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Are Christians going to hell?


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#1 E.Vaughan

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 06:11 PM

Are Christians Going To Hell?


Yes, some of them are. They attend church every week, sometimes several times a week. They teach, they preach, they even prophecy and yet Christ will say “I never knew you.†They may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, can fathom all mysteries, possess the faith that can move mountains, even give away all their possessions and surrender their body to be burned, yet not knowing God’s love, they will still hear Jesus say, “Away from me you evildoers.†They know every part of the bible and can quote it to you chapter and verse. They know all the right words, sing all the right songs. They don’t drink alcohol, they don’t smoke, and they don’t watch TV or go to the movies. Yet they are going to hell just as surely as any sinner who has refused the truth of the gospel. They think their good behavior has earned God’s favor. Basically their religion has become their sin.



So why are they going to hell? Jesus said why, because He doesn’t know them. What does that really mean? Jesus is God and God knows everyone (better than they know themselves) how can He say He doesn’t know them? Think of it in terms of knowing someone famous. You know every available fact about them, you may have had the chance to shake their hand and even have an autographed photo of them. Then you want them to vouch for you to let you into some special event they are attending, but to them you are just another face in the crowd. They hear your name and say, “Who? Never heard of them. Send them away.†Even blindfolded Jesus could pick any one of us out of the crowd, but the point is the same. We’ve never taken the time to really get to know Him on an intimate level, like we would a good friend.



A church elder once said that unless you have felt the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in your life reassuring you that you are His child, chances are - you’re not. I heard another man (who was not a professing Christian) say that in his opinion Christians had little to offer in the way of true worship because we spent no time in meditation. After giving it much thought and consideration I would have to agree, with the understanding that what he referred to as meditation most Christians would think of as prayer and we don’t do nearly enough of it, not even close. I won’t say most, but a lot of professing Christians don’t even believe in prayer. That is until they get in trouble, then they are begging and pleading for God’s intervention. Sometimes He honors their cry, sometimes not. There are those who do pray regularly, but it’s more like a heavenly wish list for health, wealth and safety. Bringing our petitions to God is an important part of our relationship with Him but we shouldn’t be doing it in hopes of avoiding the discipline He would use to refine our character. Then there are those few, those precious few who have experienced the nearness of God in their prayer life. Without saying a word, they spend hours in His presence, like you would a good friend. They understand that He knows their heart, He knows their mind and they trust that He will take care of their needs. They also understand that any suffering they endure has been allowed by Him for their good and to accomplish His will.



When anyone mentions hell as a real place of suffering and torment, they casually disregard it; reassuring themselves they have purchased their fire insurance. With impure motives they make the statement like a question, “How could a loving God send anyone to such a horrible place?†And they go on about their lives, untransformed, unconcerned and unwilling to accept that it is a very real place and God doesn’t want anyone to go there. It’s because He is so loving that He made a way of escape. Before Christ hung on the cross and took our punishment, there was no other option. Hell was the only place we were going. It’s not so much that God can’t tolerate the presence of sin; He’s been putting up with us for thousands of years. It’s because in the presence of the absolute perfection that is God, not only can sin (everything that is not part of God’s perfection) not survive, it is utterly destroyed. That is what we face in the judgment seat of Christ, when every part of us that is not Him is burned away. If there is no part of us that is Him, there’s only one place to go. If we truly believed in the everlasting inescapable pain and suffering that is the reality of hell, we would be begging and pleading through weeping tears for the lost to accept Jesus and be saved. And we would be doing whatever it took to find that reassurance through God’s Spirit that we are counted among His children. Seek Him while He may be found and ask Him who gives generously for His peace, for without Him, not only is there no peace, there is no life.



#2 E.Vaughan

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 06:14 PM

Am new to this so I don't why it added links to specific words or if thats automatic or if I can stop it from doing that

#3 Joan Phillips

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 09:39 AM

No links on this end.when you wrote it it probably showed the html codes for bold, commas, italics or whatever.

Interesting subject.

"If we truly believed in the everlasting inescapable pain and suffering that is the reality of hell, we would be begging and pleading through weeping tears for the lost to accept Jesus and be saved. And we would be doing whatever it took to find that reassurance through God’s Spirit that we are counted among His children."

Why don't we see more "Christians" begging and pleading through weeping tears for at least our lost loved ones to accept Jesus? I have to say that I am guilty of not being more proactive or insistent that those closest to me need to seek Jesus.

But we can also do only so much. Some to whom I have shared that message and demonstrated His love for years have CHOSEN to ignore the message. As my pastor told me, "You are not the Messiah. It is His job to save people, not yours. You just take the message."

