I have known many that never slowed down in their debauchery, but always considered themselves “born again” and waiting for the Rapture Plane to take them away from all their troubles. When I pointed out their lifestyles to them, then they would yell “but I am born again and am waiting for the rapture”, and they continue whatever they were slaves to. “You will know them by their fruits”, I believe is what was said in regards to that. Just because someone says that they are believers, doesn’t make it so. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. On the other hand, he said “Judge not, lest ye be judged”, so examination begins with yourself. If one believe that their are no consequences to their actions because of their salvation, then they might very well be the people that he was talking about in Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.” I believe that it also what he meant in Luke 9:23, when he said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” I believe that those ARE the “real” issues that you referred to. We are seeing the last days, as was prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I feel that too many make the ‘pledge’ to check off as a ‘check box’ for assurance to heaven, and that is what I refer to as fire insurance. Saying “I am a Christian” doesn’t really mean a lot if you don’t really believe it and practice it. Contrary to belief, we will all be judged, as is written. The question is have your sins been forgiven? Paul said to examine yourself daily in 2 Corinthians 13 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” I disagree with you that nobody thinks that the rapture is some kind of fire insurance. Based on what I have seen in my old age, many do, and they are the reprobates that Paul was talking about. Many go right on doing whatever they were doing before their salvation. I believe those ARE the real issues that we are facing today. You said that’s a lot of strawmen to knock down, but how can you knock them down by saying “nobody”? If you wish to knock down strawmen, you can quote scripture to do so. I will listen and agree or disagree with you. It is the truth. But your argument is essentially “because I said so”.
No, you were claiming Christians make those claims, not people who call themselves Christian.
There’s a big difference.