I was driving to a Revival Meeting, listening to Christian radio. The program featured an interview with an author who is also a Pastor in Florida.
And this young man’s “burden” was the hordes of people who have (somehow) infiltrated (joined) our Churches who in reality do NOT know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour!
He called them “nominal” Christians. Yes, “in name only” … professing followers of our Lord.
Or the even greater number of (in the Nation’s so called “mainline” Churches) souls who “grew up” in Church … never considering themselves anything but “good, moral people” … individuals who have all their lives basically espoused “Biblical” values.
Or now these days, people who are “religious” but have been misled into accepting all kinds of (once considered) “perversions” as rather “normal” for the “born-again” Christian. In other words, people who have never experienced Holy Ghost conviction!
The Book I’ve mentioned is subtitled (I think) … “Reaching Cultural Christianity” with the Gospel. Get that turn of words? “Cultural Christianity?” NOT truly Blood-Washed Children of God!
I see the author’s concern, though I may not agree with everything he has written. I really do. Even considering Jesus’ well known “Parable of the Sower,” which I preached only yesterday … up to 75% of the “seed” of God’s Word falls on unfruitful soil, falls into unfavorable hearts!
My purpose in writing today is NOT to plant doubt in any genuine Christian’s heart. My purpose in writing today IS to challenge each of us to be sure that we have been saved!
Paul to the Corinthians, discussing this very subject … “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?” 2 Corinthians 13:5, powerful!
Jesus too warned: “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.” Matthew 7:21
Matthew further quotes our Lord as saying: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.” Matthew 15:8
Then 2 Corinthians 5:17 … “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Has this sort of change occurred in your life?
Just a thought I had, today’s Lesson … earlier this morning.
“Unsaved” Christians. A misnomer indeed, but also an accurate assessment of “Church life” in many places.
Jesus again, still in a Parable … taught us that the enemy (the Devil) has sown “tares” in God’s “wheat” field!
My point today … Are YOU saved?
And … “Do you KNOW it?”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
John 5:24 … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” The authentic “Plan of Salvation” from the Lips of Jesus Himself.
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