There are many people in hell today who thought they were Saved because a man made religion told them such. Whether they were confirmed at the age of 13, recited a prayer at the age of 10, completed sacraments or merely joined the big ‘church’ on the corner which is really nothing more than a religious civic organization, there are indeed many who think they are Saved but are far from the Lord. I know this because I was one of them. The devil will tell the sinner they’re Saved and the Saint they’re not Saved. He lies and is the father of lies. Our plumb line is the Word of God and that is why we must know It for ourselves…not just what somebody says it says.
“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
As a young child I was Saved at a local church but as I grew older I walked away from the Lord. At one time in my teenage years I even professed to be an atheist. Throughout my 20’s I was comfortable joking about ‘you’ religious folk. Then in my 30’s – 40’s I ‘matured’ enough to profess that I believed in Jesus Christ and even declared myself a ‘Christian’.
Was I Saved? Absolutely not. My heart was far from God. I simply knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and was superstitious. No way would I say I wasn’t a Christian for that meant I would go to hell. It was fear of what would happen if I said I wasn’t a Christian…but it was the same fear that would make my heart drop when a black cat would cross the street in front of me or if I found a penny on tails. It wasn’t a fear of the Lord but fear of the circumstances….it was superstition and nothing more.
On top of that, I was born in the USA. I mean, we are a Christian Nation, right? So yes, I declared myself a Christian but I was nothing more than a lukewarm Christian living under the banner of Christianity but bringing much reproach to the Name of the Lord.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3
When I was born again 2013, there was a change in my heart. That ‘new creature’ promised me in the Word of God was created in me. Am I perfect? Just ask my dear husband…no! Do I have a heart for God, for the things of God? Yes, I do. To be sure, it’s not my sincerity that secures my Salvation though. It’s my faith; faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified that secures my justification.
There are many, praise the Lord, who are Born Again. I, just like so many others, are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses – those who have the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done in their hearts as well. This is not just ‘my story’ but it’s the story of so very many. We are no longer ‘religious’ and we are far from perfect but we have been Born Again…born of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. We have been baptized into HIS death and are dead to the sin nature which reigned in our hearts for so long. There is a liberty in not ‘having’ to sin. We have the ability to say yes to the Lord instead of yes to sin and it is a peace beyond all understanding.
Prophesying in the Name of Jesus, casting out devils in the Name of Jesus or doing many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus does not secure one’s Salvation. Being Born Again, born of the Spirit of God; spiritually alive unto God through the precious Blood of Jesus secures our Salvation and it’s only requirement is faith…simply faith in Jesus that His finished work is sufficient to pay the penalty of sin for the believing sinner and break the power of sin for the believing Saint.
There are many religious who think they are Saved but they have never been Born Again. Sadly, they know the doctrine of their religion but have no relationship whatsoever with Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done. Their Jesus is another Jesus and their gospel another gospel. They are accursed and following their religious leaders to the gates of a devil’s hell.
I don’t say these things with any gladness of heart. I simply say them because I have lived them and know many others who are currently doing the same. I simply ask you to examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith or not. Time is short. This world is waxing worse and worse but the Blood of Jesus still Saves; His Eyes are still searching to and fro to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. Seek Him while He may be found.
“Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 