What Kind Of A Christian Are You?

 


In a previous blogpost, I had wrote about a very important question that was asked nearly a minute and twenty-two seconds into a trailer for an upcoming film depicting a second civil war in America and the question was, as is the title of my previous blogpost, What Kind Of An American Are You? [1, 2]
 
And the reason why I wrote that post is because I believe that is a very important question that we, as Americans, need to be asking ourselves and that we should be asking ourselves that question NOW, and that we ought to be having that discussion NOW, and not when all hell breaks loose as asking that important question and having that important discussion may very well determine as to whether or not the things we fear may befall our nation actually come to pass.
 
I also mentioned that how we answer that question depends on how we define ourselves as Americans and not only that, how the nation that we are born into is defined in our minds and there was a time in our history when the consensus regarding what kind of a nation we wanted America to be was virtually unanimous: It was intended to be a land of liberty, and justice for all, but now in this generation, there is much dispute, contention, and division as to what liberty is supposed to be and what it is supposed to entail and what justice for all is supposed to be and as a result, the nation has become sharply divided between two warring ideologies which, for the nation, can end in only one of two ways:  One ideology triumphing over the other or the nation being divided and separated into at least two different nations along ideological lines.
 
And lastly, and most importantly, I also stated that the ideological divide is not merely political, economic, or social but is spiritual in nature because the two ideologies that I had basically described in my previous post that are dividing our nation and could ultimately tear it apart are the product of two spiritual forces at war with one another and are ever at war in every nation for the minds, hearts, and souls of men and that ultimately, every person is going to have to take a side in this age-long war and that there can be no neutral ground.
 
I also explained how this spiritual warfare began and how it became a war for the hearts, minds, and souls of men and the choice that we have in this ongoing warfare is this:
 
Liberty or tyranny
Truth or falsehood
Godliness or ungodliness
Morality or immorality
Light or darkness
Good or evil
Life or death
Angels or demons
God or Satan
Salvation or damnation
Heaven or Hell
 
I would like to think that most of us would want to choose the following:
 
Liberty
Truth
Godliness
Morality
Light
Life
Angels
God
Salvation, and Heaven.
 
But I fear that many and perhaps far too many are choosing the following:
 
Tyranny
Falsehood
Ungodliness
Immorality
Darkness
Evil
Death
Demons
Satan
Damnation and Hell.
 
They, on both the right and the left, have taken a broad wide easy path that leads to destruction and are blind to the bondage in which they are already in but this does not just apply to people of just one of the two opposing ideologies at war with one another, but it applies to those in on both sides of what appears to be an ideological warfare as there are lost souls on both the right and the left and there are souls on both sides that have been taken captive by the forces of darkness and are unaware of their captivity because they know not what it is that has taken them captive and that the evils that they read about, hear about, witness, and even affect them firsthand are but the outward results of an unseen captivity that all people have been born into since man was created.
 
But God never intended man to be in bondage or to live under tyranny whether that bondage and tyranny be visible or invisible but when God created man, He had placed him in a world in which there was only life, light, goodness, happiness, contentment, liberty, and a perfect peace, harmony, and unity between God, man, and nature itself.  It was a world that was of a nature opposite to the one in which we live in now.
 
Nothing was ever withheld in that world from man except for one thing: A tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and it was warned by God of Adam, the first man, and his wife Eve, the first woman that in the day they ate of it, that they would surely die (Gen. 2:16-17, 3:3) but rather than heed the warning given to them, they were seduced by an evil spirit, an angel who had once served as the guardian of the cherub at the throne of God before he and a number of other angels had rebelled against Him and were cast from their positions as a consequence. (Is. 14:11-21, Ezek. 28:12-19)
 
