Really His or Not

[John81]

Millions call themselves by His name, it is true, and pay some token respect to Him, but a simple test will show how little He is really honored among them. Let the average man be put to the proof on the question of who or what is above, and his true position will be exposed. Let him be forced into making a choice between God and money, God and men, between God and personal ambition, God and self, God and human love, and God will take second place every time. Those other things will be exalted above. However the man may protest, the proof is in the choices he makes day after day throughout his life.

-A.W. Tozer

[heartstrings]

We have all strayed and we have all done worldly things. I myself have 'faults' and have struggled with things since I have been saved. But just because someone strays is no proof that they aren't saved. A person is saved because he has Jesus living in his heart and if Jesus lives in there, it won't be long before a straying brother gets himself chastised. So the only one I can really know about, for certain, is myself. Jesus said we could know some "by their fruits". What is the "bad fruit"? Do we really know about the other fellow? Can we see their heart? Do we know if Jesus lives in there? No we don't. So the best thing I can do is worry about my own self and keep "read up, prayed up, confessed up", And if I get the strange feeling that I might be in the presence of a wolf in sheep's clothing; do like a sheep does....face the wolf , test the wolf, and when he growls and lunges toward me........RUN .

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

[John81]

There is a huge difference between one who strays and one who continually lives their life in a contrary way.

How many professing Christians rarely, if ever, attend church...believe it's okay to have sex with whoever so long as they "love" one another...have no problem taking the Lord's name in vain, blaspheming and using His name as a curse...etc.?

One of the "tests" of whether or not we are truly saved, which Scripture says we should each examine ourselves to be sure, is whether or not we are truly forsaking all for Christ.

No doubt none of us are perfect but if we are true followers of Christ we should be able to clearly tell by looking at our lives.

[Anon]

While it is true that the only person who knows the state of someone's soul is that person and God.... the Bible does talk about faith being shown by works for a reason....and fruit....

Too many people think they can just say a prayer and live as they please. Its a far cry from early Christianity when getting saved meant your entire life changed and you lived and sacrificed completely for God.

[JerryNumbers]

Most do all they can & try to blend the Word & the world together, trying their best to get the best both have to offer, thus never placing all their faith in Christ. Sometimes its whole churches.

Usually when someone tries to talk to them about this, most often they will attract your character, letting you know just how imperfect your are.

And of course Jesus told us this.

Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Edited September 15, 2011 by Jerry80871852

[John81]

While it is true that the only person who knows the state of someone's soul is that person and God.... the Bible does talk about faith being shown by works for a reason....and fruit....

Too many people think they can just say a prayer and live as they please. Its a far cry from early Christianity when getting saved meant your entire life changed and you lived and sacrificed completely for God.

Amen! That's something that should concern anyone professing to be a Christian, especially when we read of Jesus saying that one day many who thought of themselves as being His, even those who were "doing" stuff they thought was for Him, will be told He never knew them and they will be cast away.

Reminds me of the documentary I saw about this "good Christian girl" who grew up in a pretty conservative Christian home, seemed to be on the right track with the Lord, went to college, began questioning things, had a lesbian roommate that she eventually "experimented with" and "learned" God had "made her" a lesbian...and that smoking and drinking were okay...and her life from that point onward has been one of living ungodly while believing shes still a "good Christian".

This also reminds me of a time when I really examined my life and by the grace of God heard a great sermon on the topic which really helped me to look at my life biblically and see the changes in my life and the progression in Christ in my life from the time I was born again until that moment.

Those preachers and others who say one can be saved and continue to live as before, with no signs of salvation, are teaching a very dangerous thing.