Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
There are many avenues that are in that broad way to Hell and destruction. The ultimate way to Hell and destruction though is rejection of God's Son. People don't want to accept Christ because they don't want to do away with their sin. They are not willing to repent of their sin and go God's way.
Do you know that even some people that make a profession of faith will go to Hell? Many take it for granted that if a person says they are saved that they are automatically going to Heaven. This is not necessarily true.
Matthew 7:16-21 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
A person can go to church every time the doors are open and still die and go to Hell. A person must see themselves a sinner lost and without God. Once seeing themselves a sinner they must confess that to God in their heart and turn from their sin and their old way of life and turn God's way. There must be repentance!!
When the heart turns toward God there will be a change in that person's life. So many are repeating a prayer and being "pronounced saved and going to Heaven" based on the prayer and what they said. It is not in what we say!! It is an attitude of the heart. Before I got saved I repeated a prayer and was "pronounced" saved. Nothing in my life changed. Four years later I got truly born-again. When I prayed that time I didn't pray for God to save me with my mouth. I asked God to forgive me of what I had done to destroy my marriage. But my heart cried out to God to save me. From that moment on my life changed. Now God deals with me on issues of separation. God deals with His children on these issues...not lost people. A lost person will be dealt with about salvation first.
God may be telling someone reading this you are unsaved. Don't push Him away.
If you profess to be saved....check up and make sure you are. The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" If you're not...confess it to God and let Him into your heart and life. If you are....then praise Him and thank Him for the assurance He gives that you are.
I John 5:14 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
5 comments:
Mrs Julie this is a good post. I hope many will be by to read it. I too repeated a prayer when I was younger but it was not until I was 17 that I cried out to God to forgive me and that he changed my life. I praise his name because I see where my sister, and my brother made professions with their mouth but live their life the way they want too, and they think they are saved. How sad that if they don't chunk that profession that they will end up in Hell. I am glad that you saw that need and that preacher saw that need after making professions because we would never have the friendship we do.
Bro Tim
This also happened to me . It is fairly common among church kids. SO important to verify the profesion is of the heart, as best we can . But really, on God knows the heart.
That was a great post..Thank you!!!
Hey I posted earlier, but it didn't seem to get added. Who knows, the way my brain works, (or not) I may have forgotten to hit the submit button. Anyway, I was a "professer" not a "posesser" until my early 20's. I was raised in a Pastor's home, taught S.S. went to Christian College, taught in Christian schools. But accepting the Lord had never been a personal decision for me, just a convenient way of life. Thank God for praying parents who sensed things weren't right with me spiritually. I came under conviction and repented while driving my car down the highway!
Hey Sis. Julie, I notieced today you have a link to Faith Camp Grounds and to Phil Kidd's sites. Do you know Bro. Phil and Bro. Sammy Allen well? Did you know Pastor Craig Hughes who passed away a few months bacK? These guysvery near and dear to Pastor Hughes. My Dad preached Pastor Hughes funderal back in Aug. I am anxiously awaiting to see if you knew him!
Post a Comment