Summoned By Jesus

I KNOW IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I POSTED ANYTHING, BUT GOD HAS NOT LED ME TO DO SO UNTIL NOW. I THANK AND APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING THESE POSTS. THANKS FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT.

BELOW IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MY SISTER AND I. A REAL, CURRENT CONVERSATION. A CONVERSATION THAT I THINK ALL CHRISTIANS SHOULD HAVE/EXPLORE. WE ARE BOTH MATURE CHRISTIANS OF ABOUT 40 YEARS. SHE IS A CHRISTIAN AUTHOR AND, AS SUCH, DIALOGUES WITH MANY PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. (ME NOT SO MUCH.) I PRAY YOU WILL FIND THE CONVERSATIONS INTERESTING & ENLIGHTENING BLESSINGS ALL.

Linda Rodante	Feb 26, 2024
to me

Now, I’m the one wondering if I’ve upset you. I’ve done that type of thing before when I feel strongly about something. I can be strong in my wording and not tactful. So, I’m just coming to say I love you and praying for God to lead us into truth, and not to let the enemy bring any division between us!  Love you!

Wes Knadle	Mon, Feb 26
to Linda

You have not upset me or offended me sis. I have not had a chance to read some of your recent responses. We do have some differences. You seem to think that I’m judging people’s salvation. I am not. I am judging whether or not they were ever truly saved. What I mean by that is that our traditions in our churches have led people to assume that they have made a correct decision. I believe anything as important as our eternal salvation should not be approached lightly or simplistically. Which I believe our churches have done for decades now. Certainly there are people who come to the Lord who are truly repentant and recognize him as the creator of all things. And even though their initial step and commitment lacks full and complete understanding, God knows their heart and their future. At the same time I think there are many admonitions and warnings in the Bible about not fulfilling our relationship step. The enemy comes to kill steal and destroy. He will take what was intended for good and twist it, turn it, reframe it, decorated it, and to make you believe that once you say a few simple words you have nothing more to do. As I have previously mentioned, I believe the current results of our society and the world are evidence of easy believism and shallow understanding of God’s grace, gift and sacrifice. I do not stand alone in these beliefs. There are more and more people making the same statements and coming to the same conclusions. Most recently at the Promise Keepers event I attended this past Friday. Where they encouraged men to be courageous, truthfully repent and walk away from unrighteousness…to make sure that they’re commitment to the Lord was honest, sincere and complete. They made the statement that we are not teaching theology we are teaching conviction. And I’m sure you saw the recent video sent to us by cousin Nita. About the goldfish (WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Are you too scared to make a difference? Are you too scared to share Jesus with this dying world? Mark 8:38 – Jesus… | Instagram.) That, to me, was a very telling but strong message. 

Linda Rodante	Feb 26, 2024
to me

I understand what you are saying. What we used to and still call easy believism. But then, if it is by works, it is no more by faith. As I said, Paul addressed this again and again. Phillippians is so forceful with it. Read it. And he even says if someone comes teaching another gospel (than the one by faith) then let him be accursed. And he repeats that. I think you are walking a very dangerous line when you tell people differently. Not that you shouldn’t be encouraging people to walk out their faith, their belief by committing to a closer walk with Christ, by putting away their sin, by following him and reading their Bible and praying! Yes, do that! But don’t judge their salvation or their heart. You have no idea what they meant when they said that prayer or where their heart was. Or what their life has been like since, how hard they are trying to hold to God. 

And the way the world is? Well, God tells us that is what is going to happen. There is no surprise here. We wish it were different, but you can’t judge people’s hearts again by the rampant evil. Most Christians actually need more teaching about Satan and what he is doing at the end of the world, so they know who to fight. They fight each other, but read Revelation, and you will see who we should be fighting–and it’s not our political opponents. 

One thing that concerns me is how often you are pointing to other people and what they say. What does God say? And that is in his Word. That is why we have it. It is concrete, it is sure, it is true. It holds the TRUTH. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection bought us salvation. It is belief in that that causes us to be saved. That is the Gospel. Anything else denies what He did and Who He is.

Wes Knadle	Feb 26, 2024
to Linda

Sis, I sent a whole list of warnings and admonitions that are scriptural (Biblical warnings.pdf.) The word of God. Many are words of Jesus. My concerns about people and their salvation seems to line up with those warnings and admonitions. I do believe people are saved by faith, the acknowledgment of Jesus as the son of God, and repentance. What do we do with those other scriptures?

Linda Rodante	Mon, Feb 26
to me

They (the admonitions) are to those that are already saved–so we can grow in Him. Some grow, some don’t. Some (as in Luke 8:11-18), will fall away. But those people saying that 90% never meant what they said or never gave their heart to the Lord is truthfully ridiculous. Again, how would anyone ever know that? There can be no statistics that back that up. What? Would 90% of Christians say, no, I was never saved? So, someone picked that number out of the air. And are they including themselves in the 10 or the 90%? I wonder, are they preening because they are (they think) in the 10%? You see what bothers me?