This fallen angel, known as Lucifer or Satan, by a lie, caused man to eat the fruit from the very tree that they were told not to eat any fruit from (Gen. 3:4-7) which then brought upon them the sentence of death of which they were warned (Gen. 3:19) for what brought upon the sentence of death is what brings upon every person today the sentence of death whether they be good or evil and what brings the sentence of death is a corruption that entered into the first man and woman and was then inherited by the rest of mankind, because it is from Adam and Eve from whom all of mankind descend and because we descend from them, we also inherit within ourselves that same corruption (Rom. 5:12) that entered into them and that corruption is what the Bible call sin which is defined, not just by outward acts or words spoken, but by the corrupted condition of our nature producing within us everything contrary to what God had created us to be, affecting not only our actions and behavior but also our very thoughts, attitudes, and motives which is why it is written that we are not defiled by that which comes from without but by that which comes from within. (Mt. 15:11, 18-20) which is why that no matter how good and morally upright we attempt to be, we, in some or fashion, sin every day and therefore fall short of the perfection desired and required of us by God (Rom. 3:23) and because we all sin, the sentence of death is upon us all (Rom. 6:23) and not only that, we are born estranged from our Creator because of sin for that which is incorruptible and without sin cannot admit into His Kingdom that which is in sin because the taint of sin corrupts, poisons, distorts, perverts, twists, and even destroys more than we can possibly comprehend and is the reason why it is written why all of creation groans and travails in pain until now (Rom. 8:19-22) and is the reason why death and decay reign and why there is so much evil, hardship, darkness, grief, pain, and suffering in this world and it is because of what sin has done to the earth that that which is in sin cannot be admitted into the Kingdom of God lest Heaven be defiled as earth has been defiled and it is sin by which the adversary of our souls has kept us bound in and it by the power of sin that he brings death and not just to our bodies but to our very souls as well, for it is by sin that we not only die, but are also condemned to eternal damnation filled with nothing but an unrelenting torment that lasts for all eternity, but God, in His love and mercy is not willing for that to be so for anyone (2 Pet. 3:9) but that all would come to repentance and escape this bondage that brings death and damnation and in His love and mercy He has purchased our redemption in His only begotten Son (Jn. 3:16) who is called Jesus Christ, who came to earth as God in the flesh (Jn. 1:14) to take away our sins and He was able to purchase redemption on our behalf because He himself is without any sin (2 Cor. 5:21) and therefore was able to serve as that sinless and perfect sacrifice (Heb. 7:26-27) offered up on our behalf through the shedding of His blood by His death upon the cross on which He was crucified and after having purchased our redemption by His death, was raised again from the dead so that we in Him by faith may be justified (Rom. 4:25) if we will but call upon His name for the forgiveness of sins (Rom. 10:13) trusting fully in His redemptive work on the cross and believing that God raised Him from the dead so that we who call upon His name for the forgiveness of sins will be saved from the fiery torments and darkness of Hell and with the forgiveness of sins comes reconciliation to the God (2 Cor. 5:18) and a change in us (2 Cor. 5:17) that makes us, out of a genuine love and gratitude for the salvation that we have been given freely by the grace and mercy of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to want to do that which is good and right in the eyes of our Maker and to honor and include Him in every aspect of our life.
 
It is by the cleansing of our souls from sin that we are made free of the bondage and that captivity that had entered into Adam and Eve when they had eaten of that forbidden fruit and which was then inherited by us from them and by which we would have otherwise remained estranged from our Creator and in danger of eternal damnation and it is this Gospel of salvation that is the solution to all the evils and supposed evils that we desire to see eliminated but it is a solution that requires a change in all of us that only God can produce if we will but turn away from our own sins, call upon the name of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and invite Him into ourselves to produce within us that inward change that makes us want to be the change that we desire to the glory of God for if we would see less darkness and evil in the world, we must first, in all faith and sincerity, seek not after a dynamic political figure, a so-called expert, an inspiring preacher, a prolific writer, or any figure of affluence, nor look to any established institutions to bring better changes in the world, but rather we are commanded to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and when we place Heaven above all else, then we are promised that the rest of our concerns will be addressed. (Mt. 6:33)
 
For when we submit ourselves to that inward change that God requires of us and which only He can work out in us and not we ourselves, not only are we changed for the better, but as more people willingly repent of their sins and embrace Christ, households, neighborhoods, entire communities, academic establishments, places of business, commerce, and employment, media outlets, entertainment, and finally politics itself are changed for the better.
 
There is a reason why most of my posts end with a presentation of the Gospel message of Christ and an invitation to receive Him as Lord and Savior to those who have not done so already and it is because all else apart from Christ ends in failure and disappointment and anything else we place our trust in to deliver us from evil, hopelessness, despair, and from the things we dread and fear will fail to bring the deliverance and change that we seek.
 
