RELIGIOUS BUT LOST

BY OSCAR LESKE

I was reading a testimonial from Pastor Ron Van Hee which I thought you might find interesting in regards to this subject. He has been in church all his life, taught Bible study classes and was a chaplain's assistant. While attending the University of Montana, he realized he was “religious but lost” and then trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He preached 25 years before God saved him. This is no isolated case. This might shock you but there are students coming out of theological schools today who don't know Christ and go into the ministry – the lost preaching to the lost. To them it's a job.

The apostle Paul was a great theologian and a great preacher writing a good portion of the New Testament; but he loved to give his testimony. Paul tells us in Galatians 1:13-14 that, "As a young man I was religious and zealous for the traditions of my fathers (Judaism) and I persecuted the followers of Jesus and I wanted to destroy the Church of God." Saul of Tarsus (later re-named Paul by Jesus) had a very strict, religious upbringing, and he was familiar with all the teachings, the rites and ceremonies and the traditions connected with the Hebrew economy (Acts 26:5); yet, in spite of all his religious background and his religious convictions, Saul was unsaved, spiritually dead and blind to the things of God. There are many people like that today – religious but lost.

Just because a person is religious, it is not a sign that he or she is saved. Satan has pulled his blindfold over the eyes of the average individual, thinking that is, that every individual who is religious is saved, but let me say that just because a person is a preacher, a Bible teacher, or an outstanding member of a given church, it is no evidence at all that such a person is saved. One of the reasons our churches are filled with unsaved individuals is that an unsaved preacher cannot tell a sinner how to be saved. They may preach the Word of God, but they cannot preach the Gospel unless they are redeemed by the blood of the Son of God, and the reason for it is, they do not know the Gospel. They may talk about Christ and tell us individual things about Christ, but they can't preach Christ to the salvation of that sinner. Simply, you cannot tell something you don't know, and if you have never met the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you have never come to know Him personally, you can't preach Him.

It does not surprise us that many people will be lost and not going to heaven. We expect evil people, wicked people and unholy people to be lost. We expect those who choose the ways of the world and those who reject Jesus to be lost. We expect those who belong to false religions to be lost.

But what about the multitudes of "good people, humanly speaking" and "moral people" and "religious people?" What about a great number of church members and even church workers? What about a great number of preachers and Sunday School teachers and Church leaders? We don't expect them to be lost – do we? Look at these disturbing words from Jesus in verse 21 (Matt. 7). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven." I believe the initial response of anyone who reads this passage is: "Could I possibly be one of those who is self-deceived about my salvation?" "Am I truly saved?" "Am I in a religion or am I in Christ Jesus?"

Would it surprise you if I told you that there will be some (many) preachers in hell? Just because a man can quote Scripture and speak with great eloquence doesn't mean he is saved.

Turn on your TV to any number of stations and you will see men "slaying people in the spirit".... and delivering them from every kind of physical ailment from back pain to paralysis. And because they do it in the name of Jesus many believe that these evangelists possess the healing power of God.

The Scriptures are very clear that there are "two powers" that can produce signs and wonders. One is the power of God, the other is the power of Satan, who can produce "counterfeit miracles" that look so convincing that it might possibly fool even a saved person.

We cannot judge a man's heart by the size of the crowd he draws or the incredible wonders he seems to produce. A person can evidence great power in the name of Jesus, and still be lost. Entering the kingdom of heaven requires more than a religious profession, a religious production and more than a religious performance. If you are trusting in your religious performance to save you, then one day you will hear Jesus say the saddest words ever spoken to man, "Depart from me, you sinner, for I never knew you (Matt. 7:23)."

I have heard "professing" Christians say, "I just hope when my life is over that my good will outweigh my bad and God will find me worthy enough to enter heaven. Let me tell you, if you believe your salvation is based upon your religious performance you are tragically mistaken. You aren't saved by how many Sundays you go to church or how many times you read the Bible. You aren't saved by how much time you spend in prayer, how much you give to the church, or how many religious deeds you do. And, you definitely aren't saved by going to a priest in confessing your sins. You and I can only be saved by our complete surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that full surrender is demonstrated by our faith and obedience to God and His infallible word.

The truth is there are going to be a lot of so-called good, decent, and moral people in hell who trusted in their legalistic churches – law keeping, trusting in their priests, sacraments, rules, traditions or even in their own goodness to save them rather than putting total faith and trust in Christ Jesus and inviting Him into their hearts and life to be their Lord and Saviour.