May I suggest that people read 23 Minutes In Hell. It may spur them on to seek more of Jesus and less of promoting themselves through ministry or just plain apathy. (hope that made sense).
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#4 Ruthie Hankins

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 12:19 PM

Your title did catch my attendion, but it is a little misleading. If you are talking about those who CALL themselves Christians, I agree that some (if not many) are going to hell. If however you are talking about true Christ-followers when you ask the question, then I would say no; and from what you wrote, I think you would too. Thanks for joining in the discussion!
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#5 Julie Daube

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 01:46 PM

This is a very thought-provoking post! Based on my understanding of Scripture, it sounds like you are not talking about genuine followers of Christ but about people who are Christians in name only (therefore, I think Ruthie was correct in her response to the question).

They know all the right words, sing all the right songs. They don’t drink alcohol, they don’t smoke, and they don’t watch TV or go to the movies.

I have known people like this, and it made me very sad. They had rules against listening to any secular music, no matter how positive or uplifting, and they wouldn't even listen to the radio. They thought it was a sin to have a Christmas tree in their house. They were involved in all kinds of evangelistic programs and appeared to work tirelessly for God's Kingom, yet they were completely disengaged from their culture. They weren't just not "of" the world, but they clearly despised the world - and that was very clear to everyone around them. It made me wonder just how effective they could be in reaching their communities for Christ when they clearly wanted nothing whatsoever to do with their communities.

Maybe this was off-topic, but your post made me think of Christians I have known who are full of zeal to perform (do the right things) for God, yet have no love in their hearts. Will they be in for a nasty surprise on judgment day? Scary stuff!
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#6 E.Vaughan

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Posted 07 April 2011 - 07:15 PM

2 Things
First, yes there were those who were saved by their faith (prior to the cross) and were waiting in Abraham's bosom for Christ to come and deliver them. My point is that had there been no promise of the cross there would not been Abraham's bosom. God graciously and loving provided for both.

Second, when you read those passages where Jesus says "On that day many will say to me, Lord Lord, did we not do all these wonderful things (paraphrasing) in your name?" To include casting out demons and healing the sick and prophecying, yet he rebukes them for not being known by him and turns them away. Those aren't non-believers he's talking about. Those people aren't thinking to themselves that their faith is false, if anything they believe by the evidence of their works that their faith is in fact genuine. They are in for a VERY rude awakening. Having read some material recently on the subject of hell being profoundly dismal and hopeless and the endless pain and suffering, it breaks my heart to think about anyone going there. Not to mention them missing out on really knowing Him, which in itself is the greatest reward.

#7 Tracy

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Posted 08 April 2011 - 04:32 PM

I so liked the article you have wrote on."Are Christians Going To Hell?" The Word of God states that there will be a form of religion in the last days,people will really think they are going to enter into the Kingdom of God but they have been turned over to a reprobate mind,they are denying the power there of. Religion is not what is going to get us into the Kingdom of Heaven,it's going to be a rightful relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!! And this has really stirred my heart to want to pray more,I have been coming up short in this area & Lord help me!! God Bless :D

#8 Joel Stoddert

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Posted 08 April 2011 - 07:19 PM

2 Things
First, yes there were those who were saved by their faith (prior to the cross) and were waiting in Abraham's bosom for Christ to come and deliver them. My point is that had there been no promise of the cross there would not been Abraham's bosom. God graciously and loving provided for both.

Second, when you read those passages where Jesus says "On that day many will say to me, Lord Lord, did we not do all these wonderful things (paraphrasing) in your name?" To include casting out demons and healing the sick and prophecying, yet he rebukes them for not being known by him and turns them away. Those aren't non-believers he's talking about. Those people aren't thinking to themselves that their faith is false, if anything they believe by the evidence of their works that their faith is in fact genuine. They are in for a VERY rude awakening. Having read some material recently on the subject of hell being profoundly dismal and hopeless and the endless pain and suffering, it breaks my heart to think about anyone going there. Not to mention them missing out on really knowing Him, which in itself is the greatest reward.


