Are people saved if they make a profession of faith, but continue living an ungodly life?
Genuine Christians are serious about dealing with our sins (Philippians 2:12-13; 3:7-9).
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9
When genuine believers sin we're convicted by God’s Spirit and by our love for God.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
We must not deceive ourselves:
“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (see also Jude 1:7 and Romans 1:26-27).
True salvation is described in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, so let's continue to share God's truth with unrepentant loved ones who have made an outward profession of faith.
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For more on this subject, see Why Salvation Requires Repentance and The True Meaning of Repentance.
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