There is no such thing as an ex-Christian there are only false converts (stony ground hearer). If you can lose your salvation, then what do you do with Romans 8:38-39 or John 10:28-30, where Jesus says he gives eternal life and the sheep will NEVER perish? If you can lose it then Jesus should have said, "and they may perish..." or "they CAN perish." But he said, THEY WILL NEVER PERISH. So, will they never perish? Or can they?A true Christian cannot turn away from God. Here is why.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." ~2 Corinthians 5:17
Now look at:
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." ~1John 2:19
THEY WOULD HAVE REMAINED if they were really Christians to begin with.
Now a question for you. Are you saying that the Spirit begins the work of salvation in us and that we work it out and complete it by remaining faithful? That IS what you are saying, that we get saved and keep it by the effort of our works, right? Check this out:
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" ~Galatians 3:1-3
Jesus taught it. He said those with eternal life will NEVER Perish or leave.
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." ~John 10:28
Well, will they perish or not? Leave or not? Jesus says those with eternal life will NEVER perish or leave Christianity. I believe Him. Do you?
To the Atheists that claim they were once Christians, my buddy asked:
"Since the bible defines a Christian as one who knows God, would you consider yourself to have been a Christian according to the biblical definition?" ~Thomas Bridges
"Your willingness to acknowledge evidence for God is a direct result of your willingness to trust Him." ~ Thomas Bridges
Conclusion:
If you reasoned OUT of Christianity then Jesus was never the Lord of your reasoning, and evidence of your autonomous reasoning...just like Eve. Scripture says you are not yet a Christian but that is what makes me jump and down with joy for you. There is still time! Just don't die.
The Bible is clear in the parable of the sower (explained by Jesus in Matthew 13) not everyone that says Lord, Lord will make it to heaven. There are definitely true and false converts. Not to merely accept Jesus Christ. Jesus doesn't need your acceptance. You need to receive Him and submit to Him as your Lord and Savior.
*7/11/2008 Addition: The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) just sent me an email today that confirms this post so I thought I would share to back up the Biblical view. Be Truly Converted by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
bit.ly/exchristian