We are never promised a life without difficulty, grief, hardship, or challenges, but Christ does promise to sustain us through them and sometimes even provide us deliverance and escape if we will but trust in Him to do so and lay all of our fears, worries, sorrows, and griefs at His feet and in both favorable and unfavorable circumstances, remain faithfully obedient to Him in all that we do and continue to be diligently be about Heaven’s business but sadly, not all who profess to know Christ are diligently about Heaven’s business but are caught up in the affairs, cares, and worries of this present life,
nor do they seem to do what is right in the eyes of the God they profess to worship, but continue to do what is right in their own eyes or in the eyes of those with whom they seek to gain and retain favor,
nor do they appear to be living lives worthy of the name of Christ, but live as though they had never given themselves over to Him in the first place and take pleasure in the things that are sinful and evil in the sight of God rather than what is right in His sight,
seek the temporal praise and favor of men above the praise and honor of God which is everlasting,
fear men who will one day give an account before God more than the God who will judge all and give a final reward and sentence to each, they place their hopes in the things of this present world rather than in the new and better world to come (Rev. 21-22) which is promised to all His saints,
seem to rely on anything else but God to see to all of their needs rather than the God who made the earth and all that is in it and who by word, spoke all things He made into existence, (Gen. 1) rely on, for their doctrine and instruction, a Pastor, teacher, seminarian, professor, a credentialed figure, or any person of affluence, rather than diligently reading, studying, and searching the scriptures for themselves to determine  if what they are being taught is of God, (Acts 17:11), and blindly trust and believe all things rather than following the admonition to test all things (1 Thess. 5:21) to determine their trustworthiness, accuracy, and truthfulness.
 
For those who have ever taken time to read the George Barna Research studies, I must say, they are far from encouraging.
 
For example, nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Christian [3] but only 25 percent consider themselves practicing Christians [4] and fewer even still hold to a biblical world view (9 percent) despite the fact that over 50 percent claim to hold to a biblical worldview [5]
 
One of Barna’s studies showed that while most professing Christians appeared to have a right understanding of who God is, many of the same were at the same time holding to beliefs contrary to scripture and even the Gospel itself.  A study Barna had conducted in 2021 explains in further detail:
 
 
A large share of this population embraces various biblical principles and truths. For instance:
 
• 79% believe that God has a reason for everything
• 77% say they have a unique, God-given calling
• 74% say they intentionally try to avoid sinning because they know it hurts God
• 72% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God
• 62% agree that the universe was designed and created, and is sustained by God
• 61% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect and just Creator of the universe
who still rules the universe today
 
But this large group entertains a wide range of perspectives that are not in harmony with biblical
teachings. Among the errant perspectives most widely embraced are:
 
• 72% argue that people are basically good
• 71% consider feelings, experience, or the input of friends and family as their most trusted
sources of moral guidance
• 66% say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue
• 64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
• 58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their
way into Heaven
• 58% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power,
presence, or purity
• 57% believe in karma
• 52% claim that determining moral truth is up to each individual; there are no moral absolutes
that apply to everyone, all the time
 
Self-identified Christians are also likely to reject a number of biblical teachings and principles. For example, slightly less than half (46%) believe that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s plan for humanity, across all cultures; just 40% believe that when they die they will go to Heaven, but only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior; only one-third (34%) believes that people are born into sin and can only be saved of the consequences by Jesus Christ; just one-third (32%) believes premarital sex is morally unacceptable; and about one out of every four (28%) believes that the best indicator of a successful life is consistent obedience to God. [6]
 
 
Now, it is not the purpose of this blogpost to go into an in-depth examination as to why a majority of professing Christians who seem to have a proper understanding of who God is and yet hold to things contrary to what the Christian faith teaches, but I will try to give a summary of what this all means:
 
1.  The majority of professing Christians deny that man is inherently corrupt.
 
2.  The majority of professing Christians look to anything but the infallible Word of God as their first and final authority for moral guidance.
 
3.  The majority of professing Christians don’t believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone but that there are other ways to Heaven as well as they hold all religious faiths to be equally valid. (I suppose, according to their responses they must believe Satan worship is just as equally valid as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.)
 
4.  The majority of Christians trust in their own goodness to grant them admittance into Heaven rather than the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
 
5.  The majority of Christians deny the existence of the Holy Spirit, a person in the triune Godhead (makes me wonder what else they believe about the rest of the Godhead)
 
6.  The majority of professing Christians deny that there is such a thing as an absolute truth and consequently deny an absolute moral standard that applies to all people all the time which is why there are professing Christians who believe that things such as abortion, fornication, and homosexuality are morally acceptable.
 
7.  The majority of Christians deny that the best indicator of a successful life is faithful obedience to God (They are caught in the cares and worries of this present life and trust more in the things of this world rather than in God to mee their needs and define success in accordance to how the world defines success rather than how God has defined success).
 
