I’ve always though the scariest verses in the Bible were found in Matthew 7:22-23 where Jesus says, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Listen again to these words of Jesus….“I never knew you.” These are people who knew of Jesus, but there was no relationship. They knew him by name, but did not know him personally. They did good deeds, but there was no surrender of their life. They wanted to serve Jesus on their terms.
How can this be? Not everyone who claims a relationship with God, actually has one. Verse 22 says they replied, but Lord we did good works in your name!
In other words, these were people who came to prayer meeting, they gave in the offering, they showed up on Sundays. By their outward behavior, their practices, and their language, these false Christian appear indistinguishable from true Christians.
You can be a good person and still not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship leads to a desire to please God. A relationship leads to lordship.
I’m not saying the only people going to Heaven are those who have it all together and are living perfect lives. No, we all still struggle with sin.
What I am saying is that you have to acknowledge Jesus’ claim over your whole life. There is no portion of your life that is off limits to God. Yes, you mess up and you need a lot of work, but you recognize His Lordship and you are looking to Him to bring all areas of your life under His control. You willfully submit to His authority in your life.
Here’s something that concerns me very much: There are many evangelical churches that are moving towards a universalism doctrine. It goes like this: God is good. He is loving. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Everyone will be saved and will go to Heaven.
This not what Jesus is teaching us in the Sermon on the Mount. Yes, God is good and loving and wants all people to be saved, but we must enter through the gate.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
So what do we do with this? Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 - “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
Is my faith only based on an intellectual understanding?
Is my faith only based on experiences?
Is my faith only based on emotion and feelings?
Am I trying to earn salvation through good works?
Is my faith resulting in a changed life?
Saving faith is different from worldly faith. We hear it all the time… “If you believe it, you can achieve it.” That’s not biblical faith. That’s man-centered faith. Biblical faith is not just believing Jesus can save you. That is just an intellectual assent. Even Satan believes that Jesus can save.
Saving faith is acknowledging your own sin and rebellion against God. It’s realizing that you could do nothing to fix this on your own. It is believing that God love you by sending His son to die for you and to pay the penalty for your sin. Saving faith is turning from your sin and trusting Jesus for forgiveness and freedom.
Today’s Challenge: In prayer, do what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13…examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith. True salvation comes as we place our faith in Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins. Nothing else will work.
