Let’s look at why we must BE SURE, Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘LORD! LORD!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I WILL REPLY, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU’…” (Matt.7:21-23) They did not backslide, Jesus “NEVER” knew them! So, how did they do all those many miracles? If the most ungodly person preaches the gospel and those hearing, believe, their faith will cause miraculous things to happen! There have been many cases of unbelieving evangelists preaching for the money and had many salvation experiences.
The first thing we must do is believe Jesus, then REPENT “Repent (metanoeō: a change of mind), then, and TURN TO GOD, so that your sins may be wiped out…” (Acts 3:19) Next, CONFESS our sins, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Then, RECEIVE FORGIVENESS, “…be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ HAS FORGIVEN YOU.” (Eph. 4:32)
Look at another instance where everything seemed to be ok, “…the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN shall be likened (homoioō: To illustrate by comparison) to TEN VIRGINS who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” (Matt. 25:1-2) Jesus is giving us a comparison of the last days church, half will be wise, half will be foolish, why? “Those who were foolish took their lamps and took NO OIL with them…” (Matt. 25:3) Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall NOT WALK in darkness…” (John 8:12) Half of them were WALKING IN DARKNESS, so they went to find oil, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘LORD, LORD, OPEN TO US!’ But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’” (Matt. 25:11-12)
BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION; REPENT, CONFESS AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS…
-Bill Stockham