If a saved person doesn’t believe in God anymore, are they still saved and going to heaven?
I realize this is a very controversial topic, but I believe the Word of God is clear on this matter. What you have described is an impossibility. Let’s read the words of the Lord in John 16:13-14, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” It is the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Spirit) that operates in the hearts of men to guide us into all truth. By using God’s Word, it is He that convinces us of our sinfulness and our need of a savior. It is He that draws us to the Lord for salvation.
After we have accepted Christ as our savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us. We read in Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.” The indwelling Spirit (who guides us into truth) abides with us until the very day of the redemption of our bodies to glory. He WILL NOT leave us. That is a very emphatic statement.
However, we sometimes hear of those who ‘turn back’. Indeed, there are those who profess to be saved, yet after a while, they turn back to the world and deny the Lord Jesus. How could that be? Let’s read 1 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.” What is an antichrist? The literal meaning is that it is one who is against Christ. Here the Apostle John writes of those who were among the believers, but were actually antichrists.
Their ’true colors’ were finally made manifest because they left the fellowship of the believers. John states, “…they were not OF us.” They were not true believers. The proof of a true conversion is that, “…if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.” Yet, “they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
We read of some who falsely profess to know the Lord in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Notice how the Lord tells them “I NEVER KNEW YOU.” These had NEVER had a true relationship with Christ. It’s not that they had once believed and then disavowed their faith. No, they were total strangers to God’s grace.
To those who are truly saved, we have the Lord’s words in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” True believers possess ETERNAL LIFE, even now. True believers will NEVER PERISH. True believers may go through periods of doubt. We may go through times of slackness in our Christian walk. We may resume some of our worldly habits for a while. It is a shame that we should ever be guilty of these things. If we are going through similar situations, we need to repent and confess our sins to the Lord. (Read 1 John 1:9). While this behavior and condition disappoints the Lord, He will chasten us. He will not abandon us. Hebrews 12:6 tells us, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (329.2)