Are you really a Christian?

A Call unto Salvation

The question is not, “Can I lose my salvation,” but rather, did you ever have salvation to begin with?

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ IF INDEED WE HOLD OUR ORIGINAL CONFIDENCE FIRM TO THE END.” (Heb. 3:15).

I often wonder about how strong the disciples were- Jesus said, “follow me.” And the dropped everything and left.

He said, “Go.” And off they went.

They might have questioned him- as to how they were going to feed 5000+ asking him if they should run to the local Safeway… or if he had some other “miraculous” plan… which of course He did…

They freaked out when they saw a man walking on the water in the middle of a windstorm… but who wouldn’t!

At least Peter got out of the boat.

But I’m concerned about these who think that because they congregate with other Christians or that they walked the isle or got baptized as a young child they are saved.

Because the Bible clearly talks about a lot of people who claim to be religious not entering the Kingdom.

“And those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:6)

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rains fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell and great was the fall of it.” (Math 7:26-27)

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (Matt 5:20)

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 7:19).

 “There will be those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast our demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt 7:21-23). 

I’m thinking that we have become a United States of isle walkers and prayers that don’t exist people who believe that if they are “good enough” or “better than….” Then most certainly God will forgive them and allow them into heaven.

The fact of the matter is- that we are not good enough.

There was a Centurion (a Roman officer- in charge of a hundred or so men) who came to Jesus because his servant was dying and Jesus just happened to be in town –

Ok… first of all, I can’t even get the pastor of a church to let me put a Stork bus in the parking lot- let alone pray for me to be healed…. LET ALONE walk around Scottsdale, AZ to find my savior to heal me!

This man not only found Jesus for his SERVANT-

Not his son…

Not even one of the high-ranking men in his army…

His slave.

But he walked the streets of his city until he found Jesus and said, “Jesus, I need you… I am not worthy of you… But if you would just say the word…” (paraphrased, obviously)

Jesus offered to come to his home- and the man said, “No way… I am so not worthy of you- there is no way that I would even request that of you Jesus- Just say the word.”

Jesus’ response (after he immediately healed the servant, of course) was that there was no greater faith in Israel.

Jesus goes on to say that although men will come from the east and the west to recline at the table with Abraham and the greats….

There will be, and I quote: “the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The “sons of the kingdom” is a Semitic term for the actual National Israel… who of course believed that because they were Israelite’s, they were born into salvation.

But they were wrong –

Just because Israel believed that they were “chosen” Jesus set the record straight-

As a matter of fact, in Hebrews (referencing the 40 year walk through the wilderness) –  God swore that those who were disobedient in the wilderness would die there and never enter into His rest (heaven… let alone the “promised land”)  (Read chapter 3 – or better yet, study the Exodus).

Over and over in the Bible Jesus explicitly demands obedience and warns that His Holiness will tolerate nothing less.

Just because you grew up in the church, you were born in America… Just because your kids go to church, or you think you are good enough…

Or, God help you, you said a prayer in church- or at church camp somewhere….

But you are disobedient. As a matter of fact, you blend into the world so much that no one could tell that you were a Christian by your actions, let alone the words you speak.

The Bible tells us to “exhort one another EVERY DAY, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin,” (Heb. 3:13)

That verse continues to say, “For we have come to share in Christ, IF…. Our original confidence is… FIRM til the END.

Here’s the deal- We are called to “Strive to enter into His rest.” (that’s not roll over on your pillow and go to sleep)… that means His Rest- apart from this world and its struggles – Heaven – that permanent place of peace and perfection.

Some of you in the “church” will not be there.

The Bible says we know who you are because of your fruit- and it also tells us to weed you out. To call you out, using the Word of God.

You know why? Because in Matthew it says that you and your actions and your pathetic loose translations of scripture and your petty traditions of men will kill the church as a whole and send my children and my grandchildren to hell (Matthew 5:30).

Paul says this to the “religious” of his day – “One is justified by faith.”

Faith in Jesus. In case you missed that part.

This country has been “justified” but not by faith in Jesus, but rather the gods that you have made.

Money: We buy the most expensive name brands – even though you can’t pay your light bill, you have an Xbox.

You might not be able to make your rent payment, but you drive a nice truck.

Pride: You might not bring home a pay check each week… but you have a position, you call a “JOB” within an industry where people “think” you make money… while your wife works 3 jobs and cares for the house and kids…

Knowledge: You have more education then you want because you don’t know how you’re going to pay off your student loans, so as you work as a server at outback… you continue to go to school… because you had faith in a system that is now broken, but you “know” that you can succeed on your own – you don’t need anyone….

Pride of Life: We have more respect for our favorite sport than we do in Jesus. We not only watch our team on TV, we wear their jerseys, we fantasize about having our own team, and who would play. We paint our faces and cheer them on. We make little snacks with team colors and we stand and scream as they come out of the locker room.

We even deny their victims the right to justice by overlooking their heinous off-the-field crimes.

We have released Barabbas into the crowd and crucified Jesus in the name of tolerance. In the name of having full pews and hefty offerings for that next building project or “spiritual vacay to Yucatan” so you can build a hospital next to one of the most expensive beach-side resort destinations in the world….. All while Muslims are chopping the heads off Christians in the Middle East….

FANTASTIC.

It’s time to take a stand against this “religious” garbage and toss some tables.

It’s time for you to take off the fake jersey that you bought at the pro-shop and quit pretending that you’re on the team.

You’re not.

You don’t have what it takes to even read the play book, let alone attend practices.

You couldn’t play one inning of this game- you can’t even stand up to the jeers of the opposing team.

So you need to just lay down and play dead. Because that is exactly what you are.

Dead.

In other words… It’s time to for you to lay down your idea of what a Christian is and who God is and get in the game – or just admit what you are- a liar.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1:18-21).

You must bow at the cross. You must serve God and not this world – “You cannot serve two masters.” He demands all of you-

You can spout off about how much you believe God loves you- but He is HOLY. He is JUST. He has written the play book- you MUST follow the rules and you must come to grips with the fact that its about HIS glory- not yours.

As a matter of fact, it has very little to do with us at all. It has everything to do with Him.

God gives a great depiction of what he thinks about those who are self-sufficient, fence-sitting, love everybody, tolerance rules, God wouldn’t do that, idol-worshiping, said a prayer at birth, isle walking, little ‘c’ Christians-

You are like the nasty, disgusting vile-bile that comes from the pit of your stomach into your throat and causes you to heave vomit until the waste is gone (Rev. 3:16).

You know what’s gonna happen now – I do.

Someone’s going to get really, really pissed off and they won’t post here, they find me on Face Book and they post a meme or some statement that they “hope” I will see….

Or I’ll be called a “hater”- but they will email me using some obscure email address…

I wonder to myself, is it conviction? Or do they really, really love their sin more than they love God?

I remember conviction. It was so hard to turn away from the sin that was so easy.

And there was that brokenness, that shame, that guilt, that kept me from the cross – not feeling like I was worthy because I kept making the same mistakes and bad decisions over and over and over….

It wasn’t until Jesus’ Holy word told me to believe Him and nothing or no one else.

And I when I totally, completely surrendered and believed that He loved me- it was then and only then that I loved Him.

I’m not perfect. Most days I’m convicted that I’m not doing enough for the Kingdom, that I have wasted so much of my life that I just want to make up for lost time.

But this I know, I am called and I am not called to sit on my butt- I am called to use my story for God’s glory and to encourage, exhort, spur YOU to be all God has commanded you to be.

Like you would use your spur to get a stubborn horse to move – consider this a gentle spur- Lets giddy-up!