There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Act 4:12)
Secure through the Church? This is a very critical issue! One that needs to be addressed by those who assume to be saved because of their religious involvement with what they understand to be the Christian Church. Generally, but not always, it effects those who have grown up in a religious Christian environment.
Some of the branches of the true Church are very large numerically and very powerful, politically! I'm purposing not to isolate this issue by identifying some of these Christian denominations by name. The false assurance of spiritual security through a religious organization is not necessarily limited to merely the "bigger organizations" and popular denomination of the Christian Church.
Some people today have a false sense of spiritual security because they were baptized into the Christian Church when they were an infant. They're under the impression that this secures their destiny in God's future Kingdom on earth. This is a serious mistake. However, I do believe that if people are sincere with God and are genuinely seeking the truth then God will show them the error of their way. He did this for Martin Luther and He'll do it for anyone who really wants to know the truth. Is that you? Do you really what to know the truth about your religious security? Are you really interested in knowing what the Word of God has to say. What a great tragedy to go through life self deceived about the eternal destiny of your soul!
The real issue regarding salvation and eternal life has to do with a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:24 - He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. Jesus did this for you, not the Christian Church, not some religious organization! Jesus is our Savior and in order for Jesus' redemptive work to be spiritually applied to a person's life requires a personal spiritual relationship with Him. Act 2:21 - But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved' This is what I mean by personal! Have you, as a person called on the name of the Lord? Have you called out to Jesus for personal salvation? Have you personally gone to Him seeking His forgiveness of your sins? Do you personally show and express your gratitude to Christ for what He did for you by living according to His Word? Is your relationship with God personal? If not, then you need to make the necessary steps to assure it is.
There has never been a religious group more zealous for God than the Jews. While Jesus was on earth seeking the lost they were busy going through their religious traditions. They were so self determined they refused to hear God's loving voice reaching out to them through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were under the impression that eternal life was rightfully theirs simply because they had been born an Israelite. Religious? Yes! Zealous for God? Yes! Saved? NO! Maybe you were raised in a Christian home and have gone to Church all your life. You may even be involved in giving leadership to your local church as a board member. Maybe you lead worship or sing in the choir. Maybe you teach Sunday school. It's possible to be a religious Christian and not be a true Christian at all!
What really matters? How has God chosen to save people? He chose to save them through personal repentance of their sin and their personal belief in, and, acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. There is no religious organization, Christian or otherwise that can save people from their sins. There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.(Act 4:12) Salvation and eternal life all very simple really! It's all about a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Religious Christianity (though it may not be real Christianity) has, like the old Jewish system, various forms and rituals. They all seem to have certain hoops to jump through. What does God's Word say? Gal 6:15 - It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. It's like water baptism for example! What really counts. If you're not "Born Again" by the power of God's Holy Spirit prior to water baptism the chances are you'll simply go under the water as a "dry sinner" and come up out of in a "wet sinner". This is the salvation issue, "are you a new creation in Christ"? Does the same Spirit that lived in Jesus Christ when He was here on earth now live in you? Please, in all sincerity, ask yourself this question? Does the Holy Spirt of Jesus Christ live in me? It's not about which Church you belong to! It's about whether or not Christ is alive in your heart, (your spirit)!
There's a portion of God's Word that requires our attention at this point. Christianity is certainly not void of religion. In fact some of the various, so called, Christian denomination are very religious, very legal and require quite strict adherence to their rules,regulations and rituals. Failure to comply could mean excommunication and loss of salvation! Here's how the Lord addresses this issue. I want you to listen to what the Lord says here! It's important!
Mat 7:21-23 "Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's name'
What I find so interesting here is the fact that this is being addressed to those who are of a Christian religion. There are numerous large religions in the world, but what Jesus is saying here is addressing those who call Jesus Lord. This portion of Scripture always deeply affects me. Here are people who as far as the human eye is concerned look like they're Christian. These people are even, like Judas was, involved in dramatic Christian ministry and yet God who sees the hearts refuses to have anything to do with them. He refuses their entrance into His eternal Kingdom because these were people who had not entered into a personal relationship with Christ. They were not people who were genuinely "Born Again" of God's Holy Spirit. These were not people who personally obeyed God's Word.
Religion is a powerful life threatening spirit. It does all the outward things that give the appearance of the real, yet in reality, lacks the essential life giving power of God.
Mat 23:25-28 - "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and
you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the
outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-full of
greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the
inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean,
too. 27 "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you
Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs-beautiful
on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all
sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but
inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Outward show is not going to cut it on judgment day! Packing a Bible to Church on Sunday morning is no proof of eternal life. Being on the Church board and having membership with a local church or denomination isn't the critical issue. What counts is if you've been Born Again and have the life changing Holy Sprit of Christ in you. If you're not sure about how personal your relationship is with Christ is, then you need to start at square one. Don't assume anything when it comes to your personal relationship with Christ. This is not something anyone else can do for you. This is not something others can purchase or impose upon you. This is something that requires your personal involvement. You are the one that must repent of your sins. No infant water baptism can address this issue. God calls all people everywhere to repent and everyone must call upon the name of the Lord personally. There are no proxy salvations in the eternal Kingdom of God.
If you're not sure of your salvation you can be! If you will go to the Lord right now in prayer seeking His forgiveness of your sins He will receive you. If you call out to Him in sincerity He will meet you! He will forgive and cleanse you. As you fully embrace Him as your personal Lord and Savior He will fully embrace you. Invite Him into your life right now. Make Him Lord of your life from this moment on. Invite Him to come into your life, into heart (spirit) and make you new. Invite Him to change and transform you into a new person who will, from this moment on honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to make you a person who loves Him and loves to obey His Word. Tell Him you want the reality of Jesus' life in you, not cold, indifferent, legalistic religion.
If you believe the Lord has been speaking to you and you would like to have a personal relationship with Christ but still feel you need a bit more help taking the first steps to that relationship then I encourage you to click here where you'll be given a few simple clear instructions that will help you.
I don't want to leave you until I know I have encouraged you not to put your decision off. If you feel God has been speaking to your heart then you need to respond now. You need to go to God right where you are. They will not be a better place or a better time. Don't put God off when He calls, respond now and you'll be glad you did. He wants you to come. He's waiting for you to come. Don't however be deceived to think He'll wait forever. He wont! You need to take your first steps towards a personal intimate relationship with the Lord right now. May God help you to make the right choice!
If I can be of any personal help to you then please don't hesitate to E-mail me at
newliferealities@hotmail.com
