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Salvation |
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The Journey of Faith
Since establishing this website have been blessed to
have thousands of visitors. Although every article we
post is important, we believe that the information below
addresses the most important issue of all - salvation.
Please print off this material and use it to lead your
friends into a deeper understanding of God's will.
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Many try to
convince themselves that they are saved by arguing, "I
am basically a good person. Compared with others like
Judas, Ghengis Khan or Hitler I am a great person. I
must be saved because I am good." Although this argument
seems logical and even convincing, peace with God is
never the result.
Goodness is a relative term. Compared to a mass
murderer, we are all good. But compared to Jesus, who
never committed even one sin, we are all very bad. In
fact, Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) says that "...all our righteous
acts are like filthy rags" when compared to God.
To come back to God, we must find goodness. Our goodness
is clearly not enough. Only God can provide what we
need.
The Prodigal Son tried to convince himself that he could
make it without his father. He wasted his inheritance on
wild parties and soon found himself friendless and so
hungry that he desired the slop the pigs were eating. In
Luke 15:17 (NIV), the scripture says that "...he came to
his senses" and returned to his father with a humbled
heart.
In order to come back to our Father, we too must come to
our senses. Consider Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of
my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that
day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and
in your name drive out demons and perform miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away
from me you evil doers!’”
This paragraph reveals three eye-opening facts about
“good” people. Before listing them for you, I want to
ask that you prepare yourself. Clear your mind of all
preconceived opinions and religious teachings. The
purpose of this lesson is to discover what God wants,
even if it contradicts everything that we have believed
and been taught in the past. We want to be honest with
ourselves and with God as we look at this very important
part of His word.
Goodness Is Not Found
In Just Saying The Right Things
First, this passage teaches us that goodness is not
found solely in what we say. Millions of people around
the world say they are Christians, but does that really
make them so? Read the verse again. Jesus says that in
the end many will call him “Lord” or master, yet not be
saved. Notice what Jesus said about some very religious
people in another passage. “These people honor me with
their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They
worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught
by men.” (Matthew 15:8-9, NIV) Here we find that lip
service only makes our worship in vain. It is not nearly
enough to just say we are Christians, we must actually
be Christians by God’s definition.
Many believe that just because they have a biblical name
over their door, or a scriptural title on their church
letterhead, that they are automatically saved. Remember,
it is not what you say you are, but what God says you
are that counts! It is not the name on the building that
saves, it is the name on the heart. The question is -
has Jesus signed your heart?
Goodness Is Not Found
In Just Doing What You Think Is Right
Secondly, we must understand that doing “good” deeds is
not a guarantee of Heaven either. Look at the passage
again.
“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 perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them
plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you
evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23, NIV)
Sadly enough, this passage teaches that many will stand
before God on the day of judgment expecting to go to
Heaven, yet they will be turned away. Why will they be
turned away? Not for a lack of “good” works. Not for a
lack of “good” claims. The passage clearly says that
they did many “good” deeds and they spoke many “good”
words. So why will they be turned away from the gates of
Heaven? They will be refused because they did not do and
say what God commanded.
Too many people are risking their eternity on the words
of a preacher or their feelings. Others base their
salvation on being part of the “majority". Because they
come from a large denomination or worship with a large
congregation, they believe that the “majority” must be
right. Please consider Matthew 7:14 (NIV). “But small is
the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and
only a few will find it.” The religion of the “majority”
is never a safe guide. What does God say? We must do it
His way even if the "majority” does it another way. Only
God's opinion really matters.
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