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My Testimony
Religious But Hell Bound
There are, I believe, many faithful people today in our Local Churches who are living a "Religious life" and have a false hope of Salvation because of their religious fervor. Many of these even live a very religious life and are seen as righteous in man's eyes but they are not righteous in God's eyes because they have never truly trusted Jesus as their personal Savior. When they die they will find themselves in the very fires of hell and be surprised to be there.
You see, I know about this kind of "Religious Christian" because I was one of them for over 37 years. I was born in a small rural location in the middle of the Bible Belt in the south. My family was from a strong Christian background with a long history of evangelical preachers on my maternal grandfathers side and a German/Prussian evangelical background on my paternal side. We were in many respects the typical rural Christian family and had a wonderful homelife. My mother epitomized the rural American homemaker and my Father was a hard working craftsman and builder, a home gardener, a good example to his children, a faithful Christian and a devoted husband to my Mother. We had cows, chickens, and pigs and I can remember Mom and Dad both milking whatever cow or cows we had at the time, collecting eggs from the chicken nests and picking vegetables from the garden along with many other good boyhood memories. Mom and Dad had me in church from the time I was a tiny infant and I was raised in a home where Jesus was honored and we were taught to fear (to reverence and be in awe of) God and to live a life that was God honoring. As a teenager I was considered to be one of the good ones who never got into any trouble and I was respectful to my parents, my teachers, my elders, the leaders and teachers of our church. I never even tasted alcohol until I was an adult and even then did not like it and only drank it a few times. I made public profession of Faith in Jesus and was baptized when I was 16 years old. I began to work in the organizations of my home church while still a teenager and continued to do so as I grew older. I served in several capacities within the church doing what I thought I should do to please God. This went on for many years doing, serving, ... serving, doing, being faithful to the work of a Christian and living out the life of a Christian. At one point several years ago I even came to the very edge of death following a heart attack and heart surgery. The last thing I remembered was being rushed down the corridor of the hospital and then losing consciousness. I awoke two days later in critical condition in CCU and was told how near death I had come. With all the courage of the Faith I could muster I let everyone know that had I died that I would have been with Jesus in Heaven so it would have been OK. Well, let me tell you, I realized about 2 1/2 years later, that this was as far from the truth as it could have possibly been. Within a few months following this incident the Holy Spirit began to deal with me about my spiritual condition and my salvation. As He did I rejected everything that He began to deal with me about. I looked back at my life and it was in all respects, to me and those around me, a life full of goodness and doing things for God and represented what most believed a Christian should be. This is where the problem began with me seeing what the Holy Spirit was trying to show me. Even though I had made a profession of faith when I was 16 years old I really did not understand what real salvation was. Faith in Jesus Christ by His Grace (nothing more nothing less) believing that His death on the cross and the blood He shed there was the only payment for my sin that God would accept. I lived with this rejection of the wooing of The Holy Spirit until He convicted me through the preaching of the word and reading the Scripture that I had an Impure and Putrid Religion and that I was not a Child of God. This whole process was something that took place over a period of about 2 1/2 years. During those years I tried to serve God through my religion but I did not have peace nor salvation. I served the Church in several areas of responsibility during those years and only by the Grace of God did He allow the Holy Spirit to continue to convict me of my lost, unsaved condition. Can you imagine the torment that I went through during this time trying to convince myself that I really was saved. Pride had me imagine the embarrassment of being a Sunday School Teacher, Church Trustee, and Music Director, and standing before the congregation and admitting that I was as lost as the worst sinner that had ever lived. There was a nagging deep inside me though that also kept me wondering, "What if I have to stand before Jesus Christ and hear him say depart from me, I never knew you." As I would study my Bible I would come across Scriptures that kept nagging at me. 1 John 5:10-13; Romans 8:15-17; 2 Peter 1:10; James 1:19-27
Even with these nagging doubts, I was still deceived by my religious fervor. Try as I might I could never find peace with the unsettled questions I had in my mind and heart about knowing for sure. The Bible said in so many places that you could know but I didn't. I had a constant doubt with no assurance in my heart. I would ask Paula, my wife, who has been saved since she was about 9 years old if she ever had any doubts. When she would tell me she didn't and that she could never remember doubting, it would just make me more unsettled. I just didn't have peace in my heart.
I kept trying to justify my salvation by the fact that I was busy for the Lord and by the things that were happening in my life that I thought I could attribute to my obedience to the Lord. I was faithful to my Church, I lived according to what I knew to be Biblical principles. I was a model of what I taught and preached, I was separated from world and the things of the world. I was a personal soul winner and led others to Christ (It wasn't me it was God's Word that did). I appeared, to the people I was associated with, to be all the things that one would expect to see in a faithful devoted Christian.
Still, I had no assurance in my heart and even with all the doubts I had, I could not see myself as lost (unsaved). I was so blinded by Satan showing me my good works that I could not see the truth.
As I've already said, I battled with this for about 2 1/2 years and many times I begged God for the conviction of the Holy Spirit, begging Him to show me for sure that I was not saved.
