Summoned By Jesus

Recently I shared some thoughts and questions with several dear friends. Thoughts and questions that are stirring in me. Perhaps they will be of some interest and significance to you…

A question…who are the enemies of the cross (Phil 3:18)?

Who are those who press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus? Who are those who press on, and who are those who don’t?

Ephesians 1:4. That we should BE (not that we are) holy and without blame. After He has chosen us, there is a process of becoming. To be holy. To be Christlike. To truly be submitted and obedient.

It is my belief and great concern that many of our brethren are not on that pathway. (Perhaps never were.) That they are not working out their salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12-13.) That our churches, pastors, and denominations do not provoke us to draw closer.

Romans 10:9 says…To confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is LORD, THEN we shall be saved.
But who truly does that? Who truly makes Christ Lord of their life?

And isn’t this the initial step in our relationship with Christ? A Commitment. A decision FOR Christ. Sooo, if Lordship comes before salvation, is it possible that those giving themselves to Christ are not fully & truly aware of this awesome transaction: a) God woos and stirs us; b) we respond by seeking Him and reading the Word of God; c) He reveals Himself to us; d) we choose to commit to Jesus as Lord and receive the free gift of salvation and eternal life. ***And then, from there, we begin our life-long journey of sanctification and becoming more Christ-like (preparing ourselves to be His bride.)

I am concerned that:

1. Most churches do not clarify the immense importance of this transaction and that many have never truly made a commitment to Jesus as Lord. (Baptism is/should be a true public confession at this point.)
2. That many in the American and Western churches reach a plateau of comfort. A place where they no longer seek Christ. (The bible says our pathway in this life should be ongoing. A pathway to holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says without Holiness no one will see the Lord.)
3. Paul said, “I have not attained, but one thing I do, I press on towards the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14.

Salvation is available for everyone. We have the free will choice to receive and accept it or not. His grace is similar. It is there, before us. It is already ours. It is for us to accept and appropriate. To internalize. To grow. To become… in His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness. We should all be on the pathway to Christ likeness. All of our lives.

Have we heard the true and full Gospel? Or perhaps been led astray by easy-believism. Perhaps by well-meaning people who don’t know or don’t tell you the whole truth.

Are we certain? We need to be! If not, what do we need to do?

This is the place where we truly need the Bible to guide and reveal itself to us. What does the Word of God say?

Here are several scriptures that I classify as warnings/cautions/admonitions:

• 2 Tim 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• Matt 5:20 – For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt 7:22-23 – Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
• Matt :26-27 – And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on 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 slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
• Matt 10:38 – And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
• Matt 16:24-25 – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
• Matt 18:3 – “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.“
• Matt 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
• Matt 25:12-13 – But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’  Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

These are but a few of the scriptures that speak to the saved and unsaved alike about our commitment to and walk with Jesus. Many other scriptures are similar but not as pointed.

Is it possible that our pastors, churches, and denominations in their efforts to “get people saved” have actually done the opposite? Perhaps that is why the American church is on the decline. Hard truths are not present, but easy believe-ism is. And the “enemies of the cross” are among us.

I encourage you to seek biblical truth for yourself…especially if these scriptures and thoughts are stirring you.

Re-examine your relationship with the Lord. Re-examined your commitment to the Lord. There are only two destinations after this life on Earth. Heaven or hell. We need to make certain of our choice and our relationship with Him while there is still time. If there is any doubt in your mind or your heart, begin to study and seek. God is faithful. Everyone who seeks finds. James 4:8 says draw near to ME and I will draw near to you. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Free to be on the path to Holiness and Christ likeness…and the ultimate destination: an eternal, loving relationship with the Triune God of the universe.