A friend recently asked me several questions. I thought, if he is asking some of these questions, I am sure others are as well. I pray this post will renew your confidence in the gospel of Jesus.
Is there a sense that reprobates could mimic saving fruit and believe they are saved?
Absolutely! In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul is addressing false teachers. His concern in verse 3 is that the church would be deceived by false teaching, like the serpent deceived Eve. In verse 4, he refers to “another Jesus,” we could rightly understand this is referencing a different gospel (see Galatians 1:6-8); he continues to reference a different spirit. This spirit is not THE Spirit, but one that promotes a false gospel and gives a false assurance. The rest of this pericope has Paul defending his actions against the behavior of the false teachers, whom he refers to as “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” Here is where Paul drops the hammer, which I think really answers your question: Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so why would his servants not disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (v.13-15 paraphrased)?
I think the reprobate, in many cases, has been deceived by a false gospel. This can be a prosperity gospel, works gospel, Catholicism, Mormonism, etc. All of which have an element of morality (fruits). This is the deception of light. I also think the inverse is possible. Some resist the light altogether. Nietzsche would refer to this as nihilism, the idea that nothing matters because there is nothing after this life, so why should we live by any level of moral standards? Of course, this is only the tip of the spear, as it were, but in all circumstances, unless the Holy Spirit regenerates the individual first, they cannot discern truth from error; this is a reflection of our spiritually dead state before being made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). Where there is confidence in morality (fruits), there is a lack of an understanding of depravity. It requires the Holy Spirit to bring regeneration so that we can recognize truth from error. Last comment on this: I believe the subtlety of morality is one of the greatest tactics deployed by Satan. The idea that “I’m a good guy” has deceived many!
In what sense is endurance a good indicator if you can’t know you will endure until it’s too late?
I would change the last clause of your question from “until it’s too late” to “until the end.” I think this question is eschatologically grounded. What are we enduring toward, or in my tradition, what are we persevering toward? Those who are not truly regenerate will fall away, but those who have genuinely been saved will be there on the last day. I think the warning passage of Hebrews 6 is helpful here. Hebrews 5:11-14 – 6:1-8 is the larger pericope. The author addresses apostasy, those who will fall away and not persevere (endure). He is challenging his audience to mature toward the more profound things of God. This maturity is evidence of endurance. So, chapter 6 begins with a call to action marked by the word “therefore.” The author calls the reader to advance to maturity. Here, he addresses the danger of works as the source of one’s confidence in salvation (v.1-2). However, the warning really comes in verses 4-6. Paul says it is impossible for those who have tasted the blessings of salvation to be restored once they have fallen away. The question is, what does the author mean by “taste”? In the passage’s larger context, the author uses meat and milk as indicators of the gospel. The significant distinction here is the author does not say consume; he says taste. These are not people who have genuinely believed the truth of the gospel, and as such, they will not endure (persevere) to the end because they have an incomplete or wrong understanding of the gospel.
I started by saying I think this question is rooted in eschatology. We must come to grips with what is the destination of our endurance. Our final destination is a New Heaven and a New Earth, where we will worship in a New Jerusalem without the devastating effects of sin. Those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and justified by the blood of Jesus will, by the help of the Spirit and the assurance of the sufficient blood of Jesus, persevere to that glorious day. That is to say, those who have been regenerated and justified will also be progressively sanctified until they are glorified together with Christ. Those who endure hold fast to these gospel truths because the Holy Spirit has opened their hearts to receive the truth.
Solus Christus 
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