Author's note: It has been awhile; it's been a challenging year, but I feel called to revisit this topic. I certainly have touched on it before, but I wanted to focus on Jesus' warnings/admonitions related to being saved and a Christ follower (which are the same thing). I'll attempt to organize the related topics for clarity and simplicity, praying that this post will bless all who read it.
Saved from what?
Revelations does a great job of explaining what we have to look forward to as punishment for our sin. In Revelations 20:7-15, John relates from the Holy Spirit that everyone will stand before the throne and the books to be judged based on his life; 'The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone who's name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.' The lake of fire is of 'burning sulfur' where there will be endless torment.
Believe in Jesus
Like I touched on in a previous post, some may think that being 'saved' is like grabbing a ticket to heaven, an eternal insurance policy that you sign up for. That you don't need to do anything else, just wait to fly to heaven someday. Is this true? Yes and no. Paul simply advises to 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.' Acts 16:31. Digging back into the old testament, 'Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness' Genesis 15:6. It does appear simple and easy. Another verse supports this idea, starting at Ephesians 2:8-9..."For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." By saying that salvation is a gift, Paul means that we cannot earn it, there is nothing we can give in exchange for our salvation. We just accept it.
But Paul doesn't stop there... "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Eph 2:10.
Christ himself warned, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Not so easy after all to find the small gate and narrow road.
Matt 7:13-14 Furthermore: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:21-23)
So clearly there's more to it then just checking the box marked 'Christian' and believing in Jesus. Jesus warns over and over against hypocrisy. Clearly there should be a life change. There needs to be a difference in our hearts, minds, and actions. We'll dig into this more. But remember, the change comes as a result of Jesus' love, grace, mercy and salvation, not the precursor! It's only by giving over control to God that we can have hope of living like Jesus. The Bible gives several good warnings and indications to help us know if we are sheep or goats.
Don't be a hypocrite
Don't get caught just going through the motions. Don't let your heart be hardened. (Starting Isaiah 1:13) God warns 'Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies...I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.' We need to be truly humble and repentant. Don't just look like a Christian, but have a changed heart--
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17)
Matt 23:27-28 Jesus admonishes, 'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Matthew 6:1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Clearly a superficial change is not enough, but something deeper.
Jesus' Commands
Jesus gives some other very clear warnings. We are to forgive, love, and tell others about Jesus.
Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven."
Maturing in Christ
Paul explains how we should grow in Christ following our conversion, see Ephesians 4. In vs 22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Continuing in vs 31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
James admonishes--
"You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone." James 2:2-24
Remain in the Vine
Let's conclude by meditating on Jesus' commands and promises for his followers.
John 15: 1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
