I want to kill a religious cow today and I hope you all like red meat (spiritually speaking, of course). These steaks tend to slide down nice and easy with a tall glass of milk from the Word. But I also know that some of you may be turned off, content to stay in the comfortable, mediocre dream that we in North America like to call “christianity.”
Before we look at this cow, let’s ask ourselves some questions:
- How many Americans claim to be “christians” and have absolutely no biblical morals at all?
- When it comes to divorce, pornography, abortion and other “do nots,” why does the church find itself statistically equal to the world?
- How many people who come forward in our revival meetings and say the sinner’s prayer actually stick around to become mature, fruit-producing believers?
- How many of them go right back into the world with absolutely no change whatsoever?
Crying Myself to Sleep
When I was 5 years old, I said the sinner’s prayer for the first time and asked Jesus into my heart. I didn’t quite understand what I was doing, but hell didn’t seem like a fun place to spend eternity, so I picked the most obvious choice. At 12 years old, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues. Things should have been “golden” from there on out, right? … Wrong.
From 15 to 21, I lived like a complete heathen from hell. Drinking, doing drugs, listening to heavy metal, being promiscuous … doing everything I could to gorge this flesh. You would think that I was happy, but I was actually quite miserable. I would party until the wee hours of the morning, then I would come home and listen to Keith Green, and just cry myself to sleep. Paul claimed to be the Worst of Sinners … I claim that I was the most pathetic of sinners.
That was over 20 years ago, but during that time … was I still “saved?”
A Moment in Time
Most christians narrow their “salvation experience” down to a certain event. It could have been an emotionally-fueled church service where they answered an altar call, walked down the aisle, got on their knees, said the “sinner’s prayer” and asked Jesus into their heart. Maybe it was a desperate situation where their life was in danger and they looked to heaven and said “Help!” It’s also possible that they could have simply prayed with someone and asked Jesus into their heart. However it came to pass, we can usually remember a specific time when we were “converted.”
While the words “convert” and “converted” are used in the Word, Jesus never talked about making converts, He talked about making “disciples.”
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Conversion implies a change of heart, and that’s a good thing, but if that was all that was needed to become part of the Kingdom, Jesus would have said, “Go make converts.” Jesus was talking to His disciples … men who left everything (jobs, businesses, even family) to follow and learn from Him. When He told them to “go make disciples,” do you think they were thinking “converts?”
Good Bye Cow
OK, let’s look at the cow. We’ve been raised to believe that, if we say “the sinner’s prayer” and “ask Jesus into our hearts,” then we are saved. This is not true.
No where in the Bible do you find the disciples praying with someone to ask Jesus into their hearts.
No where do you find someone saying “the sinner’s prayer,” filling out a “salvation card” and putting it in the offering pan to show that they are saved.
No where in the Bible is it recommended that you go to church on Sunday morning to be saved.
These man-made “techniques” will not save you. I’m not taking away from Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Light. I’m not discrediting your salvation if you said the sinner’s prayer (I did too). What I’m saying is that saying a “magic mantra” or faithfully going to a building every Sunday is not a “free pass” into the Kingdom.
How then Shall I be Saved?
It’s really quite simple … Repent and follow Him.
To repent not only means to feel sorry for your sin, it also means to turn away from it and have nothing more to do with it. Not only does it mean to forsake your old sins and change how you act, to repent also means to change how you THINK and RELATE to the world around you! We accomplish this facet of repentance by renewing our mind according to His Word.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
As your mind is being transformed (a process that will continue until you die), you will be faced with choices, changes and challenges that will, in essence, cause you to fulfill the second part of salvation … you will be following Him.
At any point during this process, it is your choice whether to walk away from your discipleship, or to obey.
Unfortunately, people walk away every day – many of them will walk away right after they say the sinner’s prayer. Both Judas and Peter walked away. Peter returned and became one of the greatest apostles ever known. Judas … well, let’s just say that He learned the Truth about “eternal security” the hard way.
I Wasn’t Saved
The hard Truth of the matter is that, if I would have died in my teenage years, I probably would have went to hell. I had great intentions, some might have said that I had a “heart for God,” but when the rubber met the road, I was an idolater and an addict who was moved by a beautiful song, but had no real intention of forsaking my idols.
Thank you Lord for your mercy. You see, He continues to call us … all of us. Right in the middle of our sin, He calls … and will continue to call. But there will come a time when He returns that the calling will stop, and we will be judged where we stand. In Romans 2:6, it says that He “will render to each one according to his deeds.”
Are we His disciples? Have we forsook all to follow Him?
It is where you stand on that Day, and in that Hour that will determine if you’re Saved.
Further reading: How the Christian “Salvation Equation” Conflicts with the Bible
Don't forget to leave a comment!
For the Truth,
Kevin Kleint
Email: kevinkleint@outlook.com
Do I understand that you think the so called New Testament is originally written in Hebrew and later translated into Greek. How did you find out?
Blessing from The Netherlands
Cees
Hi Cees,
I honestly do not know if the NT was originally written in Hebrew or Greek. I know some people that are pretty adamant about their belief on this one, but I haven’t found evidence to convince me 100% either way. All I know is that we have the Koine Greek. I do know that the people who wrote the New Testament were Hebrew, but Paul is the only one (that I know of) that probably knew Greek.
Sorry I can’t give you a firmer answer.