And another study states that only 37 percent of church leaders possess a biblical worldview, and that includes not just Senior Pastors, but also Associate Pastors, Executive Pastors, and those leading youth groups and children’s ministries. The respective study goes on to explain:
 
 
 
A minority of Christian pastors think and act biblically in relation to each of the other seven categories
of worldview measurement. Specifically in the other categories, only 47% have a biblical worldview
regarding family and the value of life; 44% concerning issues related to God, creation, and history;
43% in relation to personal faith practices; 43% when it comes to matters of sin, salvation, and one’s
relationship with God; 40% pertaining to human character and human nature; and 40% when it comes
to measures of lifestyle, personal behavior, and relationships.
 
Lowest of all is a category that might have been expected to top the list: beliefs and behaviors related
to the Bible, truth, and morality (39%). [7]
 
 
 
That means a majority of church leaders hold an unbiblical view regarding the design of the family and the value of life, hold to teachings inconsistent with what the Bible says about God, the origins of life, and history, nor do they adhere to nor teach the right things about personal faith practices, and hold a soul-damning view of sin, salvation, and one’s relationship with God, are just as blind and ignorant to the nature of man as the congregations under them, and call good what God has condemned as evil and affirm that which the Bible says will keep a man out of Heaven and they are leading astray and into eternal damnation all they with whom they have been entrusted to instruct and disciple in the Lord.
I fear for the salvation of the so-called Christian majority because I honestly do not see how they can profess to follow Jesus and yet hold to things contrary to His Word and think it permissible to do the things that His Word forbids.  Being raised Christian, in and of itself is not going to admit you into Heaven.  Simply going to church on a regular basis is not what is going to admit you into the Kingdom of God and neither is trusting in your own goodness as scripture makes it clear that there is only one way by which we can be saved and that is through Jesus Christ our Lord who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead so that we who place our trust in Him alone for salvation will be saved from what would otherwise be eternal torment and we are by faith saved by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and not of ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9) and the good works we do and the things that we do in the name of God to His glory are not done because we think we are saved by them, but ought to be done out of love for our Lord and out of appreciation and gratitude for the salvation that we have received in Him but that is a transformation and a conversion that it appears that many so-called Christians have yet to experience which now leads me to ask those who claim to follow Christ:
 
 
 “What kind of a Christian are you?”
 
