Another interesting part of the Baptist church that I am curious about. This hits home to me personally because it is about my mother.
My mother degree'd in Bible at Abilene Christian in the early 60s. She was a believer (and a baptized believer). She taught Sunday school for years. She headed up a jail ministry for years, bringing numerous women to the Lord. She hosted home Bible studies with my dad, again bringing people to the Lord.
That all would change around 1982. She had an affair on my dad, they divorced, and she ultimately completely, totally renounced her faith. She doesn't even believe in God, much less Christ. Even today, all those years later, she's still a hardened atheist. This is greatly distressing to my children of course, because they fear for her soul, and well they should (as do I).
Now if I understand correct, the Baptist point of view on this is going to be that either: 1) She never was saved to begin with, or 2) She's still saved.
I believe she once was saved, but has since deliberately fallen away. Perhaps I am misreading Hebrews 6:4: It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Unfortunately, I believe that my mom was saved, she was enlightened, she tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit, as well as the goodness of the word of God. She then walked away. While there is always hope, I believe that God has given her over.
I am interested in thoughts on this. Thanks in advance.
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Blessings!