From what I've seen of the discussion here, there seems to be agreement on the ideas, just not the post's title. Are Christians going to hell? No. Are some "Christians", who really aren't, going to hell? Yes. To say true believers end up in hell doesn't compute, in light of Scripture's clear teaching on salvation, the nature of God, etc. Take the latter, for example. The Bible says God chose us before the foundation of the world to be His children & also teaches that He is all-knowing and perfect (which precludes making mistakes). To believe the Bible teaches real Christians sometimes go to hell is, of necessity, to assume, that God made some mistakes in choosing His family, that He didn't know how some of them would reject Him even if they pretended not to, acting like "Christians" without really loving Christ. I'm not saying you believe that, but in my opinion, to take the Bible's portrayal of God seriously, you'd have to in order to be consistent. Or take the teaching of salvation by grace, not by works (Eph. 2:8-10). If real Christians go to hell, that means either 1) Christ's finished work on the cross on their behalf isn't good enough to keep them out of hell; or 2) that salvation is really by grace and works, and their works were insufficient to get them into heaven. Which leads us back to 1) again, since if Christ's death on the cross is truly able to save us, why would additional works be seen as necessary?
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#9 Tracy

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Posted 09 April 2011 - 10:12 PM

We are told in Galatians 5:16 to walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. and they are in Galatians 5:19-21 and we are told to walk in the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-25.Then last but least we are asked in God's Word should we continue in sin,it says God forbid!

#10 Theodore Rice

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Posted 10 April 2011 - 01:46 PM

Your title did catch my attendion, but it is a little misleading. If you are talking about those who CALL themselves Christians, I agree that some (if not many) are going to hell. If however you are talking about true Christ-followers when you ask the question, then I would say no; and from what you wrote, I think you would too. Thanks for joining in the discussion!


This is right on. Real Christians are part of the body of Christ, so unless Christ Himself goes to Hell, they can't either! There are many who profess to be Christians, may believe themselves Christians, and whom many others believe to be Christians who may hear "depart from me, I never knew you". Only God knows who these are as only He knows the heart fully, but I believe there will be many surprises in that day, both with those who are expected to be there and aren't and those who everyone believed shouldn't be, but are.

We need to examine our own hearts. If we judge ourselves, we won't be judged.

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#11 Julie Daube

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Posted 10 April 2011 - 01:55 PM

From what I've seen of the discussion here, there seems to be agreement on the ideas, just not the post's title. Are Christians going to hell? No. Are some "Christians", who really aren't, going to hell? Yes. To say true believers end up in hell doesn't compute, in light of Scripture's clear teaching on salvation, the nature of God, etc.

I agree, Joel. From what I understand of Scripture, any so-called "Christians" who wind up in hell were never really Christians to begin with. Many people who call themselves Christians don't really know the Lord. They may know some factual information about Him (He was born of a virgin and died on the cross, etc.); they go to church; and they may even have done many good works, but they don't have a genuine relationship with Him. Some would call these people nominal Christians ("Christian" in name only). Often they will brag about all the good works they do, but they are unable to admit that they are sinners in need of a Savior.

#12 E.Vaughan

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:24 PM

one last thing...

I confess to being a bit misleading with the title. If I had named it "All Fake Christians Are Going To Hell" everyone would have been like, "well duh..." I meant it to provoke a self examination of your relationship with Jesus. Is it there or not? The more straining at the details I see or intellectualizing of it only says to me that maybe you need to take a closer look at that relationship. I'm not judging anyone, just saying.

#13 Julie Daube

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 10:21 AM

I meant it to provoke a self examination of your relationship with Jesus. Is it there or not? The more straining at the details I see or intellectualizing of it only says to me that maybe you need to take a closer look at that relationship.

Can you give an example of what you mean by "straining at the details"? I assume you are talking about people who define their relationship with Jesus through the good works that they do instead of through His death on the cross. If so, it's possible that they may not really be Christians. But at the same time, we need to be careful not to judge someone else's relationship with the Lord.

#14 E.Vaughan

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Posted 14 April 2011 - 04:34 PM

The details that are being strained over are in the essay itself. Of course I was refering to those who only call themselves Christian, but really aren't. And I wasn't going into all the details about predestination about who God has chosen and how only He truly knows. I don't mind healthy discussion and even constructive critisism it just seemed like alot of talk about something that I meant to be somewhat cut and dry. And again, let me emphasize it again, I AM NOT judging anyone, I only wanted to prompt everyone (whether they think of themselves as real Christian or not) to take a closer look at their relationship with God. To be absolutely sure where they stand, and yes I believe you can know for sure. If you don't know for sure then you need to.

#15 Julie Daube

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Posted 15 April 2011 - 06:43 AM

The details that are being strained over are in the essay itself. Of course I was refering to those who only call themselves Christian, but really aren't. And I wasn't going into all the details about predestination about who God has chosen and how only He truly knows. I don't mind healthy discussion and even constructive critisism it just seemed like alot of talk about something that I meant to be somewhat cut and dry. And again, let me emphasize it again, I AM NOT judging anyone, I only wanted to prompt everyone (whether they think of themselves as real Christian or not) to take a closer look at their relationship with God. To be absolutely sure where they stand, and yes I believe you can know for sure. If you don't know for sure then you need to.