The truth is, hell will be full of billions upon billions of church members throughout the centuries whose names were recorded in "Church Roll Books" but not in the "Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 20:15)." Religion cannot save anyone. Only a relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can save you, when you are Born-Again from above with the spirit of God dwelling in you. Every churchgoer can have religion, yet not everyone has salvation. Religion is man reaching up to God with a regiment of works. Instead of following the Bible and what it teaches us they follow man-made church traditions – keeping and following church laws, sacraments, rules and regulations. In essence they put their faith in their church and its traditions to save them, instead of following the Bible and what Christ Jesus teaches us. They are totally religious and devoted to their church – physically alive but spiritually dead and separated from God – religious but lost. Look, Jesus couldn't have made it any clearer regarding entrance into heaven when He said to the religious leader Nicodemus, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3)."

Clearly, to be born again does not refer to a physical rebirth, but to a spiritual rebirth. Only those individuals who have been born again from above (from God) will see heaven. Professing to know Christ Jesus does not save you. Only the born again Spirit enters heaven (Hebrews 10:14-17). Before the new birth, self and sin are in control; but after we are born again from above, the Holy Spirit is in control. Scripture tells us that a born again person shares in the very life of God. He becomes a "partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)" and he is described as a "new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)." Quite simply born again refers to a "spiritual rebirth" or regeneration of the human spirit from the Holy Spirit, as contrasted with physical birth. Just as the first birth is necessary for physical life, so a second (spiritual) birth is necessary for divine life. Romans 8:9 tells us that when a person is born again, he is no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. He lives in a different sphere. Just as a fish lives in water and a man lives in the air, so a believer lives in the Spirit. He not only lives in the Spirit, but the Spirit lives in him. In fact, if he is not indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ and will not see the kingdom of God.

Once again, salvation is not a religion. Salvation is God reaching down to man. It's not rules or regulations, law keeping or rituals. Salvation is a relationship with our Creator. The same type of relationship God had with Adam before he disobeyed God and fell from grace. That relationship doesn't begin when you get to heaven. It begins here on earth. Jesus wants to be your best friend and He wants to have an intimate relationship with you – it's called love. He wants you to get to know Him and to spend eternity with Him. That's the reason God created you in the first place – to have fellowship with Him.

There is more said in God's word warning religious sinners who are lost than is said about those who are saved. It is amazing, as we study the Scriptures, to note God's warning to religious men. Take the book of Hebrews. It was written with this intent to warn religious men of their impending doom. The apostle Paul sets forth two things in the book of Hebrews: First, he tells the believer what he has in Christ. Second, he warns religious men that they have missed Christ. I wish you would read the book of Hebrews with those two thoughts in mind, because in every chapter the apostle Paul warns religious men of their doom.

Religion is a futile attempt by people to reach up with their self-effort for the purpose of trying to please God. But redemption is the successful conclusion of God reaching down to people with love and acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world not to establish a religion, but to give LIFE which begs the question; "Who needs life" – a dead person of course. A person that is born into this world physically alive but spiritually dead and separated from the life of God. Jesus said, "... I have come that they may have LIFE.... (John 10:10)." Only Christ's body of believers, born again of the spirit from above, can receive the hope of eternal life. Those who die "in Christ" are absent from the body and present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:8). Unfortunately, religion sometimes hardens people's hearts from getting into a relationship with our Creator, because God's intention all along has been to bring man back into a relationship (reconciliation) with Himself just like He had with Adam before Adam's disobedience and spiritual separation from God. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, "That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and therefore, as believers, we are ambassadors for Christ."

In closing; please don't be like the religious Scribes and Pharisees who believed they could make themselves righteous in the eyes of God by their own good works. They truly believed they could "earn their way" into heaven by all their religious works and tradition. The name of God was on their lips, but there was no love for God in their hearts. They could quote Scripture with the best of them. They could pray the prettiest prayers you ever heard. They could expound on the Scriptures as eloquently as the finest of orators. But they were fakes, frauds, counterfeits, hypocrites, and impostors. They were "Religious but Lost."

Question: Every person has to seriously ask themselves, "Am I in a religion or am I in Christ Jesus, born again, with the Spirit of God living in me?" You can talk all you want about your religion – your religious sounding words, works, and deeds may impress a lot of people. God is no fool! Mere "profession" of faith will NOT get you into heaven!

ONLY WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS

by Pastor Mike Taylor

18 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”(1^st Peter 1:18-21)

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."(1^st Corinthians 6:19-20)


16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."(1^st Corinthians 3:16-17)


Man was created in the image of God was is recorded in the book of Genesis.
1:26  "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."(Genesis 1:26-27)

But down through the ages, man has thought that he knew better than God, the lawgiver, the creator of all things. God instituted certain principles, laws of nature, and of Himself to guide men into His ways and to instruct them in righteous living. But the bible is full of stories of men who would not listen to the Words of God, but deviated according the sins of their flesh and their sinful nature, following instead according to the prince and power of the air and temporary ruler of this world, Lucifer....Satan the devil.

