Again, after 5, 10 15 years of the same old unregenerate behavior and nothing of the fruit of the spirit, it would be wise to question as opposed to letting someone go to hell because you were afraid to question the lack of change in their lives.
Look, if someone tells you they believe Jesus died for their sins and rose again, and that they have trusted him as Saviour, what are you going to do? Obviously, they KNOW the gospel. Whether they have truly trusted Jesus is between them and God.
Lots of folks in the Bible didn't act like Christians, Samson is a great example. He did not honor his parents and took a non-Jewish girl to wife, then deserted her, then forcibly took her from a man that took her for a wife after he deserted her. He gambled, and killed 30 men to take their coats to settle his debt, he visited a prostitute on a regular basis.
Nobody would think Samson was saved by watching him, yet he is listed among those of great faith in Hebrews 11.
Need I remind you that David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her innocent husband killed in battle? Would you have believed he was saved if you had witnessed this? I seriously doubt it.
What about Solomon who took hundreds of wives and concubines, and at the end of his life built high places and groves for false gods? Yet we know he was a prophet who wrote much scripture.
You cannot tell who a Christian is by observation, and frankly, it is not your business. That is between them and God. If they profess to believe in Jesus, that is the best you can do.
Nobody said anything about acting religious. If you tell me you've trusted JEsus, I expect to see the ove of Jesus displayed. And part of that love for Him is OBEDIENCE to His word.
5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6
Well, all I can say is be prepared for dissappointment.
Oh yeah, we've got a bunch here that boast night and day of what horrible slimy sinners they are. They think that earns them favor with God. Yes, we do have to admit we are sinners to be saved, but stressing how sinful you are does not save you unless you trust Jesus to save you.
Again you're confusing how Jesus preached to those who didn't know Him as opposed to those who are supposed to already be in the Body.
No I am not. Jesus was KIND to sinners. It was self-righteous religious folks like the Pharisees that Jesus tore apart. You are the one who has it backwards.
You're confusing those outside vs supposed inside.
same comment as before. This wasn't about those outside the church.
Not so. If you want to see who Jesus really ripped apart, it was self righteous religious folks like the Pharisees who were always JUDGING those around them as horrible sinners. They were the "fruit counters" of that day.
Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Pharisee was a fruit counter like YOU. Note how he boasted of how righteous and obedient he was, and how sinful the publican was.
And he was as lost as a turkey on Thanksgiving.
The publican, who only judged himself, and cast himself on the mercy of God, was saved.
You need to read the scriptures more carefully.