God works to chastens wayward members to repentance, unto "Godly sorrow" which "worketh repentance unto salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10) lest they be condemned with the world. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32) Thus otherwise they would be condemned due to their declension if not brought to repentance.
I would like to be able to say that "departing from the living God," drawing "back unto perdition," back into bondage, making Christ of "no effect," to "no profit," falling "from grace", etc., means something less than forfeiting what faith appropriated, but I do not see the texts teaching this. Here i stand. I should do no less.
Again, I am not concerned with presumption. It’s not important to me. Now, despair might be closer to the truth. We are all truly damned, no matter what we do. That I agree with. As Dan says, until one realizes they are a poor, lost, damned destitute sinner, without one single, solitary ray of hope, one will never be saved.
Yes, one must have their "day of salvation" with its profound basic changes in heart and life, and one can know, by examination that are "in the faith," and presently have eternal life, (1Jn. 5:13; Heb. 6:9) and know that of others as well, and thus affirm them as brethren, (1Thes. 1) though with some there can be doubt. (Galatians 4:20)
Thus to say that such was never born again because they fell away to die in final apostasy would be contrary to this knowing, since that would mean one can never now they are a true believer. .