Cronos: This is what the OP beleives: that man can never lose his salvation...
The argument that unless a sinner repents he "wasn't saved in the first place" is sophism. Protestants believe that, even though not yet perfected in this life (i.e. continue to sin and fail to repent for it immediately) they are nevertheless assured of their salvation simply by virtue of their faith, not deeds.
Let's, then, take your average Joe Protestant, who in his heart believes in Jesus, but who in his lifetime committed numerous sins and repented of some, but not all because he is not yet perfected, who dies before he had a chance to be perfected, and therefore leaves this world without having repented of all his sins. Is he saved? According to Dr. E, he is not.
But every Protestant I ever met was absolutely sure he or she was "saved!" They can't both be right...
Nope. If a person is saved, we are assured in Scripture that the fruit of the Holy Spirit will follow. Therefore, repentance is not a work of our own doing, but a desire and ability given by God to those whom Christ leads home.
Let's, then, take your average Joe Protestant, who in his heart believes in Jesus, but who in his lifetime committed numerous sins and repented of some, but not all because he is not yet perfected, who dies before he had a chance to be perfected, and therefore leaves this world without having repented of all his sins. Is he saved? According to Dr. E, he is not.
No one is "perfected" on earth. All men sin until the day they die. The EO and RCC have that all wrong.
Christ was the only perfect man on earth.
Again, anyone can say they are a Christian. You said it for years, right? But apparently you were not given perseverance to the end. At least that's how it looks today. God willing, He will bring you back to Him. None of us knows for sure about anyone else until their death. If they repented of their sins and believed in Christ with their last breathe, then Scripture tells us they were saved.
If not, then not.