Warnings about falling away or being shown not to have saving faith
Hebrews 6:4–6
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God and exposing him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 10:26–31
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Peter 2:20–22
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. It would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2 Peter 3:17–18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
John 15:1–6 (esp. v.6)
“I am the true vine… Every branch that does not abide in me he takes away, and every branch that abides in me he prunes… If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
Matthew 7:21–23
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy…?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 13:20–22 (parable of the sower, explanation)
As for what was sown on rocky ground: the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet has no root… and when tribulation arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns: they hear, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Luke 8:12
The ones along the path are those who hear, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (esp. v.15)
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Passages warning of professions without true fruit
James 2:14–26 (esp. v.17)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Galatians 5:4
You who are seeking to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Galatians 5:19–21
Now the works of the flesh are obvious… those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves… will inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 3:1–6 (to Sardis, esp. v.1)
I know your works. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up… Remember what you received and heard; keep it, and repent.
Pastorally framed exhortations to test professed faith
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test.
Philippians 2:12–13
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…
Hebrews 3:12–14
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day… that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Biblical examples of people who experienced the Spirit’s presence and later fell away
Saul (King Saul)
Key verses: 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 18:10–12.
Summary: Saul was originally anointed and empowered; afterward the Spirit of the LORD departed and an evil spirit troubled him, leading to instability, disobedience, and ultimate rejection as king.
Pastoral note: Scripture shows an anointing or empowering that can be removed when a person persists in rebellion and unbelief.
Samson
Key verses: Judges 13:24–25; Judges 14:6, 19; Judges 16:20.
Summary: Samson was repeatedly described as having the Spirit of the LORD come upon him for strength and deliverance; at the end the Lord had left him and he was shorn, overpowered, and taken by the Philistines.
Pastoral note: The narrative distinguishes God’s empowering presence (often for specific mission) from the ongoing, sure possession that believers discuss in the New Testament.
Judas Iscariot
Key verses: Matthew 26:14–16; Matthew 27:3–5; John 17:12; Acts 1:15–20.
Summary: Judas walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and was an apostle, yet he betrayed Christ and ended in despair and death; the New Testament calls him the son of perdition and treats his end as demonstrative of final apostasy.
Pastoral note: Judas is the canonical example of outward participation without final, saving fidelity.
Demas
Key verse: 2 Timothy 4:10.
Summary: Paul names Demas as one who “loved this present world” and deserted him, leaving for worldly pursuits after formerly serving with Paul.
Pastoral note: Demas illustrates a departure from ministry and confession that raises questions about perseverance and final standing.
Hymenaeus and Alexander (and similar cases)
Key verses: 1 Timothy 1:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:17–18; 2 Timothy 4:14–15.
Summary: Paul lists people who shipwrecked their faith, who propagated false teaching, or who opposed him; some suffered public discipline or were handed over to Satan as signs of severe apostasy and corruption.
Pastoral note: These cases function as warnings about teaching and behavior that lead away from the faith.
Those who “went out from us” (false brothers)
Key verse: 1 John 2:19.
Summary: John explains that some who once associated with the community left, proving they were never truly of the family; their departure functions as evidence that their profession was not genuine.
Pastoral note: Departure from the community is presented as indicatory, not merely conjectural.
Ananias and Sapphira (judgment following deceit)
Key verses: Acts 5:1–11.
Summary: This couple lied about their gift and died suddenly after Peter confronted them; Luke presents the episode as God’s severe judgment on hypocrisy within the church.
Pastoral note: The narrative warns about hypocrisy and deceit that masquerade as genuine fellowship.
Short theological distinctions and pastoral implications
Distinction: Old Testament narratives (Saul, Samson) often describe the Spirit coming and departing in relation to specific offic