Do you have a false sense of security when it comes to salvation? I ask this since many people believe that they are saved because they have said a sinners prayer and/or are going to church now. But does saying a prayer once show God that we are all in? How about going to church, but not following the teachings of Christ? The answer is, that without God we are in no wise on His righteous path, unless we are made righteous through Him. How does this happen? It happens when the Lord Jesus Christ has heard our cries and cleansed us from all sin. Because He has then put the Holy Spirit into our lives, we are able to resist the same temptations that kept us in bondage in the past. So our walk begins to form as we are given this new life to live. The problem is, not everybody is willing to take up their own cross and follow Him. What is keeping them from doing this? It is their sinful life, and love of what they have now more than what they can do for God. To these people, they are outside of the Lord’s salvation, for they have not done what Jesus said is necessary to be saved. He said, 1“if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) As you can see, denying our self and following Christ is for salvation. Nothing in this world is more valuable than following Jesus and being saved.
To continue to live in willful sin is telling God that He doesn’t matter and is storing up His wrath for that wicked person’s life. Does this person who loves their sins more than God not know that God is holy, and in our sinful state we cannot enter his presence? This is because heaven is pure and only those that are made righteous through Christ’s blood can enter. And this is a process throughout our lives. Meaning, that as we live our own lives, we are apt to stumble into sin, but in those moments we go to God in prayer, for mercy and healing. We do not stay in that sin, but give it all to God. As God convicts us of the sins that are holding us back, we repent and give our lives to Him. Paul taught of these sins also and said, 2“know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) There is a laundry list of sins that can take a person to hell, but nobody is destined there. Every person that comes to God with their sins are sanctified through the blood of Jesus. We are then made whole and justified before God. In this fashion, we are able to endure in the faith and walk in the light of Jesus. Through His armor in our life, we are able to live for Him and showcase His good works.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for every person that desires to be saved, but isn’t truly saved yet. Speaking of these so-called Christians, many of them are living outside of Your grace and don’t even realize it. Because their pastors are not teaching upon sin and hell, they have become content with their wicked lifestyle, although it is abominable in Your sight. Surely, people are being misinformed on what sin is and how it will keep them from Your presence. Since their pastors are not teaching them from every part of Your Word, they are getting the truth mixed up in the world. For this reason, they have departed from You, not knowing this. Lord, this is disheartening that pastors are not teaching people about homosexuality, pornography and abortion. Maybe if they did, then people would know that being gay is a sin and how marriage is for husband and wife and that’s it. They would also know that abortion is murder and that killing unborn children is very grievous in Your sight. And people would know that porn is lusting in their hearts for another person, which is adultery. Do they not know that You are holy and our sinful ways will keep us apart from You? So Lord, I pray that You will prick these pastors hearts to repent and desire to teach from and believe in all Your Words in the Bible. I also pray for every person that desires to be saved, but is off course in the world. Give them a desire to read the Bible daily and to pray often. This way, will Your Words convict them of their sins, that they may repent. Then, will they come fully over to You in their confessions. And once Your presence comes upon them, will they see themselves as the sinner and desire to be cleansed. This I know to be true, for Your blood can cover all sin, as it has mine, if people would believe in and trust in You. Truly, when we learn to follow You, that is when we are saved. Thank You for teaching me and showing me the way. I love You more than anything. Your grace is enough for my life. I will follow You unto the ends of the earth. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 16:13-28 (KJV)
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
21 Corinthians 6:9-20 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