Then, on a Tuesday night in early August 1998, I heard a preacher at a Revival meeting preach on Pure or Putrid Religion. It was a hard message and it struck home with me and laid heavy on my Heart. That night as the altar call was given I was able, for the first time, to say to God "I know I am lost" and I admitted to myself that I knew I was going to Hell if I died but I felt no conviction by the Holy Spirit.
So many times before I had prayed "IF I am lost Lord, please show me so I can ask you to save me". The key word in those prayer was IF. I firmly believe that until a person truly sees themselves as lost and confesses that to God they will never be saved. It wasn't the preacher who preached that night but instead, it was God's message that he preached that burned in my heart. Even though I had admitted that I was lost, I still didn't feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit that night and I did nothing about my confession to God that I was a lost sinner. On the second Sunday following that night of the Revival Meeting, we had an Evangelist preaching in our morning service. He preached a sermon on having the Perfect Peace of God in Salvation. Following the message, as I stood on the platform directing the music during the invitation my Pastor made the statement "there is someone here today that has a battle going on inside them about their Salvation and needs to get it settled today before we close the service". I was standing within three feet of him at the time but I still refused to make a move because I still felt no conviction of the Holy Ghost. The Pastor closed the invitation and the service. After the service Paula and I went home and as she prepared lunch I sat at our kitchen snack bar and prayed for conviction, begging God to please send convicting power. As I sat there praying, the power of the Holy Spirit came over me in a powerful wave of conviction. He showed me without a doubt that I was lost and I was hellbound. But then, after praying all those times during the past years for this, and even praying now, I tried to refuse it, but the conviction was too strong, I was under the influence of a power that I had ever felt before. I tried to convince myself that I could just ask Jesus to save me right there and no one else would ever have to know that the person they all respected as a "GOOD Christian MODEL" was really a liar and a had never known the real Jesus. The Holy Spirit would have none of that though. I remember it now as if were today. It was as clear as if the Holy Spirit had audibly spoken to me, "You have asked for conviction, I am sending it and if you get saved you will do it my way. You must confess it before men as the Word of God says." This was when my rebellious spirit broke within me and I yielded to the Holy Spirit and said OK I'm yours. Paula was getting ready to put lunch on the table and with tears in my eyes and a trembling voice I asked her to look at me, and said "I need to tell you something," She looked at me and saw that I was very serious. Having been with me through three heart attacks she immediately thought that I was about to tell her that I was having another one. Instead I looked her eye to eye and told her "I am Lost and am going to hell without Jesus". You cannot imagine the look on her face when she heard those words. She first seemed not to understand and then seemed confused at what I was saying. I then repeated what I had told her and asked her to call my Pastor and ask him to come over right away. She asked if I didn't want to wait until after he was through eating lunch and I replied, "No, I need him here right now". The Holy Spirit had me under such conviction that I knew that I couldn't wait, it had to be taken care of immediately. Now, let me say this, I know that you don't need anyone else to help you get saved, but this is what the Spirit was telling me I had to do and I could not disregard His leading. When the Pastor came in I told him what I had told Paula and he was as surprised by what I told him as Paula had been. He asked if I was sure and I told him, "I am as sure of this as I have ever been about anything in my life." He asked me if I wanted him to go over the Scriptures regarding Salvation and I told him, "No, I know all the Scriptures I just wanted you to be here". We then bowed in prayer and I asked God to forgive me of my sin and placed my trust in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice at Calvary to save me from my sin and to give me eternal life. While I was praying and asking Jesus to forgive me and save me, a river of joy and peace flooded up out of me like I had never felt. That was August 16, 1998 and as I think about it now I remember how wonderful the feeling was and how the weight was lifted from me. From that point to now I have never had a single doubt about my salvation and I know that it is sealed until the day of redemption. I have Perfect Peace in my heart and a burning desire to be pleasing to Jesus. Well Praise the Lamb of God who is worthy of all praise! I still get so excited about how Jesus saved me from a religious existence to a position of being "IN CHRIST" and Him in me.
Maybe you are here reading this and struggling with this question about your own salvation. Here is a brief study that I would offer for use in coming to a perfect peace about your salvation. Maybe you are living with the deception that I was. That of being a "religious" person but not "In Christ" and not having Him in your heart. There are only two positions, a person can be in; we are either Dead in Adam (sin) or Alive (redeemed) in Jesus Christ. There is no in between. We are all one or the other and it is our choice.
I Jn 5:10-13
10 He that believeth on the Son of God** HATH THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF**: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; **THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE,** and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Rom 8:16
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2 Pet 1:10
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
James 1:19-27
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
I Hope this will be a help to someone.
Pure Religion
James 1:19-27
The word "religion" is found five times in the Word of God, and "religious"
two times. Nearly all of the times it has to do with some type of worship,
but, not necessarily worship of One True God.
Religion is a ceremonial observance. This is seen in native tribes around
the world, and it is found in much of what we see in our country as well. It
is the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
In most cases, religion is a deterrent to Christianity. A very high
percentage of those who practice religion use their religion to take place
of God. Their religion is god. Religion will send one to hell. If a person
will follow religion, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
Judas was religious.