I'm not sure it was cut and dry to everyone, since at least a couple of people seemed confused by the title of the thread. I also want to clarify that I didn't necessarily think you were judging anyone; I just wanted to point out the need to be careful about doing that, especially in a discussion of this nature. I confess that I may have been guilty of that myself when I referred to the legalistic Christians I had known.

I agree that a person can know for sure that they are saved. The Bible makes that clear in 1 John 5:13: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." Unfortunately, it's possible for a born-again believer to lack assurance of salvation. This can happen when a believer has not fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit's control. The Apostle Paul called these people "carnal," or wordly, Christians. Because they have not fully experienced the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they are not equipped to fight the temptations that come their way and often lack victory over sin. Basically, this is the difference between being saved (justified) and sanctified (filled with, or controlled by, the Spirit). For some excellent teaching on this subject, I highly recommend the wrtings of U.S. C&MA Vice President for Church Ministries John Soper.

Here is a link to some of what he has written on the C&MA Web site on the subject "Jesus Our Sanctifer" (part of the Fourfold Gospel of the C&MA):
http://www.cmallianc...iefs/sanctifier

#16 Tkulp

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Posted 01 December 2016 - 06:09 PM

E.Vaughan,
I would like to have a revival here. I want to revive your post from out of the dusty archives. While I am doing that, I want to express my appreciation to the programers at CMA for this web site and the very fact that topics and posts are never totally gone, unless they are removed for some reason. I am amazed at the openness that this site has to the world through the internet search engines. Most any time, day or night there are 30+ guests online, whatever that means, but you can see the articles that they are reading. If you are interested in such things, it tells a bit about what is going on in people’s minds. For me it is better than playing Freecell, just to watch and read what others are curious and reading.

So, E.Vaughan, here I am resurrecting your post that has lain idle for almost 6 years. I have not seen you on any of the recent forums that I have been lead to read, so I hope that you are still walking closely with the Lord and learning more, daily, from His Holy Spirit!!

You did raise a bit of a stir with your desire to reveal Truth. There are a lot of people, that know about Jesus Christ, but the fruit of their lives and speech reveals that there is a spirit other than the Holy Spirit in control. They do need to wake up and buy oil before it is too late.

I was not going to do what I am about to do, but sleep would not come tonight, as Scripture and concepts kept flowing through my mind. I trust that you will not mind if I say ‘amen’ to your post and maybe add, from my heart, some thoughts and Scripture to what you have written.

First, a little bit about the word ‘know’.

The Jewish religious elements, from what I read, believe that they ‘know’ God. They are taught by their Rabbis, who study commentaries ‘about’ the Scriptures. Very few if any truly study the Scriptures themselves, from what I understand. That would mean that the average Jewish student most likely does not ‘know’ God, but they ‘know’ about Him by second hand information. Most likely that information could be anywhere from truth to simple educated opinion.

As I read the posts, old and new, and the bits of information about the people who write them, I see a parallel trend in the realm of those that would call themselves ‘Christian’. Many references to books, commentaries, opinions, doctrines, psychology, sympathy, concern, etc, but not so many that use Scripture in context or Holy Spirit inspiration to address the issues of life and the ‘Christian’ walk.

Jew or Christian, both, receiving their knowledge from man, and man’s wisdom and doctrines.

1 John 2:26-28 I am writing to warn you about those people who are misleading you. But Christ has blessed you with the Holy Spirit. Now the Spirit stays in you, and you don’t need any teachers. The Spirit is truthful and teaches you everything. So stay one in your heart with Christ, just as the Spirit has taught you to do.  Children, stay one in your hearts with Christ. Then when he returns, we will have confidence and won’t have to hide in shame.

A court of law is a place where “knowing” is a most critical element of the proceedings. A person would not be accepted in a court of law giving second hand information, it would be called ‘hear-say’. The Judge wants first hand witnesses.

I have found an extremely interesting fact about the KJ translation of the word ‘know’. It has a number of different Greek words with different meanings and concepts that are all translated ‘know’. That means that the casual student of the Bible can miss a possible deeper meaning that is expressed in the original language, if they do not dig and listen to the Holy Spirit.

I want to make reference to just two of the uses of the word ‘know’ as you have applied the importance of Christ ‘knowing’ us.

Yes, it appears that the Bible would warn us that it is more important that Christ ‘knows’ us than it is that we know Him, or know about Him.