Salvation is by faith, then we go on to learn to walk in his Kingdom, to learn to turn from sin, to seek God. We are not saved and become perfect at once. No where does the Bible suggest that. We are born as babes and must grow by the sincere milk of the Word, it tells us. You want people to be mature Christians instantly when you should be wanting to help them grow–which is where I thought you were going with everything you’ve been saying this last year. 

Yes, we need committed, vibrant, Jesus-loving, people-loving Christians, but telling them they’re not saved unless they know certain stuff, unless they act certain ways….or whatever is supposed to show those spouting this stuff that people are saved….is not the Gospel. Salvation is a free gift. Not of works, lest anyone should boast. But then we go on to maturity.

Wes Knadle	Mon, Feb 26
to Linda

But they do have to know certain stuff… They have to know who Jesus was and is. They have to know that He died for our sins. They have to know that He was born again unto eternal life, which is also our hope and opportunity. That He is the only way. That He is our creator and Lord of all. That we have the free will choice to accept Him or not. They have to know they come to Him by faith, believing. They have to know that they need to repent (to turn away from sin.) 

Let me say again. I am not arguing about anyone’s true and sincere commitment to Jesus. No matter how small or faint it may initially be. No one comes to Jesus unless he is drawn (John 6:44.) I am simply saying that I do not believe our churches have prepared people with clear information. They have watered down the gospel (Mark 7: 13.) And that once Christ is accepted there is a pathway that we are called to be on. The pathway to purity, holiness, sanctification, Christ likeness.

Certainly Jesus did not rebuke or turn away sinners, but he strongly called out the Sadducees, pharisees, and scribes. They had turned the Word of God into legalism and tradition.

There is no greater decision people will ever make in their lives. Nothing is of greater significance. And the condition of the American Church is the greatest indictment of its failure. Just look at the number of fatherless households, divorce, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, feminism, racism and on and on and on. Churches and denominations of today are not standing against sin, they are embracing it.

Linda Rodante	3:28 AM
to me

I knew almost none of that stuff when I was saved. I just heard a radio minister (Jimmy Swaggart) telling me God loved me, that Jesus died for me, and to accept him into my heart. and I did. And I was born again, changed, right then. Later I began to understand just what it meant that Jesus died for me. I didn’t even know he died for my sins because, really, I couldn’t think of much stuff in my life that was sin. When I heard LATER that I was supposed to repent of my sin, I had a hard time thinking of what I’d done that was sin.  Crazy, but it was only after God showed me what He meant by sin–which is anything not right in our lives, not doing right—but really, sin is unbelief–that I began to understand what salvation was ll about. I was saved but learning what I was saved from and for.

And people get saved in so many different ways and they know nothing about God except maybe what I did–that someone said God loves them and died for them. Not understanding any of it until aftet that initial step of salvation. Because–and the Word of God tells us this–it is a mystery to those that don’t believe, that haven’t been born again. They can’t understand it, but once we are born of His Spirit, we have the knowledge inside us and we read it in His Word and suddenly the revelation comes to us of who He is and who we are in Him and what the Kingdom is. Before salvation, we cannot understand those things because they are spiritually discerned. (I Cor 2:14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.)

As to the condition of the American Church, yes, we have serious problems! However, we also have strong Christians that are fighting the fight. I know many of them. I hear their testimonies. I see their work and their faith.  I also read their books and listen to their songs and worship with them. So call people to commitment, call men to be like Jesus, encourage women to be strong in the Lord. We need that today. 

Have you heard of this guy Nathan Ingram? I just heard a short clip from a podcast of his. He must be our age or maybe ten years younger, but he has a ministry to young men. He does seminars on how to be godly men. His wife died Dec 31, 2022. He has a ranch called Tranquility Ranch. And he has this podcast. There are people all over like him that are doing what you feel in your heart God is leading you to do for men, too. And we women have ministers too, encouraging and calling us up higher. God has an army, and we’re in it.

The Church of God needs help. Yes! Let’s keep on helping and keep on calling people up higher. 🙂

I love you!

Wes Knadle	7:22 AM
to Linda

Sis, I love you too. And I am so very encouraged about your strength in your convictions and in the Lord. And I’m also happy to hear and know more of your testimony. I believe we had a good foundation from mom and even dad for our Christian faith. As you probably will recall we used to go to Sunday school on a fairly regular basis. At least Sandra and I did. I don’t recall clearly about you and Edward. But they wanted us to have a solid foundation about God/Jesus. Dad was just angry over organized religion because of his experience. You heard what was probably a reasonably good gospel message. You were being drawn by God. But I would say that your conversion was part of the mystery & miracle that occurs when God sees even a mustard seed of faith that is real is presented to Him. You began to walk out your faith. You began to seek greater understanding. You were on the path of purity, holiness, and becoming Christ-like. God knew.

Thank you for the information about Nathan. I will look into it.

May you have a truly blessed day today.

Love you.

Linda is the author of Christian Romantic Suspense novels. Her books can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Linda-K.-Rodante/e/B012OITZ2Y/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

• Nicodemus, Ye Must Be Born Again
• THE PAROUSIA, THE APOSTASY and THE GREAT FALLING AWAY
• Releasing Holy Spirit’s Power
• DRAWING NEAR TO GOD
• The most downloaded sermon ever…