What If a Christian Says He No Longer Believes The Gospel? What Happens To Him?

Due to circumstances of life and lack of deep roots in a Christian’s convictions towards the Gospel, he may wake up one morning and say he no longer believes the Gospel. If such a thing ever happens, what would become his fate?

The above question (paraphrased) was one of the questions we recently received on one of our articles published on the popular Nigerian website, Nairaland. Here we will see together from the scriptures what will happen to people like that.

There are two things that can lead to someone coming up to say they no longer believe the Gospel. The first is the fact that they did not allow the Word take it’s form in them in the first place after they heard it.

They have learnt of the Gospel (through books, audio messages or someone teaching them) and are no longer ignorant of it. They may have even become a part of a local church, joined a department and even held a leadership position for some time.

However, because they have not made a conscious decision to accept or receive the things they have known concerning the Gospel on a personal level (for themselves), they cannot be said to be genuinely born again.

These are the first set of people to always stand up to say they no longer believe in the Gospel claiming that the Gospel is a lie or even say things more abominable about it to whomsoever they come across.

(1Jn 2:18)  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.

(1Jn 2:19)  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.

(1Jn 2:20)  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Unknowingly to them and those around them, they have never really believed the Gospel in the first place even though they may have at a point changed their behaviours to imitate the lifestyle of those born again. All they had was a change of behaviours, not a change of heart. And so they have never really been God’s children in the first place.

Getting such people to be truly converted is always a near impossible task, seeing that they have known and understood almost everything about the Gospel and still choose not to accept it. An action Hebrews 10:26 calls wilful sin.

Please see WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SIN WILFULLY IN HEBREWS 10:26 to learn more about this set of people.

The second set of people this can happen to are those who have genuinely accepted or received the Gospel with their whole heart but are yet to be rooted in Christ.

They are truly born again, having believed the Gospel with their whole heart and have received the person of the Holy Spirit within them.

However, due to lack of proper training of the Spirit and the renewal of the mind through the Word, they are likely to say they no longer believe the Gospel when persecution, sickness and other difficult life situations arise.

For these set of people, their claim to no longer believe the Gospel as a result of these external influences does not in any way separate them from God. They are still saved. This is because Salvation being a gift of God’s amazing grace, is not dependent on what a man does or fail to do after he is saved. It is completely God’s work from start to finish.

(Eph 2:8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Eph 2:9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Our duty towards such people is to find out what went wrong with their convictions (not with a judgemental attitude) and offer our help where necessary. This is where praying and demonstrating the love of God towards them must become our top priority.

A very powerful prayer we can pray for such people is the Pauline prayer found in Ephesians 1

(Eph 1:17)  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

(Eph 1:18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

(Eph 1:19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

(Eph 1:20)  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

As we give ourselves to prayer and the extending of God’s love (the Word) towards them, we will see them like the prodigal son, have a rethink and return back to the Faith. But should they choose to remain or go further in their claim, we by faith leave them in the loving arms of their Father whom we know is able and willing to keep anyone He has once saved till the end.

(Joh 10:28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(Joh 10:29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

We may not know how He does this but the Word says He will keep His own to the end so we trust Him.

(Jud 1:24)  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

(Jud 1:25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!