There is an interesting connection between Matthew 1:25 and Matthew 7:23. They both use the Greek word G1097 [to “know” (absolutely - Completely and without qualification)].
Mat 1:24  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: Mat 1:25  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The question for us is “Does Jesus know (G1097) us intimately, absolutely??

Does He dwell intimately within us?

Do we obey the Holy Spirit or are we controlled by our sense, emotions, the flesh?

I would like to throw in a little observation on the idea of ‘works’ as expressed above. Another way of considering our actions, beside using the word ‘works’ would be to use the concept of “fruit”. The Bible uses both, but for me ‘Fruit” has deeper meaning and concepts.

The fruit of a plant is produced without effort on the part of the plant. It all has to do with the kind of plant and what is flowing within the plant, the nourishment, watering, and sunshine or shade that the plant receives. The Spiritual similarities are amazing!! A lot of people that would call themselves by the name of Christ do not demonstrate that they believe the Truths that Jesus taught about “works”. It is a bit deeper than a surface understanding that would believe ‘works’ does not have a place in Christianity!!


Moving on, there is the ‘know’ that is used in  Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see G1492 your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

and....  

Mat 25:1 -13  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know G1492 you not. Watch therefore, for ye know G1492 neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Here the ‘know’ has to do with seeing, or maybe looking like. You can come to your own conclusions, but it is not the intimate knowledge used earlier, by Christ.

Here are just a few important facts on the parable. The 10 were pure! The 10 had lamps to burn oil that would give light to see in the darkness. All 10 fell asleep! The oil was not something that could be, or in this case should be shared. The foolish were told to go and buy their own.

Most Christians would see this to mean that these individuals were pure and had the Holy Spirit. Five of them did not have enough of the Holy Spirit to give them light through the extended time of darkness. The bridegroom did not know, see, recognize, ?, them. They were left outside and did not come into the wedding feast. A very sobering reality!

Jesus said this to the ‘believers’ in the Laodicean  church, “Rev_3:16-18  .... I will spue thee out of my mouth....  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”
“Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Once again there are a number of actions that a person must do to have an intimate relationship, to be known by Christ! I believe if you look you might also find that Jesus said “... I know thy works...” to each of the churches that He spoke to in the Revelation. The NT has a lot more to say about ‘works’ than just one verse that is rather misunderstood in relation to the heart of the gospel.

It would be good to remember the very first gentile convert, selected by God. Why did God choose him and his family, according to the Bible? Acts 10:1-2

So there you have it E.Vaughan! I believe that this should answer some of the responses to your ‘wake up’ call. There are more verses in the NT that support what you were trying to point out. The warning is to those that ‘think’ they are living in the Light, but the light that they have is really darkness! Oh, how great is their darkness!! Luke 11:34-36; Matthew 6:20-24

The really sad truth is that those who think that they ‘know’ the truth and do not, will not listen to Truth, nor see Truth because they are so blinded, deaf, and hard hearted. Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:12-15

The Christians that are known by Christ are those sheep that know His voice and follow Him. They are lead by the Holy Spirit under His influence. They follow Christ’s example and walk in obedience to the Father.

Those that are under the influence of the World, but trying to follow their understand of the Bible, trying to be a witness, etc. but controlled by their senses and emotions, struggling with self and selfishness are walking on thin ice at best.

Human beings tend to imitate that which they admire and those that they hang out with most. Those are the people who come to know you, the more that you spend time and work with them.

When you meditate, dig into the Word,  you will come to know God’s heart and desires for mankind. Walk with Him, doing, following the leading of His Spirit which are in agreement with the Spirit of His Word, and you will find that after a time, that is all that you have to talk about and imitate. His fruit will grow on you just like an apple effortlessly grows on an apple tree. Know that ‘fruit’ is grown to be eaten, which may not be pleasant, but will always yield sweet nourishment when eaten. The seeds will hopefully produce ‘new plants’ of like kind to produce more fruit.....
 


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#17 rollie4jc

rollie4jc

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Posted 07 December 2016 - 12:25 PM

I just join the CMA forum but in replying to this question. Jesus did put a qualifier, Matt 7.21 "...only those who does the will of His Father."  Then I believe Jesus put another sub-qualifier in verse 22 "Lord, Lord, didn't we ..." which hits the motive of the heart.  Everyday, sometimes every second I have to ask myself (and GOD) am I doing this for you or are doing this thru me?  I prefer the latter, but most of the time I end up doing the former. Then turn around praying that I didn't mess it that much, especially for others.  

I try not take part on the who's going where and who's not and stay within the parameters of what GOD assigned to me. In the end like everyone of else, I want to from GOD is "Well done my good and faithful servant, enter now."