"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)
Beloved,
We are quickly coming to the end of our discussion about what it means to posses genuine salvation. I realize that over the last 27 weeks I have probably said some things that have made you angry. I have raised some questions that you may feel were inappropriate to ask and I have poked around on some sore spots that you would rather ignore than take the necessary steps to remedy. I do not apologize for any of this but rather tell you out of a heart-felt love that my reasoning has been nothing more than the apostle John’s when he wrote the above verse to those whom he loved. You can know for sure if you are a child of God! I realize that there are many in our world today who don’t really want to know the truth about their salvation but at the end-of-the-day they cannot escape the reality that so painfully confronts them. Deep down they know that their heart does not belong to God. Deep down they know that their life-style does not match what the Bible says is true about the child of God. Deep down they know that if they were to die in this very moment they would not spend eternity in God’s presence but would spend eternity in the darkest and most terrible of places separated from the loving God that spoke only the truth about their eternal destination. I also realize that there are many more people who would rather believe the lies about their spiritual condition than to undertake the disciplined life that God demands of every one of His children. This group has lied to itself about the reality of one’s fruit matching one’s root. Simply put, if I am a genuine child of God, I will demonstrate thinking, attitudes and behaviors that are verifiably consistent with the teachings of God’s word. God Himself has given us this measure and has gone on to tell us that those who belong to Him will embrace what He says while those who do not belong to Him will deny and reject what He says. For those who claim to have a relationship with God but show evidence in their day-to-day living of self-centered, worldly behavior, the truth is clearly known; they do not belong to God. To say otherwise is in fact the denial and the rejection that God has warned us of. Finally, I realize that there are many who simply will not be willing to listen to what I have said. There are a “thousand and one” reasons why but they all boil down to one cause; sinful pride. The natural man (that is the person who does not know or love God) wants only what his lustful heart seeks; nothing else matters. The natural man will do everything within his power to fulfill his desires no matter the damaged cause d to everyone else around him or the damage his actions inflict upon himself. All he knows is the line spoken by the little girl who sought after the goose who laid the golden egg – “I want it now!” and they will stop at nothing until they have got what they want; even when what they want is promised to kill them. So I plead with you beloved, DO NOT IGNORE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW TO BE TRUE! You can know; you do know where you stand with God. Now take what you know as God’s gracious kindness toward you in drawing you into repentance.
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