Taking a look at what it REALLY means to be a true follower of Christ...
Many people seem to think that because they grew up in a Christian household, or because at one point in their life they proclaimed Jesus as their savior, then they are considered a truly saved believer.
But I'm afraid to say that it takes more than one simple little prayer, or it takes more than growing up in a Christian household, to be considered a TRULY saved follower of Christ.
Many people even foolishly think that they can proclaim him as savior, then continue living a sinful lifestyle just as the rest of the world, and they are still a saved Christian, with their name written in the book of life... reserved a spot in the Kingdom of God.
And whIle the bible does state that we are saved by His grace through our faith, anyone who believes on his name and proclaims with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and savior, you shall be saved.
Salvation is the gift of God, there are no amount of works you can do to secure your spot in heaven...
However, if you read the full New Testament, there is still more to it than that....
First of all, as John 3:3 states, you MUST be born again to enter into the kingdom of God...
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 also states that..."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
So you cannot keep living in unremosefull sin everyday of your life.
A true follower of Christ must put his former sinful lifestyle behind him, and become a "new creature".
You must be born again, into a new creature in Christ, and if your heart sincerely wants to make a change, then GOD will begin to work within you, changing you.
Being born again is solely an act of God, he will take you out of the world, out of your former sinful lifestyle, and HE will begin a change within you.
John 6:44
No one can come to Me UNLESS THE FATHER who sent Me DRAWS HIM...
If you continue on with willing and unremosefull sinning, then that is a sure sign that God has not drew you in...
He has not taken you out of the world, if you continue living just as the rest of the world.
And if you continue living in sin, living as an UNRIGHTEOUS individual, then you will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Do you not know that the UNRIGHTEOUS will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Just as a tree that bears bad fruit will get hewn down and cast into the fire, the same applies to us. We are known by our fruits, and if we produce rotten, poisonous fruit, then we too will get hewn down and cast into the fire.
MANY people will proclaim Jesus as Lord and savior, but if they continue living in habitual, UNREMORSEFUL sin, when it comes to the day of Judgement, he shall say....
"I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity (sin)..."
Matthew 7:20-23
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth 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 thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
"Unless ye repent, ye shall ALL likewise perish..."
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
God bless you all.
🙏
