Was this atheist saved?

Can't a believer believe any lie? How is king Saul different? They both eroded into human philosophy and thinking which is at enmity with God.

 

There was a period when Templeton did follow the so-called atheist route. Remember, this all took place after attending a very liberal school and this was his only real theological schooling. Sometimes writers, especially newspaper writers, will say things that even they don't believe, just to get the press.

That book you are referencing is no different to what he was taught in that liberal seminary. I can pick out the rhetoric having taught in a liberal school myself.

Another good example is J.B Phillips, who wrote a New Testament in Modern English. He was twice born, in my opinion, but was liberal in many of his views.

I prefer what I hear in private rather than public. It is my opinion that Charles ended his days believing in Christ as Saviour. Only God knows for sure. I can only believe that each of you profess Christ as Saviour; only God knows the heart.

Cheers,

Jim

 

And a stranger will they "Jesus sheep" not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. John 10:5

 

Like I said before I am glad he finally got saved, but he was not saved prior if he departed from truth. The true sheep follow and will not follow another.

 

I find it interesting that the belief is that we can not know if anyone is saved or not (for the most part on here).

But then things certainly change when a person we know of, had experience with, dies, renounces the faith, in this case became an atheist, and yet, it is fought for by implications that he had to be saved "because I knew him."

This is pure sentimentality.

What do the Scriptures say?

Were we sealed unto the day of redemption, Eph 1:14; 4:30, never to be lost, John 10:28, in that no matter what happens afterward, we are still His?

Or, are signs like these which take place in the life of the one professing show that said person was never truly born again?

Without our logic, sentimentality, reason in the circumstances, what is the verdict of the Scriptures?

I see way too many people leaning upon their own reason and logic in this whole thing.

 

So true. And it is possible this is what this man did. There are some who may begin to doubt, as did Thomas. Should he arrive in the Kingdom, he will be judged accordingly.

 

There is a big difference in Thomas not believing that Jesus had risen and this man turning to be an agnostic.

 

There certainly is, but this shows us even those close to Jesus Christ can be unsure in their minds, what they believe. But Thomas saw Him, and His wounds, and we must consider such verses as " Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). And there are other ramifications to be looked into. Jesus had not yet ascended to sit by His Father, and Pentecost had not come. Also after Pentecost the Kingdom gospel was very specific that one had to repent and be water baptized for the remission of their sins.

Mr. Templeton evidently read further in his bible, and found confounding words being said later as to how today we can receive remission of our sins. Was he unable to make a choice, or became unbalanced trying to keep one foot on one part of the foundation, and the other foot on the other part. Neither is either part of the foundation unstable, but they have not yet been fit together. Ephesians 1:10, "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:"

He may never have gotten into AH LAND. He may have left this world in confusion, hence He that judges will judge those who say they believed, but failed to choose the earthly gospel, or the heavenly gospel.

 

Read Hebrews Chapter 6, Hebrews Chapter 10:26-31, Book of Jude, 1 John 2:19, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Mark 13:22, Acts 20:29, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, Philippians 2:12 for starters. First of all Mr. Templeton never said he didn't believe there wasnt a God, he said he could not take the bible for everything it said. That is how it started. Then he began to question even Jesus in who He said He was, the son of God and He is God. Read the entire book of John. This book declares His deity. Now, the question is, do you believe everything the bible says? I do, and that is why I am replying to your comments. Many have posted that you can walk away from God and still keep your salvation. Well read these scriptures posted first and these to add to this list, that says if your practice these things you will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 22:15, Ephesians 5:5, 1 Timothy 1:9. Also in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, you must produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew & Luke 3:8. Jesus said many things, especially recorded in the book of John where he is warning His disciples about losing their faith. Read this book of John and one is the Vine and Branches, abiding in Him and He will abide in you. Follow ME. Love ME. Keep My Commands. Those who do the Will of My Father are my disciples. Let's face it- Christianity is a faith journey, not a one time profession of faith. I do understand your concerns, I too once wondered the same things when my only son was saved at 17 and then a few years later begin to live a life opposite of a following Christian. My son even told me that the Holy Spirit told him he was in trouble spiritually. It took his death bed at age 29 to turn him back to Jesus, then he died. I have combed the bible over and found what it means regarding backsliding, wayward, lost Christian sheep, and then when you have done everything to leave Jesus, and HE pursues you, trust me He does, then there is no recourse as it says in Hebrews 10:29-31, and you are now what Christians call, you are apostate, meaning a fallen away state. Walking out our faith is throughout the New Testament, It is for the believer, not the non-believer. Jesus was talking to His disciples, not the world. Paul is talking to the followers of Jesus, not the world. He makes that distinction. We all have a choice, (read book of Jude), it is called FREE WILL. Jesus will never hold you hostage if you want to leave.... He is a gentleman, not a prison warden. You have a choice, as the Word says, "Choose today, whom you will serve" Joshua 24:14-15. Will it be God or yourself? As a believer you are sealed until judgment day by the Holy Spirit. You received the Holy Spirit when you received Jesus in your heart.. The question is, did you make Him Lord of your life when you made Him Savior? In the bible (NT) it says it, that you can fallen away and you can leave your faith and you are the one who decides that. Reading just Hebrews alone is convincing, and if you read all of the book of Hebrews, you will see clearly if you ask God to reveal His truth to you, He will and as Jesus said to His disciples nearing the end of His journey to the Cross, he said, he prayed that they would not lose their faith. Hebrews 10:26-31 tells that you can not trample the Son of God underfoot again to repentance, and blaspheme the Holy Spirit and expect to return to God. Because you have made a decision to leave, abandon and renounce your faith, you can be like Mr. Templeton, he did!

In his own words, and in writing he did. He denounced the Holy Spirit, by saying he believed that Jesus was just a good man. He no longer acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, crucified for sin and the resurrection on the third day. Choose this day whom you will serve, God or man.