Someone Who Once Believed In Christ But Now Denies Him Is Not Saved

1st John 2:18-19, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 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. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

Respectfully, I humbly disagree with Pastor Tom Cucuzza, who is the senior pastor at Northland Bible Baptist Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota. I humbly disagree with Dr. Cucuzza in the following sermon excerpt that a person who walks away from salvation in unbelief is saved. The full sermon is titled, “Secure Forever! - Part 4: The Permanence of Salvation, Part 1.” Here is an excerpt...

Must a Believer Remain Faithful? - Pastor Tom Cucuzza

I agree with Pastor Cucuzza that salvation cannot be lost. I agree that you don't have to remain faithful to get to Heaven. I agree that salvation is permanent. But the inspired Holy Bible says in 1st John 2:19 that if someone leaves the church it is because “they were not of us” (i.e., they were never saved to begin with). The word “unction” simply refers to the work of the blessed Holy Spirit in the soul of a Christian, who teaches and guides every saint of God (John 16:13). Here is some helpful Bible exegesis from The Study Bible...

But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One
The term "anointing" refers to the spiritual empowerment and consecration believers receive from God. In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was a symbolic act for priests, prophets, and kings, signifying their divine appointment and empowerment (Exodus 30:30, 1 Samuel 16:13). In the New Testament, this anointing is understood as the work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells and empowers believers (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). The "Holy One" is a title often used for God, emphasizing His purity and separateness from sin (Isaiah 6:3). In the context of 1 John, it likely refers to Jesus Christ, who imparts the Holy Spirit to His followers (John 14:26). This anointing enables believers to discern truth from falsehood, a critical theme in John's epistle as he addresses the presence of false teachers and antichrists (1 John 2:18-19). SOURCE: Bible Hub

Now, that being said, this doesn't mean someone who becomes disgruntled and leaves a church is not saved. Nor does it mean that someone who doesn't go to church is not saved. In my humble opinion, I believe this Scripture passage is referring to people who once professed faith in Christ, but then left and no longer profess Christianity. They were never saved at all.

I am NOT a Calvinist. I reject all 5 tenets of Calvinism. I do not believe in the perseverance of the believer to be saved, which would constitute works for salvation. I do however believe in the perseverance of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Hebrews 13:5). If you are saved, you will always be saved. If you are a born again child of God, then you were indwelt and sealed with God's Holy Spirit at the time of the new birth, who will never leave nor forsake you, no matter what you say or do. The new birth is irreversible and irrevocable.

That being said, I kindly reject the silly idea that someone is saved who formerly claimed to be a Christian, but now openly denies faith in Jesus Christ. They may have once ascribed to some philosophies of Christianity, joined a Christian organization, or lived an outward Christian life, but they were never born again to begin with (Matthew 7:21-23). They've never been saved. The Bible says that is why they left Christ. I think it is ludicrous for preachers to go around saying that some atheists today are saved, because 15 or 20 years ago they previously had claimed to have faith in Christ. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!

Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born again. To clarify, I am not teaching that you are not saved if there is no works to prove it. We are saved by God's grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ, and this is all done without works. What I am teaching is that if someone says they used to be a Christian, but now are an atheist or simply no longer trust in Christ, there is no way that they were ever saved at all.