Thank-you Pilgrim for your humble spirit on this matter of grave consequence, for great indeed is the mystery of godliness, that God the Father was pleased to have the fulness of the Godhead dwell in Christ bodily.

Revisiting the topic of this thread:

The question is bizarre; in and of itself. If someone did not know that one was saved, then surely one would not be saved at all, or at least as the Apostle Peter wrote by the Holy Spirit; such a one has forgotten they were cleansed from their sins.

I have yet to meet a person that is not simply bursting with joy when they have been cleansed from their sins.

As to the matter of what preceeds regeneration; surely there might well be a state where the elect not yet made alive would be considered as saved in a nominal sense, namely that there names are written in the Lamb's book of life but they are not conscious of this not yet having been brought to God the Son by God the Father ? (Excuse my abundance of rather awkward corners.)

Sincerely,
The Straw.