You believed, and so you were chosen by God.
God chose you and so you believed.
The debate of these two truths has been going on for centuries, thousands of years, but it will not be debated in this short letter to you today, the one who makes this statement will,
“At least I am saved.”
This person most generally does not apply Mark 16:15 in their life, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” But adheres strictly to Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
James 1:27 is a catchphrase of theirs, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
But not Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
It can be very difficult to discern if this person is truly born-again, or if they only profess the Lord Jesus Christ with their lips, for at least some of their deeds seem to be done in righteousness, and even for the glory of God, but much of the life they live is not only lived in the world, but in some form of attempted gratification from it. They generally have a newer car and what would be considered by many a nice house, but they also have the debt load that comes with them.
They also want you to know just how saved they are, not always, but usually serving on not only one or more church committees, but also on some within the city they live in. It does not matter who they are, what standing they have in either of these two places, or the stature that others lift them up to, we are commanded to apply 1st John 4:1 to all we meet who profess to know the Savior.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Of course, in these days that is extremely frowned upon and perhaps always has been.
“He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?” (John 9:27)
When you do so, you can almost, not every time, but many times be guaranteed to be rebuked, “How dare you question my faith,” is what you will hear in one form or another.
“At least I am saved,” is in many regards a mirror of the one at the wall who said that day, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” (Luke 18:11)
What these individuals will do is misconstrue your intentions, for they do not hold the same convictions that you do in this area, we are concerned with the final place of their soul. There is no guile in our words, our intentions are not to ferret out the deceived, whether it be self-deception or that of Satan upon them. We are concerned because we realize the truth of the only alternative to heaven.
The truth firmly spoken, but always in love.
You may realize this already my friends, but it is imperative to treat, especially in initial conversations those who believe, and perhaps are, themselves to be saved, with kid gloves, for the most minor misplaced word will not only be seen as too intrusive, but downright rude. They inevitably think that we are judging them, but the wise man understands that all the facts that can possibly be garnered must be before any judgment can be made.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
If you do not have that beam in your eye, you are to assist those with that speck, and that speck may be blinding them from the truth.
If you care, you will bring up these difficult questions, because their eternal soul hinges on what they believe. And so, only the truths of the Scriptures can be their judge.
Here your opinion means nothing, make sure they know that as well.