 
Are you a Christian whose faith is only a Sunday hobby or do you show yourself to be a faithful follower of Christ, not just in a church building or just on a Sunday, but all week in every place you go and in everything you do?
Are you a Christian whose life reflects a gratitude and appreciation for the salvation you profess to have or are you in your priorities and manner of living as though you had never given yourself to Christ in the first place?
Do you, as a Christian, seek to abide in nothing more or less, than the doctrine and instruction of God’s Holy Word and nothing more or less, or do you adhere to things that are contrary to His divinely inspired Word? (2 Tim. 3:16)
Do you, as a Christian, take time to diligently read and study the Word of God on a daily basis, as often as that is possible, (2 Tim. 2:15) or is the only time you read and listen to the Word at a church service or a worship rally?
In what manner do you approach the scriptures? Do you render them in accordance to how the text presents itself or is your understanding them based upon what men claim the scriptures say and what they mean?
Do you have full confidence in the authority and divine inspiration of the scriptures and count them sufficient for your instruction and doctrine or do you find yourself doubting their authority and think them insufficient to address all things pertaining to this life and our relationship with our Maker?
How is your prayer life? Do you make every effort to pray regularly on a daily basis in both good times and in the evil times or do you only call upon Him in times of distress and when the distress is passed, go right back to ignoring your Maker?
Do you pray regularly, as often as you can, wherever you might be at, or is the only time you pray in the church building?
Is the assembling of the saints a time to receive edification and encouragement in the Lord, instruction in accordance to the Word of God and to be in harmonious fellowship with like-minded believers or is it nothing more than a social club?
Do you attach yourself to the body of Christ to serve and follow Christ or is it for your own self-serving ambitions (whatever those may be)?
Are you of the attitude of one who sees themselves as perfectly content with where they are at in their relationship with God, or are you humble enough and honest enough to admit, that your walk with Christ is always in need of improvement?
Is God feared and honored in all that you do or just in the worship service?
Are your priorities heavenward or worldly-bound?
Do you, as a Christian, look forward to the new and promised world to come (Rev. 21-22) or is your hope in the things of this present world?
If blessed with an abundance, what do you spend it on? Do you spend it on the lusts and pleasures of your carnal flesh or do you use it to further the Kingdom of God?
On what do you strive to spend most of your time on? The things of the Lord (Mt. 6:33) or the things of this present world?
Do you, as a Christian, seek to be the voice of reason and conscience in the face of evil and in hopes of turning the lost to the things of God and wayward saints who have strayed back to a right standing with the Lord they are supposed to be serving, even at the risk of offending and angering them because you fear God more than man and seek His honor and praise above that of man, or do you cower and remain silent because you fear man more than God and because you value the favor of man above the praise and honor that comes from God?
Whenever given the opportunity to do so, do you ever share your faith with the lost and make it known the God you serve and follow (Mt. 28:19-20, Mk. 16:15-16) or do you hide the light of Christ within you and say not a word about Christ?
When faced with challenging arguments and asked hard questions concerning your faith, what do you rely on for the wisdom and knowledge that you need?  Do you rely on God for the answers (Prov. 3:5,  Jas. 1:5-6) or do you rely on your own understanding?
Have you, especially if you happen to be in a position of leadership and authority within the Church, taken time to prepare yourself to give answer for the faith and the hope that is within you (1 Pet. 3:15) and to earnestly contend for the faith, both within the Church and outside of the Church, (Jude 3) or will you be speechless when the challenging arguments to the faith and the authority of the scriptures by which the Gospel is delivered confront you and when people ask of you what it is you believe in and why?
In what do you place your faith to provide for your needs and for the needs of your family, in the things of this world or in God above who made all things? (Mt. 6:22-33)
When difficult times come upon you and you suffer a devastating loss or disaster in your life, are you going to turn away from God and stop serving and following Him, or are you going to seek Him out for the closure you need, and rely on Him to sustain you, for restoration, recovery, and deliverance?
Do you, as a Christian, expect a life of ease, or are you prepared mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, to face adversity in this life in what ever form or fashion it might come fully trusting in God to help you through and even deliver you from the evil things that might come your way?
When wronged, do you, no matter how hard it might be, seek to forgive those who have wronged you, no matter how severe and grievous the wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you and try to extend mercy to those who have done evil to you just as God has extended mercy to you, or do you hold a grudge and deny forgiveness and mercy as though you had never received forgiveness yourself?
Do you, as a Christian love God above all else (Mt. 22:37-38) and keep Him at the center in all that you do, or is He placed on the backburner of your mind and heart?
Do you, as a Christian, attempt to show the love of God, not just to those you love and who love you back, but also to the unapproachable and the seemingly un-loveable or are you, even if it is only from a distance and in some small way, or is your heart cold and bitter as though you had never received the love of God yourself?
When called upon to offer help and assistance to those in need, do you do so with a cheerful and joyful heart and attitude expecting nothing in return (2 Cor. 9:7) or do you only do so when there is something to gain from offering and lending your services or with a grudging attitude?
And when you realized you have caused an offense or wronged someone, do you attempt to make things right and even seek reconciliation or do you just simply not care and have no remorse?
Do you use the gifts and talents that God has given you for His glory or for things that have nothing to do with God or simply not use them at all? (Mt. 25:14-28, Lk. 19:12-26)
When faced with persecution or the threat of persecution, will you, no matter what might happen to you, remain determined and resolute in your professed commitment to proclaim the name of Christ and to faithfully follow Him and rely on God for the courage to do so, or will you in cowardice deny Him before men at the risk of suffering shame before Christ?
When placed in a position to choose between Christ and those whom you hold dear including friends, parents, grandparents, a spouse, a cousin, aunt, or uncle, or even your own children or grandchildren, will you turn from following Christ to appease them, or are you willing to risk their disfavor for His namesake fully trusting that the greater the sacrifice required, the greater the reward to come? (Mk. 10:30)
 
Scripture warns us that not all who claim to know Christ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and He will tell them, “I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:23)
For our Lord says that only they who do the will of the Father shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 7:21) and who is it that does the will of God the Father? They who truly know Christ for they who have placed their trust in Christ alone for salvation and have made Him Lord over their lives are the ones doing the will of the Father.
 
