The Bible, upon which our learning of all things of God rests, teaches us many things. Most significantly from within it's pages we learn of our sin under the Law, the judgment to come and the condemnation as a result of that sin, and the redemption of our souls through Jesus Christ.

The moral fabric woven by the Bible and that is supposed to be strengthened by the teachings of the pastors of the churches in which we congregate has been worn thin by poor and lackluster, and even heretical teachings of these selfsame pastors. Whether by ignorance or design these pastors are leading many down the wide path to destruction.

Today I attended a seminar about motivation and sales and such for work. One of the speakers what none other than Mr. "Power of Positive Thinking" himself, Dr. Robert Schuler. As I set listening to him I was stunned but what I was hearing. To preach on sin, judgment and hell in any form is negativity in it's purest form and should be avoided for the sake of being positive and preaching salvation. He told a "funny" anecdote relating this this theme and at the end the junior basically condemned the elder to hell for preaching sin, judgment and hell. Whaaaat??

Worse yet, a majority of the audience instead of being rightfully indignant laughed and guffawed along with him regarding the story and its outcome. It was sad. It was a prime example of the result of the Laodicean teaching of the Gospel and living your best life now. Ugh...self centered self righeous fakers for the most part I would surmise.

This sort of preaching (salvation alone with no mention of sin and judgment) is why the church is in the sorry shape that its in now. Moral relativism has crept its way into the church. Worse yet, it's crept it's way into the thinking and faith of many "believers". There is a side effect to this...false converts.

The moral foundation of the church has been eroded by "positive thinking", being "purpose driven", "living your best life now" and worst of all political correctness. ALL of these have a cancerous effect on the church and produce bad fruit as they are all man centered and not God focused and eternally minded. They are all designed around feeling good, worrying about how you are perceived and basically being comfortable whether spritually, financially or physically.

Through teachings such as these the understanding of God's Word that rests upon a solid rock foundation has been relegated to the proverbial house built upon sand. When the first signs of tribulation come, the truth is rejected as that is not what the adherants to these themes have come to expect. They expect God to give them everything they desire now to include peace, comfort, safety, abundance, wealth etc etc ad nauseum. Basically God becomes a bubble gum machine...insert prayer and blessing pops out.

This eroding of the solid rock foundation then manifests itself in other thoughts and processes. Support for things that are an abomination to God (both directly and indirectly). These people end up supporting deviant lifestyles for fear of being seen as intolerant. They end up supporting the murder of innocents by way of abortions. They end up support policies that reject the support of the state of Israel. The list goes on.

How can God's people support such things? How can they support things that exist in direct contradiction to the Scriptures? The foundational reasons may vary but they all point to the same thing...a false conversion. Making a decision for Christ instead of pleading for salvation out of repentance and faith as the Scriptures demand.

Claiming salvation for whatever purpose without understanding what you are being saved from, and the true wretched nature of our being leads to that end.

With that said, I would ask any reading this to consider and follow the commands of the inspired Word of God....

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Examine yourself! How exactly does one do that? I'm glad you asked. One does that by using the schoolmaster that God Himself provided us:

Galations 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Using the Law of God, the Ten Commandments as a mirror, examine yourself in light of the Law. Take a hard look at your life. Reflect upon not only your words and deeds but also your thoughts as God judges all three and determine how you would fare.

Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever lied? Have you have lusted after another person? Have you ever hated someone?

In light of those commandments where do you stack up? Even the slightest sin is enough to condemn you to hell for eternity for the Scriptures say:

Jamess 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

That's a pretty tall order. Further look at the fruit in your life. Are you exhibiting the fruits of Salvation?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Or does your life resemble this:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Are you growing in holiness? Is it easier and easier to overcome temptation? Yes, temptation will still come, and at times you may stumble, but is it easier to overcome it? Has your attitude changed regarding the sins that used to take hold in your life?

Now where do you stack up? If you find yourself woefully short in these areas you may want to consider immediately crying out to God for forgiveness and repenting and turn to Christ in faith as your savior!

The churches today are sick, the pews are filled with those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. There are those who profess Christ on Sunday and amongst their friends but in darkness turn to other activities and fullfil the definition of hypocrite. Pray you are not counted among them. For if you are like me the most dreadful thought you may have is that upon your death and judgment you hear these words from the King of Kings:

Matthew 7:22 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?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

My friends, examine yourselves. Determine if you are in the faith. Be sure of your salvation. Preach the Gospel. For the time is short, the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. And in a lot of cases....you may have to start with the fellow who sits next to you in church on Sunday.

Go serve your King!

Tags: Christ | christian | faith | false convert | judgment | salvation | soundly saved | true and false conversion