The
Surprise
Just
believing in God is not enough, for even demons believe in God and I
have never, ever heard anyone say that demons are saved from sin. In
fact, demons are not saved from the consequences of their sin,
period. From the lower part of the picture, its easy to see that the
cab driver is surprised and in fact many people will also be
surprised on judgment day.
I
really prefer to look at the Scriptures in their context, so here the
above verse in its immediate context…
James
2 ( World English
Bible )
18
Yes, a man will say, “You have
faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I
by my works will show you my faith.
19
You believe that God is one. You
do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
20
But do you want to know, vain man,
that faith apart from works is dead?
Faith
or works; which is it? The answer- both. Just acknowledging God is
not enough, we must respond to God not only with our mind, but with
our attitude and actions as well. Take a little time and read Hebrews
11. The people listed there believed in God and did something about
it- they acted. Genuine faith acts in obedience to God. In fact, most
people really want to go to heaven and be with God, but they are led
astray by people who distort or change the truth. Consider the
following picture...
The
Desire
The “Heavenward” picture shows a
way to heaven. Stairs someone may take to reach the realm where God
and his chosen ones dwell. But, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7: 21ff,
not everyone ( in fact, the vast majority of people ) who acknowledge
God will be excluded from fellowship with the Almighty and denied
entrance into heaven.
But,
to those who will hear what God says in his word and obey HIM, will
have fellowship and eternal life with him in heaven. So, what path (
or narrow way- Matthew 7 ) will get you there.
Consider
the following steps and follow them…
The
Path
In
his first sermon, the apostle Peter says…
Acts
2 ( World
English
Bible )
36
“Let all the house of
Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37
Now when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38
Peter said to them, “Repent, and
be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
39
For the promise is to you, and
to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the
Lord our God will call to himself.”
40
With many other words he
testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this
crooked generation!”
41
Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand
souls.
Peter
was speaking to Jews who had previously tried to follow God, but had
rejected Jesus. They had not realized that Jesus is the one and only
way to God, killed him and were guilty. Peter told them to repent and
be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. They did this and were
added to the church.
So,
repentance and baptism are necessary actions in the path that leads
to heaven. Next, consider the following Scriptures…
Revelation
2:10 ( WEB )
...Be
faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Its
not enough to just believe and obey, one has to continue to follow
God for the rest of their lives. Why? Because to go back to a
previous life of sin results in death, that’s why!
But
what will happen after one dies. The truth is, God will judge
everyone on their thoughts, motives and actions ( aka… works ).
Please
read the following…
Revelation
20 ( WEB )
12
I saw the dead, the great and the
small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another
book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out
of the things which were written in the books, according to their
works.
13
The sea gave up the dead who
were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They
were judged, each one according to his works.
14
Death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15
If anyone was not found written in
the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation
22 ( WEB )
12
“Behold, I come quickly. My
reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14
Blessed are those who do his
commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and
may enter in by the gates into the city.
15
Outside are the dogs, the
sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and
everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16
I, Jesus, have sent my angel
to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and
the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”
17
The Spirit and the bride say,
“Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty,
let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18
I testify to everyone who
hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them,
may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
19
If anyone takes away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from
the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this
book.
20
He who testifies these things
says, “Yes, I come quickly.”
Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
21
The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
Now,
it is possible that someone out there may say that the above passages
are just from the book of Revelation and could be interpreted
differently, so perhaps we should remove that argument by considering
the earthly words of Jesus.
Matthew
28 ( WEB )
18
Jesus came to them and spoke to
them, saying, “All authority has been
given to me in heaven and on earth.
19
Go, and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
20
teaching them to observe all
things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark
16 ( WEB )
15
He said to them, “Go
into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
16
He
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves
will be condemned.
Jesus
said the words above from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus has the
authority to determine who enters heaven ( after all, he is the one
who died on the cross for OUR SINS ). And, it is Jesus who
determines who has genuine
saving faith (see
Mark 16:16 above):
1. Genuine
Belief=
belief plus
baptism.
2. Condemnation=
by belief
minus
baptism.
Surprise,
you may want to be with heaven with God, but if you have not followed
THE PATH that God has set forth
for you, then you just will not be allowed to enter. Truthfully, the
only other alternative is HELL and who in their right mind
would really want THAT?
Please,
please listen- your eternal life depends upon it. Follow Jesus
correctly and faithfully, for it is my sincere hope to see you in
heaven.
May
God bless your decision,
Your
friend,
Gary
