QUOTE : Of all the marks of a genuine Christian presented in Scripture, none is more significant than the one Paul mentions here. People give evidence of being truly reconciled when they continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast. The Bible repeatedly testifies that those who are truly reconciled will continue in the faith. In the parable of the soils, Jesus described those represented by the rocky soil as “‘those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away’” (Luke 8:13). By falling away they gave evidence that they were never truly saved.