In America that is known supposedly to be a "Christian Nation" it is one of the most "Godless Nations" in the world today! When you ask people if they are a Christian most people will tell you that they are, especially living in the "Bible Belt" areas, where there are "Christian" churches in almost every street corner. Upon examining these peoples lives we find that most are in complete deception thinking that they are saved and this could not be further from the truth! Unfortunately, many of these people are just doing their best with what they have been taught in the churches today. Given a watered down gospel in order to make everybody happy and keep their members in the doors! Today churches in the West have become a trap more than an escape! There are many people that are walking around thinking that they are "OK with God" and they can continue living their lives just like anybody else because they have been "saved by grace" and there is nothing they have to do for it....
While the latter is true that we are saved by grace, there are conditions that we must meet in order to be truly saved. The bible says that Jesus came to save his people from their sin. Mat 1:21 First, John the Baptist comes on the scene and his mission was to prepare the way for the Lord. John came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mat 3:1-2).
We later read in Mat 4:17 when Jesus began his earthly ministry after being baptized in the Holy Spirit He also begins his preaching saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". So what is the first condition/step toward salvation? REPENTANCE!
Most people who have prayed "the sinners prayer" have not fulfilled this very first step! Repentance means to turn away. Like doing a 180 not a 360...What we are witnessing in many churches today are people led to these prayers based on emotionalism instead of a true conviction of heart given to them by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they have an emotional moment, pray a short prayer and BAM you are now part of the kingdom of God! They go home completely unchanged and unrepented and continue to live their own sinful lives. Really??...Well, my bible says that, "Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mat 7:21). This scripture is talking about people who think they are saved and are really not!
There are many preachers in pulpits today unsaved, living in self deception and deceiving others! Watch out! Jesus said in Mat 24 known as the "Olivet Discourse" that the biggest thing we had to watch out for in the end times was DECEPTION! Sadly, most of the deception today is coming from within the pulpit of the churches.
We are all born in a fallen state with our backs turned to God. When we turn away from our sinful ways, we REPENT. What do we turn away from? Sin and idolatry (1The 1:9). Anything that we love more than God is considered and idol (or another God). It could be a spouse, child, car, boat, animal, money etc...The bible says we should love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself (Luke 10: 27). Therefore, we give God back his rightful place in our lives...FIRST PLACE! God has to see that a man choses him first before he will forgive his sins. God does not force anyone to do anything you do not want. He gives you a free will. The bible says that Jesus stands at the door and knocks: and if any man hears his voice, and opens the door, he will come in to him (Rev 3:20). He is a gentle man and will not force his way in. A relationship with God is like a marriage...sometimes a man might ask a women to marry him and she doesn't say,"yes" until 5 years later or she might say, "yes" right away. The marriage cannot happen until both agree to the marriage. He says to you, "I want to be united to you, I want to forgive your sins, I want to bless you, I want to come live in your heart, I want to deliver you from your bad habits, heal your emotional pain etc...but he won't do it until you say, "YES". This is why so many people in the world live without God. Many people in the world live with RELIGION but that is vastly different than living with God. There are many religions including the "Christian" religion. Most people are in a religion because they were born into it. There is a big difference in being religious and being united with the person of God. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, to follow traditions, or to go to church every Sunday. He came to bring us into a relationship with the "Father God". We are all born seeking our own profit and gain, we by nature our SELFISH! That includes religious people...
To turn to God means to turn away from seeking my own way and everything that dishonors the Lord. It means to turn away from the sinful pleasures of this world. It means to stop seeking your own honor, your own recognition, and to leave your life of sins. It is easy to deceive ourselves and think because we have prayed a short prayer this has happened in our lives. Jesus said, "These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me. But in vain they worship me for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat 15:8-9). But the bible says we must bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance (Mat 3:8). How do show fruit of repentance? If you have stolen-give it back. If you need to ask someone for forgiveness-go and do so. Your acts (fruit) will prove that you have repented. NO FRUIT=NO REPENTANCE! You have to acknowledge the sin of worshipping created things and others more than God. It doesn't mean having to give up earthly things that we may use in everyday lives but it means giving up an attachment to earthly things...but if we make these things more important than our heavenly Father then we are making these things "other Gods" and they will destroy us. The Christian life means living a SELFLESS life!
Next, comes forgiveness...Jesus said in Matthew 6:15 that if we don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses! You want God to forgive all your disgusting sin but you don't want to forgive others! This is a must to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. I understand it is really hard to forgive others that have caused you so much pain in your heart! Those who have abused you, taken advantage of you, broken your heart and have tried to destroy you! Nevertheless, forgiveness is an act of the will...you chose to forgive or not to forgive. Unforgiveness is you drinking the poison and expecting the other person to die...It slowly kills you! Forgiveness is not saying what someone else did to you was okay. It doesn't even mean you have to expose yourself to that person again, especially in the case of abuse. It just means obeying God and forgiving that person as an act of your will and trusting God to bring you the healing in your heart that the person who sinned against you caused. Are you willing to trust God and allow him to heal your heart? Why hold on to all that pain? Let it go and let God in!
These are the basic conditions for salvation...Jesus paid a heavy price on that cross for your salvation. It cost him everything! What does he ask of you in return? Everything! Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service". If he has your heart, he has your body, he has everything else... your money, possessions etc...
So, now that you have read the basic conditions for salvation....do you know if you are? Have you met these conditions? Examine yourself closely. What do you meditate in (your thoughts)? What do you spend most of your time in? What kind of music do you listen to? What do you watch? We have to be really honest with ourselves and ask God to give us the courage to really look at ourselves. The person in the mirror sometimes is the hardest one to face!
Be Blessed!
Amen Anais!
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