If water baptism is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If Baptism in the Holy Spirit is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If your church is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If your denomination is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If your religion is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If buddha is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If mohammed is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
If your measure of proposed “goodness” is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.
Any of these doctrines, although some Scriptural, added to the Cross of Christ for Salvation is not the Jesus of the Bible but another Jesus and another gospel and is accursed(Galatians 1:6-8). It is satan’s purpose to corrupt the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and he uses the religious as his mouthpiece.
“13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
No, there are not multiple ways to Heaven. It is not ok to nod at the false salvation of others to avoid offending them. That in and of itself is a religion called “political correctness”. It is true, only God knows our hearts. However, if one openly declares they are saved because they are water baptized, then water baptism is their savior. If another believes they are saved because they are a member of a church or denomination as a child but lives like the devil, the church is their savior. I truly believe when we get to Heaven we are going to truly be surprised at who is there and who is not. Just because one is religious does not mean they are saved.
“21 Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
Prophesying, casting out demons and doing many wonderful works are not conditions of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Many profess to know the Lord but does He know you? Many draw near to God with their mouths but their hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8). Even the demons believe that there is one God but they certainly are not saved.
“You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19
Jesus said unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).
“14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16
Believing IN Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer, Who was Resurrected from the dead, ascended unto Heaven and now sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God is not merely a mental acquiesce to Who Jesus is and what He did but, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, when the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) is lifted up among the people, HE draws them with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit (John 12:32). If the sinner chooses to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the Holy Spirit witnesses to his spirit that he is a Child of God (Romans 8:16) and they are born again. The sinner is called to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the Believer is called to follow Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23).
Last night as I sat and watched Pastor Carl Brown minister on “Stop, you’re on your way to hell”, I remembered so clearly the drawing of the Holy Spirit the night I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on the 4th night of a 4 night revival. Each night prior, I felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit but rejected the call and left the service unsaved because I rejected Jesus Christ. I believed in Him but willingly chose to deny Him. Life was indeed hard at the time but isn’t that how life is supposed to be …and then we die. That was my creed anyway, albeit wrong.
As Brother Brown closed out the service with an altar call for Salvation, my heart was grieved. Oh Lord, please don’t let them leave without submitting to your Salvation for their eternal soul. How thankful I am for that preacher, Bro. Stanley Owensby, for being obedient to the Lord that night and not ending the altar call. How thankful I am for Bro. Bill Clark for walking over to this lost sinner under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and asking if I wanted him to go up with me.
There is a lost and dying world out there who are on their way to hell. I certainly don’t mean that in a mean spirited way but it is true. They are caught up and bound up in religiosity but have no idea Who their Savior truly is. Our flesh returns to dust but our spirit and soul are eternally conscious.
“8 For by Grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 