We pray and cry out for revival for our nation, but if there is ever to be any revival and any spiritual awakening, it needs to begin within the body of Christ for within the Church are many who appear spiritually alive outwardly but are spiritually dead and morally bankrupt pursuing their own will rather than the will of God, chasing after worldly pleasures instead of diligently pursuing the business of God, who are more concerned with storing up temporal treasures rather than treasures in Heaven, (Mt. 6:20) who place their faith and trust in the corrupted and carnal wisdom of the world rather than in the God who is able to impart the wisdom that comes from above, (Jas. 1:5-6) who look to the things of this world to see to all of their needs instead of the God who made the earth and all that is in it, who sink into despair during dark, hard, and evil times, and in times of grief and sorrow rather than cry out to God who is able to deliver, mend, and restore, who think themselves to be saved by their own goodness while being blind to their inherently corrupted inward condition which taints and defiles their goodness which damns them to Hell because they have not placed their full faith in the sufficiency of the redemptive work of Christ by His death on the cross and His resurrection, or who cheapen His grace with sinful living as though they had never been redeemed rather than pursue after godliness and righteousness, and who remain largely ignorant of the scriptures by which the Gospel of salvation is delivered because they never take time to diligently read and study the scriptures for themselves but instead rely on a Pastor or teacher for their instruction and doctrine never considering that the doctrine they are being fed could be a false doctrine and soul-damning heresy by which they are being deceived and of such doctrines there are many and too many to address in one post.
 
Generally speaking, whenever I write a blogpost, I make a point to invite readers who have not done so already to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord but so that they are able to make an informed and conscious decision for Christ, I have routinely shared the Gospel by first explaining to the reader why it is that we need a Savior and from what it is that we need to be saved from, and why our own merit will never be sufficient enough to deliver us from that which we need to be saved from, and what Jesus did to ensure our redemption if we will put our faith and trust in Him and in Him alone for our salvation.
 
Not meaning to brag or be boastful, but if there is anything I could say in my defense, I explain the Gospel in a way that enables the reader to understand why we can be saved by no other means but by Christ  in a much more adequate fashion than what even many leaders within the Church are taking the time to explain to their congregants and audiences when they offer out an invitation for any unconverted souls among them to come to Christ because I fear when there is a failure to adequately explain to the soul that the preacher of the Gospel seeks to persuade to repentance why it is that they need Jesus to save them from what would otherwise be an eternity of torment, that soul may remain unsaved and unconverted and worse yet, made to think that they are saved when in reality they may not be.
 
While we hear much about the love and mercy of God and of Heaven, we hear almost nothing, within many congregations or from many ministries, and seminaries, about sin, what it is, how it originated, and why we are all born into sin, and its consequences not just for this life but also for the next life as well and why how we respond to sin makes a difference as to where we will spend eternity and never do we hear much about Hell being preached on and why it is a place that we want to avoid and what places all of us in danger of going there if we are not delivered from that which condemns us to it, and as a consequence, we never adequately understand what it is that Jesus did on our behalf that we might be delivered from what would otherwise be everlasting damnation and so, in this post, and I have a feeling that I will be writing other posts like this one, I invite not just those who have never called upon the name of Jesus for salvation to cry out to Him for the forgiveness of sins in sincere repentance with full faith and trust in His redemptive work on their behalf, but I am also inviting those who profess to know Christ but have never really in all sincerity given themselves to Him to also, in all sincerity and with a full faith and trust in His redemptive by His death and also firmly believing that He rose from the dead, to call upon Him for the forgiveness of sins.
 
I know that I have already given a Gospel presentation earlier in this post, but so as to ensure that no one missed while reading through this post, I am going to give that presentation once more and in a way to ensure everyone who reads this post understands why Jesus is the only way by which we can be cleansed and forgiven of our sins, rescued from what would otherwise be an eternity of never-ending torment, and reconciled to our Creator:
 
 
When God created the world, it was a world in which there was only life, light, goodness, happiness, contentment, liberty, and a perfect peace, harmony, and unity between God, man, and nature itself.  It was a world that was of a nature opposite to the one in which we live in now.
 
The Lord God gave man dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26) and withheld nothing from him except for one thing: A tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and it was warned by God of Adam, the first man, and his wife Eve, the first woman that in the day they ate of it, that they would surely die. (Gen. 2:16-17, 3:3)
 