Man is made of flesh, but has a spiritual component that when deviating from the Law of God, is defined as sin. What is sin? Words such as Crime, Error, Foul, Wrong, and Vice come to mind. Each of these words name behavior that fail to reach an accepted standard. Any group of people joining to accomplish a goal will establish a set of rules, laws, guidelines or principles to regulate proper conduct. When such a code is abused or ignored, a penalty is usually imposed.


It is no different when you speak of our Heavenly Father. God established a code of conduct called His Law, as defined by the Ten Commandments. It defined His perfect nature and His desire that man follow His way of living. Man has rejected God's way of living down through the ages and the penalty of not following God's perfect law, is death. Romans, chapter 6,
23,  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."(Romans 6:23)


In God's love for His creation, He gave us His only Son, knowing that we could not keep the Laws of God, as we are sold under sin. To transgress one aspect of the law is to transgress the whole law, as there is no difference when it comes to sin in God's eyes. The law was our school master to lead us to repentance, knowing that we were incapable of keeping the letter of the law. It was God's plan all along to redeem His creation to all that would look to His Son for payment of the sins past, present and future. God covered them all with one perfect sacrifice, His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. But that does not stop man from thinking they have a better way....It's called “religion”. The word is man's attempt to get to God and think they know what God desires, but God's attempt to get to man is His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As the old saying goes, it is all about Jesus. It's not about religion, it's about relationship with the only way to God and that is through our Lord Jesus.

BATTLE FOR MAN'S SALVATION AND GNOSTICISM


In man's “attempt” to characterize what God wants, various attempts at “religion” were formed. In the very beginning of the early church, a heresy developed that men knew better than God. It was called Gnosticism, or secret knowledge, called Gnosis. These heretics believed in dualism, or the battle between matter and spirit, good and evil, and light and darkness as defined by the body being bad, and the spirit being good. These early infiltrators of the early church professed that it didn't matter what you did within your body, as the spirit is what mattered. They believed that Jesus was not God in the flesh, as His flesh was corrupt and could not be our redeemer, but that salvation comes from in one of two ways:

» That the only way to attain true spirituality is to deny their flesh (matter) of anything that might tempt them to sin. Those who thought this way became ascetic or afflictions of their flesh.» The opposite extreme, that the things done in the body are inconsequential because only the spirit counts. These Gnostics often fell into licentiousness.

Bible shows that Paul battled this heresy in his epistles, especially in 1st Corinthians, Galatians and Colossians . The Apostle John battled it in all his writings. 1st John chapter 3, is one of those examples:is.
3:3  "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."(1^st John 3:3-8)

John argues against this heresy. Some in John's area of ministry seem to have believed that they could not sin in their flesh. Since their flesh, matter, was ultimately evil anyway, it could not be redeemed and was worthless. Thus, they concluded, anything done in the flesh had no bearing on one's salvation. I see that abounding even today in this cesspool we call the world. It surrounds us on every side. New Age Emergent churches are promoting a new gospel, a new way of following Jesus. And without mentioning the formal religious order by name, there is another “religion” that has, I believe, sprang from the heresies of Gnosticism, or “secret knowledge” of extra biblical traditions that have no root at all in the pages of your Bible. Thus each promote “secret knowledge” by creating traditions that they think defines the God of the Bible. Sadly, they do not.

I had the displeasure of reading an article by a supposedly Christian pastor who proclaimed that we must repackage the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to reach the people of today. Say what? So we must doll up the message to make it more palatable for the young people today? What's wrong with preaching the truth of Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Is there another way to enter into God's Kingdom other than the blood and body of Jesus Christ? NO!! Does that mean rock music in the church? Does that mean creating a mall type atmosphere that rivals any shopping outlet? Does that mean we must have tattoo parlors in the church? Yes, I said tattoo parlors. I had a dear lady write and report churches in her area are promoting tattoos right in the building of these churches. Some misled people of these new “enlightened” churches think they have the right to adorn their bodies with different colored inks that show they follow a “christian” message. I categorically reject this pseudo form of Christianity, as it glorifies the flesh, not the Savior. When would you paint graffiti with a spray can on the building you worship in? Would you paint a cross on the sides of the building and adorn the sanctuary with man-made symbols that deface the structure in various colored inks? Is it any different when you tattoo a cross or a crown of thorns across your back and say you are proclaiming Jesus? How can we reach the world that is dying, if we ourselves are identifying with them by our actions?