The Pharisees were religious.
Jesus denounced religion.
Religion was and is an enemy to the cause of Christ.
Religion is Satan's tool.
Christ says, "Ye must be born again."
Satan says, "Religion is good enough."
Pure religion is that which honors God by our faith and by our actions.
I. Vain Religion Vs. 26.
(James 1:26) "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not
his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
A. James is using the word "religious" in a positive manner here.
1. Let's look first at the word "bridle or bridleth".
a. In all of its various meanings it has to do with control of a certain
object, whether it be the tongue, or an animal.
b. So James tells us that any religious person who is not in control of his
tongue possesses vain religion. c. Vain means: empty, profitless, or an
idol:--vain, vanity.
2. If we have no control over our tongue.
a. The person who claims religion and doesn't bridle their tongue is
denouncing Christianity.
(James 1:19) "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"
b. Oh, I just have a short fuse…
c. That may be an admission of personal weakness, but it isn't an excuse for
sin.
d. Note: James 3:2-8
3. A religious person that has no control over (bridleth not) their tongue
is denouncing Christianity.
B. A born again person will bridle his tongue.
1. Not just on Sunday!
2. What about while we are at the work place?
3. What about at home, or with friends?
C. An unbridled tongue is not just referring to taking the Lord's name in
vain.
1. Most certainly, as Christians, our tongues should not be used to swear or
curse.
a. This includes using so-called 'Christian' curse words.
1) Oh, God!
2) Good Lord!
3) Lordy-mercy!
4) And others…
b. We should not use the world's terminology either.
1) Gosh, darn, etc.
2) TV cursing: freakin', jeez, etc.
2. But the unbridled tongue is also evident in other areas of speech.
a. The manner in which we say certain words.
b. Pushing the buttons to irritate or anger someone else.
c. Using words that tear down or injure someone else.
(Eph 4:29) "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers."
3. A person with an unbridled tongue is not reflecting an accurate image of
Christ.
a. There is great harm in this.
b. People judge our Savior by what we do and what we say.
C. Hypocrisy = a pretense of having virtues, moral principles, or religious
beliefs that one does not really possess.
1. A hypocrite is not a Christian.
2. A hypocrite is one who pretends to be religious.
3. Jesus referred to the Pharisees as hypocrites. Cf Mt. 23:13-15
4. Our speech will tell what we are.
(Mat 26:73) "And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to
Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee."
a. "Bewrayeth" means = Make manifest, or evident.
b. Our speech reveals our real character.
c. We may try to excuse our speech, but it reveals us for what we are.
II. Pure Salvation Vs. 21.
A. If we are going to have pure religion, we must first have pure salvation.
(James 1:21) "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls."
1. We are not talking about salvation coming from doing what Vs. 21 says.
2. But this is the evidence of pure salvation.
3. Engrafted means to be implanted.
a. The Word of God implanted into our hearts brought conviction by revealing
how wicked our hearts really were.
b. This implanting of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit brought about the
repentance that is necessary to receive Christ.
(Acts 20:21) "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
c. When we repent, we repent toward God for having broken His law,
understanding that in breaking His law we have sinned against God.
B. Pure salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.
1. The "engrafted word" that brings conviction to the heart and the Holy
Spirit brings the knowledge from that engrafted word that Jesus Christ, God
the Son shed His blood on the cross for us.
2. It is the work of that engrafted word that brings us to salvation.
3. Salvation cannot be attained apart from the Word of God
4. cf Romans 10:13-15
III. Pure Religion Is The Result Of Pure Salvation Vs. 27.
A. Many teach that pure salvation is the result of pure religion.
1. That is backwards!
2. Religion without salvation will be impure.
3. It will be defiled.
B. Any religion that exalts self is a defiled religion.
1. The "I'm OK You're OK" philosophy is false.
2. The Bible clearly states that "All have sinned…"
3. Works based religion is false…because what we do takes the place of what
Christ did for us.
4. Teaching that we can achieve some higher level of spiritual existence on
our own is absolutely contrary to the Word of God.
C. Do we have religion, or do we have Christ?
1. The word "Visit" means to relieve, as to relieve a burden.
a. Real religion says, "I will give".
b. Real religion says, "others first".
c. Real religion says, "I will serve".
d. Real religion says, "I accept the burden of others."
e. Real religion says, "not I, but Christ."
2. Real religion knows no boundaries in this matter of serving.
3. If someone has to ask us to help serve, then we are not a servant!
Most all people are depending upon their religion to get them into heaven.
That will not happen! Only faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus
Christ will assure us of heaven.
We must possess that which is real. The counterfeit will do nothing to
preserve your soul. The only real part of religion is that Christ died on
the cross for all sinners, and all who believe in Him will be saved for all
eternity.
It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong;
Not what we gain, but what we save that make us rich;
Not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; and
Not what we profess, but what we possess that makes us Christians.
What kind of religion do we have?
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour CLICK HERE
If this has been a blessing to you please let me know by sending an e-mail to me at leea@sitestar.net
If you think this is a bunch of baloney please let me know by sending an e-mail to me at leea@sitestar.net
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