But they did not heed the warning given to them and ate of that forbidden fruit which then brought upon them the sentence of death of which they were warned (Gen. 3:19) for what brought upon the sentence of death is what brings upon every person today the sentence of death whether they be good or evil and what brings the sentence of death is a corruption that entered into the first man and woman and was then inherited by the rest of mankind, because it is from Adam and Eve from whom all of mankind descend and because we descend from them, we also inherit within ourselves that same corruption (Rom. 5:12) that entered into them and that corruption is what the Bible call sin which is defined, not just by outward acts or words spoken, but by the corrupted condition of our nature producing within us everything contrary to what God had created us to be, affecting not only our actions and behavior but also our very thoughts, attitudes, and motives which is why it is written that we are not defiled by that which comes from without but by that which comes from within. (Mt. 15:11, 18-20) which is why that no matter how good and morally upright we attempt to be, we, in some or fashion, sin every day and therefore fall short of the perfection desired and required of us by God (Rom. 3:23) and because we all sin, the sentence of death is upon us all (Rom. 6:23) and not only that, we are born estranged from our Creator because of sin for that which is incorruptible and without sin cannot admit into His Kingdom that which is in sin because the taint of sin corrupts, poisons, distorts, perverts, twists, and even destroys more than we can possibly comprehend and is the reason why it is written why all of creation groans and travails in pain until now (Rom. 8:19-22) and is the reason why death and decay reign and why there is so much evil, hardship, darkness, grief, pain, and suffering in this world and it is because of what sin has done to the earth that that which is in sin cannot be admitted into the Kingdom of God lest Heaven be defiled as earth has been defiled and it is sin by which the adversary of our souls has kept us bound in and it by the power of sin that he brings death and not just to our bodies but to our very souls as well, for it is by sin that we not only die, but are also condemned to eternal damnation filled with nothing but an unrelenting torment that lasts for all eternity, but God, in His love and mercy is not willing for that to be so for anyone (2 Pet. 3:9) but that all would come to repentance and escape this bondage that brings death and damnation and in His love and mercy He has purchased our redemption in His only begotten Son (Jn. 3:16) who is called Jesus Christ, who came to earth as God in the flesh (Jn. 1:14) to take away our sins and He was able to purchase redemption on our behalf because He himself is without any sin (2 Cor. 5:21) and therefore was able to serve as that sinless and perfect sacrifice (Heb. 4:15) offered up on our behalf through the shedding of His blood by His death upon the cross on which He was crucified and after having purchased our redemption by His death, was raised again from the dead so that we in Him by faith may be justified (Rom. 4:25) if we will but call upon His name for the forgiveness of sins (Rom. 10:13) trusting fully in His redemptive work on the cross and believing that God raised Him from the dead so that we who call upon His name for the forgiveness of sins will be saved from the fiery torments and darkness of Hell and with the forgiveness of sins comes reconciliation to the God (2 Cor. 5:18) and a change in us (2 Cor. 5:17) that makes us, out of a genuine love and gratitude for the salvation that we have been given freely by the grace and mercy of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to want to do that which is good and right in the eyes of our Maker and to honor and include Him in every aspect of our life and if we are truly converted, then we should no longer desire to follow after selfish and worldly pursuits but after those things that pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven,
no longer take pleasure in those things that are evil and displeasing in the sight of the Lord, but in that which is good, right, and pleasing in His sight,
no longer desire to walk in the lies of this present world, but only in the truth that comes from Christ Almighty, no longer placing our hopes in the things of this present world, but looking forward to that new and better world to come, (Rev. 21-22)
no longer rely on worldly resources, men, or even our own power, abilities, skills, and wisdom for our needs and provision but upon God who is able to meet all of our needs, recognizing that the resources of this world and even the people He brings into our lives are but instruments and vessels through which God meets our needs and that the skills, power, knowledge, and wisdom by which we might acquire our provision are provided and instilled in us by God,
no longer fear what men can do to us, but rather fearing the God before whom we will have to one day give an account for how we lived our lives, (Mt. 10:28)
no longer look to corruptible institutions within our society for direction and order in our lives but to God who, by His written Word has given us laws and precepts to be applied to our lives and which serve to produce and maintain an ordered life, and who, by His Holy Spirit which comes to dwell within us upon repentance, establishes in our lives a course and direction in our lives to pursue for His glory,
no longer seek our own glory but the glory of God,
no longer rally behind corruptible men, but instead behind the incorruptible God in Heaven bearing in mind that those men and women God raises up for our edification are but instruments and servants of His for that respective purpose to which He has called them,
no longer seek to align ourselves with the things of darkness but only with the things of the light,
to no longer trust in the wisdom of the world but only on the wisdom and knowledge that comes from above, nor depend on corruptible earthly authorities to swiftly administer justice, but only in the power of God to deliver us from evil.
 
