JESUS CHRIST STANDS APART FROM ALL OTHERS
Dear readers, there is one thing that all cults that pretend to be “Christian” have in common, they do not make Christ as the only way of salvation. Their falsehood begins by telling people that man is basically capable of being good apart of Jesus Christ. There is no identification with Christ in their credo. That may not be said straight out, deception is usually far more subtle than to speak plainly, but it is said nonetheless.
The Apostles of Jesus Christ who penned the New Testament give witness to the fact that men CANNOT save themselves, and therefore, Jesus Christ is the only source of salvation. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
The crinkle appears in the behavior of people who become apart of such a movement by doubts and fears and a lack of assurance of salvation. How can a sinful person be secure in their place in eternity, when their thoughts, attitudes, and actions betray them every day? It is impossible! Only through self-deception (to be deceived) and delusion (believing yourself to be something you are not) can a person betray their own conscience and believe what their own heart tells them to be true.
The crinkle appears in the behavior of people who become apart of such a movement by doubts and fears and a lack of assurance of salvation. How can a sinful person be secure in their place in eternity, when their thoughts, attitudes, and actions betray them every day? It is impossible! Only through self-deception and delusion can a person betray their own conscience and believe what their own heart tells them to be true. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
My dear readers, there are two types of Christian in the world; the first we will call forgetful hearers. James the Apostle refers to them this way, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” (James 1:23, 24)
These poor people believe themselves to be in the kingdom through Jesus Christ, but when they hear what the Bible has to say about them, they reject it. They may agree in their mind, but their heart deceives them. When the Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3) It doesn’t compute. They hear that they come short, but if you ask them, they will tell, “I haven’t killed anybody.” James says, IMMEDIATELY, they forget.
The second type of Christian we will call the intent lookers. “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25) The intent looker is set free to do what is right, not by his own strength but by the Holy Spirit that dwells within him. The person that acknowledges his sinful unworthiness before God is made worthy by the blood and sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
My dear reader, do you have the assurance that accompanies the intent looker? Is your life being built upon the rock of Jesus Christ the Lord? Is He your Lord through the regeneration of your own heart? Does obedience to Christ accompany the words that you hear from the Bible? When I speak in this way, I am not referring to perfection but direction. Are you facing Jesus Christ and is your life being built upon Him?
If so, you are being blessed in what you do – in truth and not a lie.