Surely Saved?

I fear that we have fake Christians among us as well as people who falsely believe they are Christian.  Some thoughts…

Here is what gives me pause and question:

A lack of talk about God’s “amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.”

Little talk of wonder and amazement concerning God.

Little or no talk about a love of the Bible.

Little passion for God’s people who are troubled or troubling (God’s mercy to me).

There are people who are faithful attenders and likely faithful givers.

There are people who are fun and helpful at church.

There are people who love the worship music and note some sermons as good.

There are people who look very Christian.

There are those who talk God and church.

Yet, are they saved?

What raises a yellow flag for me is what I do NOT hear such as…

…talk of Jesus (they talk God)

…talk of a personal relationship (rather than church and membership)

…talk of being humbled by what Jesus did for their salvation (rather than baptism or an event)

…talk of personal sin and forgiveness

…talk of God’s great mercy, forgiveness and grace

There was a middle age woman in my first church who was an outstanding Christian.  I venture to say that if the little town were asked to pick one who was the most surely a Christian and the most assured to enter Heaven, it would be this lady.  She was a great wife, wonderful mother, fine citizen and a very, very faithful church member being active in a host of church programs – she played the piano for worship.

One Sunday morning she rose in a testimony time to announce that she had just accepted Jesus as her Savior.  You could have heard a pin drop on carpet!  What?  Really?  No way!

She had been reared in a Christian home and attended church her entire childhood and thus had been taught Bible truths and Christian ways by her parents and fellow church members.  She had learned well and put into practice what she had learned.  But!!!  She had never personally given her life to Jesus as her Savior and Lord.

What was there to change as she already did Christian things well?  Attitude and vocabulary!  Her spirit was softer and her passion deeper and her talk went from God, church, and baptism to Jesus, church family and communion.  Her vocabulary went from religious chatter to heart-felt talk.  Her life moved from being a “perfect person” to one changed into a true Jesus person.  She died of cancer not many years later.  A true Christian of Jesus’ making.

I am convinced there are some among us who are like this lady – faithful yet deceived (been told they are saved by parents, spouse, teachers and friends) or deceiving (working hard to make people think they are saved).  A true believer has a different spirit and a different vocabulary.

Isaiah 66:2, “But on this one will I look:  On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”