Hi Duane,
So...When a person shows a real, genuine interest in knowing/trusting God as Savior--
Without that--how do we ensure that the person is a new believer: to his/her/our/God's satisfaction?
Do we even ask a person who is leaning toward God if he/she would like to become saved/a new believer/born-again/a child of God?
Here is a verse to consider when you are looking to see if a person is sincerely being called out.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
v20 Therefore
by their fruits you will know them. [But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Gal 5:22-23)].
Let's not forget.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
v14 Because narrow is the gate and
difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Only if a person receives the Holy spirit can they endure to the end of this "difficult path" and if that is so, then the intent of their heart becomes obvious by their fruit. Jesus gave a parable that helps us see how so many do not or can not continue, even if they start out with much zeal.
Luke 8:4 People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable:
v5 "Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up.
v6 Some of it fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture.
v7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them.
v8 And some seeds fell in good soil; the plants grew and bore grain, one hundred grains each." And Jesus concluded, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"
Here is where Jesus explained the parable of the Sower to His disciples.
Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
v12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
v13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
v14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
v15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (GNB)
To me this passage is summed up when Jesus said this.
Luke 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
v25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
I think this might be speaking of anybody who is "rich" in the ways/cares of this world. "By their fruits you will know them."
mercy, peace and love
Kat