Kevin
Hummm, no comments yet? My favorite sentence is “an idolater… moved by a beautiful song.” Right to the point for me personally. Will we be found “abiding in Him” when He comes or when we pass away, which ever comes first for us. “Pray to be worthy” and He will finish the work He has begun in us… wow, serious and important thoughts to consider. Thank you for this article
Thanks J. Fletcher! I once had comments on this one, but in the process of bringing this blog through several “iterations” they were lost. I’m totally bummed out about that.
watch Shocking youth message by Paul Washer on youtube .. He totally nails the issue of false gospel and false salvations in the USA. He is a southern Baptist. about 698,000 people have listened to this message.
here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncEhCvrVgQ Oh and he did not post the video himself.
I can almost guarantee you will think this is time well spent !!
Our challenge we need to understand is what does believe mean… to adhere to, to trust in, to rely on. It’s changing sides. It’s not saying I think this bridge COULD support me, it’s going on the bridge and saying I believe it will support me and I’m going to put actions behind this. We substitute “I believe” for “I think”… but leaving and cleaving (like we talk about for marriage) is probably a better comparison.
The sinners prayer is the most unbiblical thing we emphasize in the modern day evangelical church. I know, strong words. But the process of believing can be immediate like that or it can be gradual. But, like Kevin mentions, the prayer can seem like a signed contract. The preacher says “If you said that prayer and meant it, you now have eternal life”. Have we ever heard the parable of the sower of the seed? I believe that is as much a message of evangelism as it is of the word. I’ve seen people make a “decision for Christ” only to end up on the rocks and not be able to put roots down (only lasts a short time) … or to end up on the path where the evil one snatches it away… or ends up in the weeds where the worries of this life choke their believing out.
Anyway… my 2 cents.
Good 2 cents! The entire bible was written by the Hebrew people. True, the new testament was translated into Greek, then further translated into English.
“Believers” need to understand that FAITH and DEEDS were inseparable to the Hebrew mindset. “Belief”, as in “mental agreement” is Greek philosophy.
I’ve been doing some study in the “history” of the bible … what was going on in the world when the New Testament was written …. things like that. What I learned was that the Greek “mindset” was diametrically (sp?) opposed to the Hebrew “mindset”, in fact, they were at odds quite frequently during that time. It’s amazing how much understanding comes when you read the Word in the context of the time it was written. It REALLY clears up the (false) Grace vs Law debate.
Anyhow, thanks Mike!
I Concur.
Kevin,
Well said. Yesterday my husband and I saw a church sign that said, “Christ believed is salvation received.” We’ve talked about it all day. That is where we all were. And you are right. It is just not true. Even the demons believe…and salvation they are not receiving. We keep forgetting that “teaching them observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” part…
Great post. Keep it up. Loving this paradigm shift!!!
Linda”
I do appreciate this article. But I am not totally convinced on either side of this argument. I believe the Truth of the matter is in the middle on a narrow road. How can one be “unborn?” I feel the problem is that those who some say, “lose their salvation,” were never truly born again. I know I was baptized twice before I was truly born again. I was then baptized a third time. But, the baptisms did not save me. My repentance and turning to obedience to The Word made the difference. One day, I saw my sin, knew The Truth, repented and turned to Christ, received the fullness of The Spirit, poured out my heart in The Spirit (the reason I asked for my prayer language), for my human words that I knew, were insufficient to express the thankfulness in my heart. The Word says that whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved. Same wage to those who come in early and those who come in late. Also, it is written that He who began a good work in me will perform it until The Day of Christ Jesus. God is THE One who sees and knows the heart where no man can see. The Word says to work out (not for) our own salvation with fear and trembling. He KNEW my heart when I was searching for HIM with all my heart, but in the wrong places (things like New Age, before it had a name), because I knew there had to be more than I had found in the churches I had been in or even visited. So, the question is…… are all that say they are saved really born again? I say, “No, but God knows the ones who are.” I also say that I truly believe that most who name The Name are NOT born again, and need to begin to work that out with God, Himself. He is at the door. It is way past the time we should be doing this. I do not believe that TRUE salvation can be lost. I also believe that there are many “Christians” who are not born again. It is like The Word says in the Old Testament, “let us be called by your Name to take away our shame, but let us eat our own bread.” It just doesn’t work that way.
That’s great input Marie! And I’m with you … when people can so easily walk away, it makes you wonder if they were truly saved. That was part of my point. People are relying on saying a “sinner’s prayer” or answering an altar call for their salvation. It won’t saved them, but a life lived out for Him will (discipleship).
Let me slip one little verse in your position … Rev 3:5 says “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” This tells me that a person whose name was previously written in the Book of Life and does NOT overcome is subject to getting His name “blotted out”. In context, this is part of the warning to the Church of Sardis who had a name (reputation) for being alive, but was actually dead.
Anyhow, there seems to be verses to support both sides. And I respect and love them all (and I’m sure you do too)! Many blessings to you, and thanks for the comments!
Hi. I so appreciate your articles and thank God that He is using you to speak to the Body of Christ..I cannot, however get your last email fully- the one which starts with ” Are You Saved” . Each of the articles go to the comment page when I click ” read more” . I have tried many times but it won’t show the rest of the articles and I REALLY want to read them. Could you resend them? THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU -Lori
Shalom:
Great word that is needed to heard throughout this country 🙂 When the time comes and many will fall away from the Faith, sadly it will be those who have follow this belief of salvation. IT WILL BE A SAD DAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Thanks for this beautiful exhortation, even warning! A much, even desperately needed word for this nation. I was saved as a child and then went my own way in teens and twenties. I knew that if I died I could not live in the presence of a Holy God. I am so grateful He was merciful and did not give up on me. I’ve never regretted bowing my knee to Him and repenting of my sin. He is worth it all. He is our reward, the pearl of great price.