Secure Forever

My hubby received an email today from a former coworker. After updating his news, this man said that he was no longer a Christian. My response went two directions. Either he didn’t fully understand the promises God makes to those who believe in Christ, or this man was not a Christian in the first place.

Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Eternal life is just that — eternal. It cannot be undone once it is done. The Lord makes this unconditional promise to every true believer. It takes into consideration all times, all circumstances, all contingencies, all events and all possibilities. This promise takes in all the flock. Not one of Christ’s sheep will ever perish no, not even one. If anyone is a believer, they will never perish. Christ himself has promised it! Nothing in God’s people or done by them can change that.

God himself says, “They shall never perish.” If one promise of God could be broken, no promise could be believed. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37–40) The Good Shepherd must save his sheep. His redemptive work cannot be nullified. It is an irreversible act of grace.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

There are many more Scriptures that verify the keeping power of God. As I read them, I’m also reminded that some hear what their parents or preachers say, but have not heard or believed the life-changing promises of God. I’m not sure if this is the case of the man who says he is no longer a Christian, but it could be that he was not one in the first place.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19)

PRAY: Lord, You know the heart of all people, Christian or not, and You know what has happened to cause this man to think he is not Your child. If he is, bring him to fuller knowledge. If not, show him what he needs to see and hear so he understands what is needed. Nothing is impossible for You.

Loveless faith is useless faith

 

Faith with love has power, yet it is also costly. In the past three days, saying yes to love and acting in faith has me so tired that I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. The activities done in love are delightful and rewarding, but the fatigue has me weak.

MacArthur encourages me with, “The gift of faith is the ability to believe that God will act according to His will, no matter the circumstances. People with that gift are prayer warriors and tend to stand as rocks when others around them are falling apart. They see God’s power and purposes at work, and they trust Him even when others doubt.”

This has been my experience the past few weeks. Love comes with a price tag but it is vital for all Christians.

And if I have  . . . all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

Jesus used this figure of speech a few times. When the disciples failed to heal someone and asked Him about it, He said: “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) He later repeated it:

Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (Matthew 21:21–22)

We use this figure of speech today too. This week, I’ve said that planning a family reunion seems like moving mountains. It is not literal but still means overcoming  great obstacles. In the NT, Jesus used it to describe those with faith who can ask the impossible and believe God will answer.

But the NT also says that even if I have such faith, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. This points to faith in action and happens because of the One I am trusting. I’ve heard the word ‘faith’ used for something that sounded more like presumption. Some use it as if ‘this is what I want and I know God will do it for me’ rather than being assured of God’s will in the matter. In the NT, the Corinthians’ motives were evident in their selfish pursuit of the showy gifts, not considering the importance of loving others.

What motivates me? Do I want the mountain moved to make my  life easier or more comfortable or for my glory? Am I praying out of compassion for someone who is suffering? Do I pray to show off my faith rather than to seek God’s glory? Do I remember that love includes humility, obedience, and sacrifice? And that without love it doesn’t matter what gifts I have, how eloquent my speech might be, or what I know, or believe? Love rises above all selfishness or self-centered reasons for praying.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m exhausted. Do I feel so tired because the enemy wants me to stop praying? You have been gracious to hear and answer, to bless those I pray for and to be praised for Your love and mercy. Now I ask for the energy and determination to keep trusting You and to keep praying. Thank You.

PONDER: Mark 14:32-42 and Luke 22:39-46 noting what Jesus says about the fatigue His disciples experienced. Compare that to 1 Peter 4:7-11 and the will of God concerning prayer and actions of love.

 

 

True or False?

One of my cousins holds a position in a denomination and claims that her hope is in Christ. She is a nice person and we connect on many levels, but when it comes to faith and the Word of God, I sense a barrier. Her ‘faith’ is not the faith that Scripture clearly describes.

Today’s devotional speaks of ‘false faith’ and the difficulty of detecting it, yet Jesus knew it. He knows the hearts of people . . .

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:23–25)

They “believed in his name” but something was missing.

In other passages, Jesus describes these who claim to believe and appear to have faith, but He said they did not and their false faith could be recognized by their fruit. This is a euphemism for what faith produces. Christians are filled with love, joy, goodness, etc. (see Galatians 5:22-23) but not false teachers:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20)

This ‘bad fruit’ can be hidden behind a show of goodness, good deeds, and so on, but Jesus knows the heart. The quality of our fruit will eventually show up, particularly in trials or when tested by opposition.

Obedience to the will of God is another marker. False faith may claim to do God’s will, but Jesus knows the motivation behind what they do. He distinguishes between ‘good works’ and actually doing His will . . .

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21–23)

That is, miracle workers and self-proclaimed prophets are not what they claim or appear to be because they do not have a person relationship with the Lord. In another passage, some said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:28–29).  

In that conversation, Jesus goes on to explain that doing the will of God begins with first believing in Jesus and also relying on His very life for everything. The outer man can mimic the deeds, but cannot have the heart of Christ if they do not have a saving relationship with Him.

Another marker that differentiates true and false is ‘hearing and obeying.’ Jesus told them:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24–27)

Genuine faith follows through with obedience, yet faith is always the reason for those actions.

Today’s devotional goes on to say that false faith cannot produce a heart broken over sin, broken to the point that all it can do is cry for mercy, not use good works trying to earn God’s favor. True faith relies on Christ alone for salvation, on grace not works, on mercy not performance. True faith knows total helplessness.

False faith fails in the submission department too. Unless that sinful nature has been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, it cannot believe or submit to Jesus as Lord. Even genuine Christians know how that old nature continues to attempt to ‘do its own thing.’ Without the glory of being made new, I would not be able to say yes to God. New birth changes the heart and without it, being ‘religious’ is a sham.

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You know who is who — and what each person believes. At times, I sense false faith in others, but cannot rely on that without being careful to look for obvious evidence. Better yet, I need to examine my own life, make sure that I am believing in You and giving evidence to my faith by staying true to what You say and how You tell me to live. Most of all, I need the integrity of living out what You have put in, of letting You rule my life from the heart. thank You for being my Savior and the Lord of my life. I let you down at times, but You never fail and are the One in whom I place my trust and my life.