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FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO HEAVEN
Many people today are on their way to heaven or at least when they are asked if they are going to heaven will answer yes. But the question is, “What is that ‘yes’ founded on?”
Many (I mean millions) have prayed a prayer that someone led them in or asked them to repeat, asking God to forgive them of their sins, come into their heart and lives and save them. Then they were congratulated, shown the verse in Romans 10:13
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Then the Christian worker asked them if they just called on the name of the Lord and when the person who was just led in that prayer answers yes, they are told they are on their way to heaven and not to let anyone tell them differently. Hell will be full of people like that. I know some people who prayed like that even got baptized and went to church for a while, but what are they doing now?
The Bible says in 2 Peter 2:22 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Many people who prayed a prayer like that still live in the same sins they were in before or have returned to that old life-style just like the dog that turned again to his own vomit. If there was no changed heart, then there was no conversion.
Yes, the Bible does say in Romans 10:13 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
That is true. There are no lies or contradictions in the Bible. But Jesus said in Matthew 7:21
21Not 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.
So what is the difference? Just a few verses before Romans 10:13, we are informed in Romans 10:9 – 10
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
There are two requirements in this passage. One is confession with the mouth and perhaps the prayer that someone was led in was a confession of the mouth. Perhaps the person was even baptized as a public profession and a step of obedience to the Lord. But the second part of the requirement for salvation is the most important. It is belief in your heart. A person can make public statements without believing but a true believer cannot resist eventually confessing the Lord Jesus with his or her mouth. Jesus is concerned with the condition of the heart. Mark 7:21 – 23 states that the heart is where sin comes from. We must believe in the Lord Jesus with our hearts or within us if we are to be saved.
Read through the four gospels and look at the impact that Jesus had on the lives he came in contact with. When people come to Jesus, they are changed. If there is no change then there was no conversion. The Word of God states in II Corinthians 5:17
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Repeating words that someone tells you to repeat only bounce off the ceiling and echo through the halls into oblivion unless the prayer comes from the heart of one truly seeking salvation.
Salvation is not a ritual. Salvation is not belonging to a church although Christians ought to belong to a good Bible-believing church. Salvation is not getting baptised although Christians ought to get baptised. Salvation is not doing good works although Christians ought to do good works but that does not save. Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can bring salvation to the heart and soul of each individual. Ephesians 2:8 – 9
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is not hard or difficult but neither is it cheap and those who cheapen salvation will answer to a just and a holy God. Salvation is absolutely free because Jesus paid the price for all who believe and he will not turn any away who sincerely come to him. Jesus said in John 6:37
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Those individuals who have repeated words spoken by another person and the prayer did not come from the individual’s heart and there has been no change in his or her life, really need to have a heart examination before it is too late.
Jesus said in John 3:16 – 18
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Read the gospel of John in the King James Version of the Bible, search the scriptures and/or come to Victory Baptist Church and learn the difference. Give us a call if you have a question. Pastor Bob Page (903) 759-1354 |