Do you profess to be a Christian? How much is your profession worth? If you were to poll this area, I am sure seven out of ten people would profess Christianity. Have you prayed a prayer or made a decision? Perhaps you were told that if you repeated a prayer and you confessed Christ with your mouth, then you were saved. Let me tell you that a profession is worthless.
Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have 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.
The latter part of the seventh chapter of Matthew deals specifically with those who give false professions, meaning they said they were Christians and they claimed to be followers of Jesus, but in reality, they were not. These people said “Lord, Lord” and yet had never been saved. If you are trusting your soul on a vain prayer that someone told you to repeat, that is not salvation. Many will one day stand before the Lord on the day of judgment that said “Lord, Lord”. You may profess to know Christ, but does Christ know you? To this multitude of deceived Jesus will profess “I never knew you”. They SAID they were Christians, but they were not. Their profession was worthless. God’s Word declares to us that it is not going to be just a few people but MANY will be in this position. If you read polls you would see that the overwhelming majority of this country professes Christianity. However, God’s Holy Word tells us that many will be cast into Hell because they were not really saved.
You have an eternal soul. Are you trusting in the word of some preacher or evangelist that told you that you were saved? Are you trusting in some sort of good works? Jesus said that these professors did many works in the name of God, but they were not born again. Are you trusting that the preacher who told you that you are saved told you the truth? Jesus said that many of the same people that said “ Lord, Lord” were those that preached in His name. Do not trust your soul on what a man said, but what God’s Word says.
What is salvation? There is only one God who is a Holy God. He created man in His own image, man rebelled against Him and now the human race is sunk in depravity. God is Just and will punish all sin. Sin is breaking God’s laws. God, also being merciful, sent His Son Jesus, to take the place of sinners on the cross. Jesus accepted the punishment for the sins of His people, He took their place that they might have eternal life. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for an atonement for sin. He died, and rose victoriously from the grave; and by faith, whoever trusts in the work of Christ, shall not suffer in Hell for their sins, but is born again and has everlasting life. Jesus makes it plain, there is only one way to God, and that is faith in Christ. Any other belief system is rejecting the way, the truth and the life. The consequence of rejecting Christ is an eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Matthew 7:16-20 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.
Did you make a profession and repeat a prayer, but you are not any different than you were before? Was there a change in your life? We are saved by GRACE through FAITH but God tells us that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. Was there a change in your life? This is called the “new birth” in the scriptures. The Holy Spirit of God gives life to the spiritually dead. We are given spiritual life and a desire to follow after Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, and there are “fruits” or evidences of salvation. We work out in our lives what God has placed in us. These evidences of love, joy and peace are not the reason for salvation, but are because you have been saved. The bible tells men to examine themselves. Are you saved?
Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Is your life built upon your works? Is your life built upon a profession, or saying a prayer? Is your soul anchored to your baptism or church membership? That is sand, a house without a foundation. You would never build a house without a foundation, why trust your eternal soul to something without foundation? “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.”
Christ has bore all the sins of His people in his own body on the tree, drank the cup of God’s wrath dry taking all the punishment due His people for sin, justifying many, the substitute making full satisfaction and removing our sins as far from us as the east is from the west for the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. Oh, and lest you suspect, that God may one day overlook your sin, and you will take your chances consider that the God whom would not spare His own Son, His Righteousness because of others sin, do not be deceived that He will overlook your sins, which you actually committed, knowing it to be wrong, but did it anyway, despising the God you commanded.
Romans 5:6-9
Are you saved? Have you repented, turned from your sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation? Do you follow Christ? Have you been born again? Examine your life, not by your profession, not by your friends you also made professions, but by the light of God’s word. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God John 3:3. The book of First John was written to believers that they may know that they are saved. If you are unsure, read First John and be sure. If you are not saved and now see that you are a sinner before the Almighty God, then know that Christ Jesus came to save sinners, repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
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