Expert: Scott Talbot - 12/9/2011

Question
QUESTION: Good evening,

Hope all is well. My name is Dan. I wanted to first thank you for your helpful article.

Initially, I joined a baptist church, and believed to accept Jesus in 7th grade and was baptized. For a couple years I was really involved. But then I fell away. I prayed at times and felt I could live in a Worldly fashion, money, lust, etc, and ask for forgiveness and be safe. I grew in anger and hostility to religion. I really fell away and turned and said things I now regret.

I am now 29. Recently, all of a sudden I have had this burning and overwhelming desire to read the Bible and search for meaning.  I have become hardened over time, and I do struggle with temptations and wrongful thoughts. But now the Gospel is hitting me and I know I have erred. at one time I may have said I wanted nothing to do with religion.

I am deeply troubled however by Hebrews 6 4-6 and 2 Peter 2:20-22, Hebrews 10:26. Is it not possible for someone to return to repentance after having denied God earlier? Can a person who goes through the motions, then goes his own way, come to repentance? Or have I crossed a point of no return, that is impossible as these verses seem to indicate by saying fall away. Or is falling away a consistent state that can be broken? 1 Timothy 1:13 is troubling as well. What if one willfully sins after having knowledge? I am really struggling with these sorts of chapters dealing with apostasy. I just feel like i am lost. Please help!

Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Dan,

It's nice to hear from you.

I am convinced that these passages do not apply to you. They apply to one who is exposed to the truth and rejects it and then becomes hardened to it, and to God. While it is possible for a Christian to go through periods during which his relationship with God is cold, or even rebellious, we are assured that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). And, just as the parent is willing to welcome back a rebellious child, ... just as the father welcomed back the prodigal son, ... so God welcomes us back to renewed fellowship with Him.

Recently I dealt with a similar issue. If you go to my Recently Answered Questions, you will find a discussion on 11/9/11 and 11/14/11 labelled, "Once Saved, Always Saved." Read through that and let me know if you find that helpful.

Of course, feel free to write back if you would like to chat further.

Scott

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!!

Can I ask if this would apply if I wasnt actually saved, I was 12 at the time. Can you reach a point where God won't accept you? Where repentance isn't possible?

Take care

Dan

Answer
Regardless of your age, if you called upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-13), he promises that you will be saved. If, for any reason, you question whether or not you were actually saved at that time, then you are able to accept Christ now. God will never turn away anyone who comes to Him.

The fact that you are sensitive to spiritual things now means that the Holy Spirit is working. We cannot naturally come to God. Our human nature naturally rejects God. So your inclination towards God at this point is definitely the Holy Spirit's working.

Scott