And just as we are changed from within and rescued in Christ and by Christ from eternal damnation through the forgiveness of sins, so one day, we will also be saved from bodily death (1 Cor. 15:51-55, 1 Thess. 4:13-18) when our inherently corrupted bodies are changed into incorruptible form in which dwells no sin and wherein dwells no sin dwells no death and then lastly, creation itself will be liberated from the curse of sin when it is made anew for in the new world that is promised there will be no sin, no decay, no death, no evil of any sort, nor any corruption, or any misery, hardship, pain, suffering, sorrow, or grief of any sort, but only life, light, happiness, peace, harmony, joy, and contentment before the Lord God Almighty. (Rev. 21-22)
 
 
If you have not done so already, wish to be an agent of change for the better in the world, and to be at peace about where you will be spending eternity, then I urge you reader today to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and even if you have thought yourself to be a Christian but have come to the realization that you never really gave yourself to the Almighty, then again, I would also urge you to call upon the name of Jesus and repent of your sins and backslidings so as to be sure that you are in the faith and confident that you have been delivered from what would otherwise be an everlasting punishment filled with an unrelenting torment in the darkness and fires of Hell.
 
It is but a simple and sincere prayer of repentance away:
 
 
 
"Lord Jesus I need you.
 
 
I realize that I am a sinner
who has fallen short of the glory of God
and that my goodness falls short
of your standard of Moral perfection.
 
Please forgive me of all of my sins.
Come into my heart and into my life
to be the Savior and Lord of my life.
Make me into the servant and follower
that you want me to be.
In your name Lord Jesus, I pray.
 
 
Amen."
 
 
Know that God is not concerned with the words that you use to call upon Him forgiveness, but with the attitude of your heart and if you have, with all sincerity, have asked Christ to forgive you of your sins, placing your trust in Him only for your salvation and in nothing else, then your sins are forgiven and your place in Heaven is certain.
 
 
 
 
End notes:
 
 
 
1.  D.H. Manheim, “What Kind Of An American Are You?” Contender’s Edge, December 31, 2023
https://contendersedge.blogspot.com/2023/12/what-kind-of-american-are-you.html
 
2.  A24, “Civil War” Trailer, (1 min 22 seconds in) YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDyQxtg0V2w
 
3.  Dr. George Barna, “Release #6: What Does It Mean When People Say They Are “Christian”?, Cultural Research Center; Arizona Christian University, August 31, 2021
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CRC_AWVI2021_Release06_Digital_01_20210831.pdf
 
4.  “Signs of Decline & Hope Among Key Metrics of Faith,” Barna, March 4, 2020
https://www.barna.com/research/changing-state-of-the-church/
 
5.  Josh Shepherd, “Survey Finds Only 9% of Self-Identified Christians Hold to Biblical Worldview,” The Roys Report, September 10, 2021
https://julieroys.com/george-barna-survey-biblical-worldview/
 
6.  Barna, Cultural Research Center, August 31, 2021
 
7.  Dr. George Barna, “Release #5: Shocking Results Concerning the Worldview of Christian Pastors,” Cultural Research Center; Arizona Christian University, May 10, 2022
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release05_Digital.pdf
 
 
 
Scripture references:
 

 
 1.  Genesis 2:16-17
 
2.  Genesis 3:3
 
3.  Isaiah 14:11-21
 
4.  Ezekiel 28:12-19
 
5.  Genesis 3:4-7
 
6.  Genesis 3:19
 
7.  Matthew 15:11, 18-20
 
8.  Romans 5:12
 
9.  Romans 6:23
 
10.  Romans 3:23
 
11.  Romans 8:19-22
 
12.  2 Peter 3:9
 
13.  John 3:16
 
14.  John 1:14
 
15.  2 Corinthians 5:21
 
16.  Hebrews 7:26-27
 
17.  Romans 4:25
 
18.  Romans 10:13
 
19.  2 Corinthians 5:18
 
20.  2 Corinthians 5:17
 
21.  Matthew 6:33
 
22.  Revelation 21-22
 
23.  Genesis 1
 
24.  Acts 17:11
 
25.  1 Thessalonians 5:21
 
26.  2 Timothy 3:16
 
27.  2 Timothy 2:15
 
28.  Matthew 28:19-20
 
29.  Mark 16:15-16
 
30.  Proverbs 3:5
 
31.  James 1:5-6
 
32.  1 Peter 3:15
 
33.  Jude
 
34.  Matthew 6:22-33
 
35.  Matthew 22:37-38
 
36.  2 Corinthians 9:7
 
37.  Matthew 25:14-28
 
38.  Luke 19:12-26
 
39.  Mark 10:30
 
40.  Matthew 7:23
 
41.  Matthew 7:21
 
42.  Matthew 6:20
 
43.  Genesis 1:26
 
44.  Matthew 10:28
 
45.  1 Corinthians 15:51-55
 
46.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18