How so?
Apostates-to-be???
Since there is no verb in this question, I guess you are asking what I mean by "apostates-to-be"? I mean simply those who seem now to be genuine believers, but who in the future will fall away permanently.
All those whom God has predestined to salvation will hear His words, and believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead to prove that He had paid for their sins by atoning personally for every one of them. These are the elect and they will be saved because God has promised in Scripture that Jesus Christ will lose none whom God has given Him to bring home.
Sure. Call that paragraph "X". But "X" does not answer the question: How does one know that one is elect?
A belief in this reality is a sign of one's redemption.
So, no apostates-to-be believe ever believe "X"? Because if they do, then belief that "X" is not a reliable sign that one is truly redeemed.
It is not a requirement for it because nothing can merit the grace of God. Salvation is a free gift given by God to whom He chooses. It is all of grace, and none of works.
Sure, but that does not answer the question: How does one know that one is elect?
The assurance verses apply to the elect.
Fine. But that still doesn't answer the question: How does one know that one is elect?
Those who are elect, will hear and be comforted. Those who are not elect will not care one bit about the assurance verses. They will scoff at them; ridicule them; ignore them.
Chapter and verse? If you can substantiate this claim, then we can know that if a person ever cares about the assurance verses, that person is elect, even if he becomes a rabid atheist and dies in that condition.
-A8
Asked and answered numerous times.
Again...
If one possesses Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that person has a definite confidence he or she is among the elect.
I think you'd do better to argue this point with Arminians who wrongly assume (along with RCs) that a person must do some work in order to be saved.
The Reformed believe that faith is "evidence" of our salvation, not a requirement for it. Therefore, if one possesses Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ, one can rest secure in every verse of Scripture, especially the assurance verses which were written to them by name by God from before the foundation of the world.