What has caused you to believe that you are saved, what makes you think that you are a child of God, heaven bound to live eternally in His Kingdom?
Besides going to church on a regular basis, perhaps attending the midweek Bible study and occasionally reading His Holy Word, what causes you to believe that you are saved? “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20) Can you stop right here, take out a piece of paper and write down any of those fruits, items that can be offered to the Lord as from Him and for Him, can you place any actions upon that paper that prove to you that you have truly been crucified with Christ?
Or do you have only an emotion within you that brings this supposed assurance?
Two verses come to mind here, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) and, “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?” (Matt. 7:22)
In the latter, works were performed by people in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ yet they were being prepared to be cast into eternal darkness, in the former works are to be done through us by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God, and those works are visible to the world. So then, besides the aforementioned items and the uplifting emotions within you, can you justify your statement that you are indeed saved?
The easiest way I have been shown so far in this matter is to look back to last Tuesday, or the Thursday morning before that, who have you spoken to about the Lord, who have you questioned in the last month about their soul, do you talk to people about the Savior during the week? “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
The cult of Romanism and every other religious organization that does not honor the Lord is based upon a works ideology, but not from the heart. Many Evangelical churches today preach little else but the feelings of the heart, but not upon any visible works. Duty because of love is not taught in the first, and in the latter works are not taught because of love, and you cannot be a part of either of them.
Does your life since you have been saved show one of works because of love, do you reach out to the lost for the glory of God, do you speak to people about the Lord Jesus Christ?
I have met many people who claim to be saved who want to emulate the life of Paul, except for the parts where he spoke of Christ to those who had not heard of Him, and who did not want to, they want to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, but they confuse that with feelings of the heart, uplifting emotional responses that offer no visible proof. They are deceived, but not by the adversary, the deception comes from within themselves.
It is the foundation of the Charismatic movement, feelings without action, faith without works, save for those meant to make them feel saved. The grace of God has done little more than make them feel better about themselves.
