"The gospel we've preached has been lopsided with emphasis on accepting Jesus by praying a sinner's prayer. We confess Him as "Lord," and once done we are saved eternally. Yet this is not what Jesus teaches. He says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 7:21, NIV)"
He goes on to say that converts gained in this manner...
"...go back to their seats "just as they were." Except now they are deceived. Nothing has been said concerning repentance from disobedient lifestyles, denying their own desires... ...losing their lives for the cause of Christ. They've confessed Jesus as their "Lord," but there's been no heart change."
Hmmmm...... interesting... I want to say I agree with him a 100%.
4 comments:
I am glad that we have a hope in an eternity that if wouldnt have been for Jesus we would never have.
So many people dont have that hope that we have and its sad.
A lot of good people are going to go to hell,they could of won a peace prize, never did kill,steal,commit adultry ect....
But without making Jesus there savior they are doomed to that other eternity,forever is a long long long time.
There is so much technology in the world, where the word of God is seen or heard, but people still reject HIM! Good people are just that...GOOD, but not saved.
I'm thankful for the love of Jesus Christ that gets me through the day, whether it be good day or bad day. He is always there!
The author of this book has also devoted much writing to scripturally demonstrating how many people who think they are saved will in fact, be cast into hell. These are people he describes as being saved (they are believing on Jesus for their salvation), but yet are deceived, and are in certain ways, not living the truth out in their lives, but yet they are faithful to their church, they may be involved in ministry, and by all appearances seem to be on top of things.
He says these are the people who will have done things in the Lord's name, but yet Jesus will tell them He knew them not, and separate them as goats from the sheep. He uses an allegory, a fictionalized story, to illustrate his point, which is very effective. Somewhat mind sobering, really.
I would not want to be counting on Jesus for my salvation, die, appear before Him, and then find out that because of some deception I bought into, I did not gain entrance into Heaven.
What is scary to me about this, is I personally feel that deceived people don't know they are deceived. Finding out after death that you were one of them is too late, and that is scary!
These thoughts give me insight into what the writer of Philippians was trying to say in Phil. 2:12b, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...".
I have never understood what this meant really, since I have always believed that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but this author is point blank saying that faith is not enough, how we live our life, whether we have lived a SELF-LESS life for Christ, daily crucifying the flesh, and truly are different people because of our faith (publicly and privately); it all matters and counts towards whether we truly found that narrow way that leads to the gate of heaven.
Remember, faith without works is dead and works without faith are just works. Saying a sinner's prayer is not enough; we have to crucify our flesh, truly live for Christ and allow the grace of God in our lives to change us to be more Christ-like, authentic Christians, and then stay faithful to this lifestyle our entire life.
While preparing for Sunday School this morning.. the text I am having to lead discussion on is found in Luke 11:17-28. Since we are doing an inductive study on spiritual warfare, the author of this particular study has included this text, to illustrate the point that it is far more important for us to hear the Word of God, and then to obey and practice it, rather than get fixated on being able to drive out demons. However, in preparing for this, the subject of spiritual deterioration (which is a separate study all in itself) starts poking its little head up. So on the off chance, I started to research it a bit, just in case someone asks questions... guess what I find? ...in relation to the posts here regarding salvation and its sureness in our life? ...a scripture that seems to indicate that Christians definitely can loose their salvation...
2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (KJV)
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first. (AMP)
This text has to be addressing authentic believers... only they could have the full, personal knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Their condition prior to that knowledge was that of lost, condemned to Hell. This scripture tells us that if they are re-overcome by the entanglements of the world's pollutions (its wickedness and ways), then their state is worse than prior to when they were saved. If that state includes losing salvation, then that should put some reverential fear of God into the conduct of our lives!
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