Then another “Gnostic” church believes in all kinds of extra biblical hogwash that they think will get them to heaven. (Even the atheist will reach heaven, only do good) When I heard that I almost lost my lunch. They think there are many ways to get to God when Jesus proclaimed the Truth that HE is the only way to God.

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Again, it's all about Jesus, not your traditions and extra biblical teachings that are no where to be found in the bible, but conjured up in the minds of those who thought they knew better than the Words of God.

OUR DUTY BEFORE THE LIVING GOD

As a Christian, or one who professes knowing Jesus Christ, what is our duty when trying to live the Christian life? There is only One example that we are to live by and follow and that is our perfect example, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Would Jesus allow a tattoo being placed on His righteous body? Would he follow the sins of this world by doing what I see happening in today's emergent “enlightened” churches? Would Jesus allow prayer to anyone, save through Him to God our Father...you say no, you would be right. It smacks of Gnosticism.

2:4  "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."(1^st John 2:4-6)

The apostle Peter reinforced that argument when he wrote:

2:21 " For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."(1^st Peter 2:21-25)


Jesus is our perfect example and the personage we must emulate. God told us in His Word that we must separate ourselves from the sins of the flesh and the ways of this world:

  6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. "(2^nd Corinthians 6:16-18)

Again, it is all about Jesus, the God of the Bible, our Kinsman Redeemer and our Savior, if we humble ourselves and repent of our sins and follow His ways. It is not about traditions, or extra biblical rhetoric that has no foundation save the thoughts and desires of evil men.

THROW THE WORLD A LIFELINE
THE WORLD IS DYING. I am reminded daily when I see the amount of people in our hospitals that abuse their bodies with all form of addictions. I see people ravaged by alcohol addiction and drink heavily daily. I see people who get high on whatever their drug of choice is and there are many forms of chemical abuse that are legal. I saw a young person who damaged his body with a substance called K2, which is abusing bath salts by injecting it, smoking it, or inhaling it to get high. It destroys their brain, their internal organs, and respiratory systems. I see people who are grossly obese, who find comfort in food and gluttony and are diabetic and with failing organs. Or how about 1-2 pack a day smoker who destroys their lungs, heart, and open the door for cancers to invade? If the lost and dying world is suffering this type of destruction, should we not separate ourselves from this type of behavior with it's addictions and not even look like the rest of the world? If they can't see any difference in us, why would they choose this man, called Jesus Christ? If they can't see Jesus in you, then will they listen to your message? Probably not, but they will take your entertainment in the churches, but live like the devil the rest of the week.

I talk to young people who call themselves Christians, but are living with their boyfriend or girlfriend without the sanctity of marriage. How can one profess knowing Jesus Christ, when they live opposite of what He commanded and lived? Are they confused or do they just know better? Hey, everyone is doing it, right? So it must be OK? I see children being born out of wedlock into new types of families, or being raised by same sex couples and it's OK? Again, how can you reach a world that is dying from being lost in sin, when you indulge in sin yourself, and think it's alright? God plainly condemns this kind of behavior and the abuse of our bodies and our mode of living to the detriment of our very existence. How about Gnostic religions that propose traditions that fly in the face of what Jesus said of “being the only Way back to God”. Will your church save you? Will eating a “wafer” on Sundays purify you in the eyes of God? Will you follow the recipes of religion found in your church and will they get you to heaven? The Apostle Peter wrote according to the leading of God's Holy Spirit,

1:14  "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."(1^st Peter 1:14-21)

WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS

It is quite clear for all that are awake and see the events around us, that we ARE in the last days of this world's existence. Suddenly, without warning, your world will be turned upside down and you will either be found in Jesus Christ, or being bamboozled by the god of this world, you have followed another Gnostic gospel, and that is not of Jesus Christ. You will have been living your life according to what you think is best, not according to the clear commands of Jesus Christ or having His sacrifice applied to your life. I have tried to hammer home the message that this world is fast approaching the cliff of tribulation and all of us need to be getting our houses in order. If you profess Jesus Christ, as your Savior, then live like it. If you a playing a fool's game of following another gospel, or a false messiah, and abusing your bodies in ways that are in direct conflict with the clear teachings of the One who died for the entire world, Jesus Christ, then you may have a sad day approaching. When Jesus banishes you from His presence during the sheep and goat judgment at the Bema Judgment Seat of our Lord, you will have no one to blame, but yourself: Matthew chapter 25,
25:33  "And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. …
25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, (ye who practice lawlessness) into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ….
25:46  "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."(Matthew 25:33, 41-46)

Those verses are spoken of what will happen after the Tribulation is finished and Jesus is back on earth, ruling with a rod of iron and sitting on the Throne of His descendant in the flesh, King David. But what has happened up to this time, is the most horrendous period in all the earth, that will wipe out all rebellion on earth and very few will be alive to enter the Millennium. Even then some will be judged for their actions during this time period and be cast out.

