granARJ:

Maybe you should define what being "saved" means to an evangelical. In my religious upbringing, you don't know you are saved until you stand before the judgment seat of God after your death and you find out whether you have lived a life worthy of an eternity in heaven. As evangelicals use the term, it still sounds to me as if they believe all one must do is say "Hallelujah, I'm saved!" and they have their tickets punched for heaven, regardless of whether they do good or evil for the rest of their lives. Jerry Falwell may have believed that he was saved, but the hate he spewed leaves me with reasonable doubt.

Note: Many Christians disagree about this. I can only give you my belief.

I believe being saved means making a definite decision to believe God and accept Jesus Christ as one's personal savior. When that happens, Jesus' perfection covers the person. He still sins, but is not held eternally responsible because of Christ's sacrifice. However, a one-time decision that is followed by no action on the person's part would lead me to question their salvation, though I am not the judge by any means.

The way to get rid of salvation is to purposely reject it. Otherwise, a person can know without any doubt that they are saved.

Now, I do not believe everyone who says they are a Christian is one, but I am not God. The Bible indicates that people who are Christians will have certain good qualities in their lives. If they don't, it makes me wonder.