Do wine coolers, or perhaps what are called hard sodas, lead to large quantities of hard liquor or beer being consumed each and every day? Will a hit off a joint lead to someone becoming a heroin or fentanyl junkie? One chocolate bar to obesity. A glance at an image of intended lust to a porn addict?
Not necessarily, but yes, many times those small bites turn into unintended consequences that can, and many times do, lead to a life of self-inflicted bondage.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
A feeling arises, an inclination that perhaps there is more, perhaps there is a God in heaven, and that maybe that person should attempt to “get right with God.” Find a church, the one closest to where they live will be fine, walk inside, be greeted with smiles and friendly faces, made to feel comfortable, feel welcomed.
Head to the bookstore, or get online and purchase a Bible, nothing fancy, any one of them will do, no need to spend a fortune. Maybe stop cursing so much, try to be a little more friendly towards people, cut back on the drinking, the smoking, the food, or at least try to, and there you have it, you’re a Christian. Congratulations, welcome to the family.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)
Good, caring, honest, trustworthy, even loving people go to hell, every day, thousands of times every hour.
Reading a Bible, the Word of God, does not make a Christian, neither does church attendance or being any of those things just mentioned, following the Roman’s Road will not save you, no work that you can do can ever be, and never will be added to the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1st Peter 2:24)
Repentance is not a word used much by the world of religious organizations, and if it happens to be brought up, it is almost always in some form of a work required, they say, by us. Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone leaves us completely and totally out of the equation, and so we start with the smallest item, the smallest effort, and then build upon it over a long period of time, hoping that our efforts will be seen by the Almighty, that they will be acceptable in His sight, and that He will then choose us and bring us into His Kingdom when we die.
Because we were good enough, because we tried our best.
You sacrificed yourself and were obedient, you did everything you thought you were supposed to do, but your heart was far from Him.
What some, and I could say many here, profess to do for His glory, they are only doing as a form of works, it is a form of self-love, of hoping they have done enough to please Him, to stave off His eternal wrath.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
It is perhaps the most subtle deception ever formulated by man or our adversary, that grace through faith is not enough, that we must do something to receive eternal life, that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ by the shedding of His blood was not sufficient for the salvation of our soul.
So instead of just a verse or two today, perhaps we should read an entire chapter, maybe instead of just the Sunday morning service we had better go to the midweek Bible study as well. A little more on the plate next week. He understands that you’re trying your best, right?
