~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: 1. Are false teachers that have lead many to destruction still a candidate through true repentance to receive the Holy Ghost? 2. Is there salvation for a reprobate minded person? 3. How can you tell who is reprobate?Answer:
Paul the Apostle and his experience in receiving the Holy Ghost is a good example to cite in answering this question. Paul was making 'havoc' of the church (Acts 8:3) [by way of persecution and false teaching about salvation] until his conversion. He then went on to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 9).
Also consider all the preachers and teachers in cults that have gotten saved and received the Holy Ghost.
Your second and third questions: Is there salvation for a reprobate minded person? How can you tell who is reprobate?
The word 'reprobate' found in 2 Timothy 3:8 actually means 'without judgment' or 'lacking discernment'. It isn't so much a question of whether someone can be saved or not, but rather, can someone 'understand' enough of spiritual truth to be saved. A person can become 'seared' in their conscience (I Timothy 4:2), to the point where they can no longer desire truth. Paul said that there are people that are "past feeling" and notice, "have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4:19.) One form of God's punishment upon hardened sinners is to let them go on their own way with no restraints [no guilt or bothered conscience.] for example (Rom 1:28).
Pharaoh is another example of one that had hardened his heart to the place where he could no longer make the right choice. It is like ice that becomes harder and harder the longer that it is exposed to the frigid temperatures. No wonder God says; "Today if you here my voice, harden not your hearts". (Heb 3:7-8), lest the person becomes reprobate in his thinking.
We are really not that good at judging ourselves let alone someone else; but when you are in the Spirit you may notice that a reprobate can be detected mostly in examining his or her past experiences with God, and how they currently are responding or not responding to Him now.
To guard against apostasy we must stay close to God by reading His word & by walking in the Spirit.