21 'For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24-21-22)

WHAT MUST YOU DO IF YOU PROFESS JESUS?

Christian, look at yourself. Do you follow the clear message of the Bible? Do you continue to make mistakes? Of course you do, but not according to the rest of the world, if you profess our Lord and Savior, but you do not live as the rest of the world does. You separate yourself from anything and everything that speaks of the lust of the flesh and follow the Holy Spirit, guiding your own spirit in righteous living. A Christian will not willfully sin according to the lust of his flesh, but seeks after righteousness. The truly converted man or woman is a new creature in Christ Jesus. We don't follow the commands of any so called “religion” on this earth, as we follow Jesus Christ and the clear instructions in your Bible.

5:17  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."(2^nd Corinthians 5:17-19)


To emphasize the obvious, it's not about “religion” (any religion) as it is about your relationship with the “author and finisher of our faith” the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not about anything in this world, as this world is passing away and eternity fast approaches, but the coming Tribulation is coming faster and we are on the cusp of the coming judgments of King of the Universe, God our Father, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans
8:19  "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."(Romans 8:19-23)

Men are dying because they are abusing the body made in the image of God. They follow the god of this world and fall into every unclean practices that leads to death. They die prematurely and experience painful deaths. I know, because I've seen it, up close and personal. Or they follow a “Gnostic” religion thinking by doing certain practices and traditions, that somehow that will save them. I hope by now that you are thinking in your mind, it will not.





How more should we who have been converted to follow the ways of God, abstain from anything that would look like the world? God will hold each of accountable for things done in our body, meaning he will reward, or withhold reward for each of His children who are truly converted, but never quite learned the lessons of righteous living. See the opening verses that started this sermon. He will sorely judge the haphazard Christian who abuses the body He resides in . He will also, judge those who follow a pseudo form of Christianity, but deny the power thereof as noted in the sheep and goat parable. To mouth the words of being a Christian, does not make it so. It is an inward change of the heart. You will look odd to the world, but Jesus warned each of us of that very fact,
15:18  "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."(John 15:18-21)
TO ALL WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL


To the lost and dying, that do not have the payment of their sins paid for by the blood sacrifice and broken body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, time is growing short. Jesus is right at the door waiting to gather His church unto Himself. Jesus said that the time would be as in the days of Noah. Look around you, does this world seem to be going mad? Is it not as Jesus said it would be? Truly, it is.

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all."(Luke 17:26-29)

Do not look at others who proclaim they are Christians, as some may be deceived. Don't look to your parish priest, your local pastor, or traditions that try and sell you on a work's based religion. It won't get you anything, but a one way ticket to eternal torment.

You might look to others for the way they live and use it as confirmation that you do not want this free gift of grace paid for nearly 2000 years ago. You will then make that choice independent of those you hold up as the reason you have not committed your life and heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. You will be solely responsible for the banishment into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Each of us are destined to be either in glory and in the presence of God Almighty, or be banished from His presence for all eternity.
 2:9  "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."(Philippians 2:9-12)




Each of us have been formed in the image of God. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior, must realize that their body is the Temple of God  and we were bought with a very high price, hence my opening scriptures concerning this very fact. Those who have not accepted the free gift of salvation, do so at their own eternal peril. I extend an open invitation to all who will listen to that still, small voice inside your heart that draws you to the God who created you,


Invite the Spirit of God into your heart to make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life. Be saved by the covering of the Lord's perfect sacrifice completed in His own precious blood. Become the Temple of God's Holy Spirit and flee from anything and everything that imitates anything found in this world that the rest of the world revels in to their own destruction.

Remember the phrase, “it is all about Jesus and your relationship with Him”. Not anything found on this earth save through Him will get you worshiping Him as we bow before Him in eternity. \

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:16-18)

8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

Those two last passages found in your Bible are the key to salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is so simple, a child can do it, but you must come to Him in child like faith, believing what He said, and embracing Him and being covered “with the precious blood of Jesus”

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God's salvation in your heart and life. If there is anything I can counsel you on, pray with you about, or just a listening ear, then email me at  pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, , ,  God bless you all:

till we meet at Jesus feet.