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A Sad Condition
They have all the outward signs—the dress, the Book, and they might even “oink” in the choir—or preach! But beneath it all, pigs! There are many in our churches like these—you hear of them all the time, cheating on their taxes and spouses, abusing children, and putting on a big smile for the Lord, but they are not of the Lord, and will have no part in Heaven, lest they defile it.
A Real Change
The Bible speaks of pigs, having been washed, returning to the mire (2Pe. 2:22). However much you wash a pig, it will always go back to the mud, because pigs love mud! Have you washed yourself on the outside, and maybe tried to clean yourself up and do penance—or has Christ changed you from the inside out? Have you been truly born again, and given a new heart and desires (Eze. 36:26), or do you love sin?
When God saves a person, He changes the person: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Co. 5:17). Has Christ ever changed you?
A False Assurance
Nobody can tell you you're going to Heaven except for God—only He knows your heart. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us (1Jn. 3:24). You must stand before God alone. Does God's Spirit comfort you?
A False Hope
What are you trusting in to save you from your sins? Millions of people have prayed a prayer to take them to Heaven, but the Bible does not say salvation is a prayer; neither is it Bible verses, mass, baptism, or any work. The Bible says salvation is Christ Himself! The LORD is my light and my salvation (Psa. 27:1). When you stand before God, if He asks why He should let you into Heaven, what will you say? Ask yourself: are you good enough?
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Mat. 7:22,23). If you answered yes that you're good enough, my friend, you are going to Hell. If your “goodness” has anything to do with Heaven, you will fail miserably, for God says all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).
A Righteous Condemnation
How can men do good things, yet God sees their goodness as filthy rags? Same as the murderer who tells the judge he has given to charity—his goodness is nothing compared to the greatness of his crime. Do you understand your heart's sinfulness? The Bible says God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (Jam. 4:6). A man once came to Jesus in Luke 18 and asked how to have eternal life. Christ pointed to the Ten Commandments.
Let's see if you've followed them. Have you ever told a lie (#9)? Have you ever stolen anything, including music (#8)? Jesus said if you've looked at somebody with sexual lust, you've committed adultery (#7) with that person already, in your heart; He also said if you're wrongfully angry, you are guilty of murder (#6) in God's holy eyes (see Mat. 5). Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer (1Jn. 3:15). Have you used God's name in vain (#3)? If you've broken these five, you are a lying thief, an adulterer, a murderer, and a blasphemer before a pure, holy God.
A License To Sin?
God's law, including the Commandments, condemns us, that we might run to Christ to be saved by faith (see Gal. 3:24). Yet James says that faith without works is dead (Jam. 2:20). That is, true faith is evidenced by works, but the works do not save. Do you have the evidence? True Christians will have fruit to show for it—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (see Gal. 5:22,23). Are those in your life? What about these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and so on? These are signs that a person is lost (Gal. 5:19-21). Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (2Co. 13:5)? The true christian, freed from Hell, will serve God out of love, as Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Do you know Jesus? Does Jesus know you?
A Beautiful Salvation
An angel foretold of JESUS, He shall save his people from their sins (Mat. 1:21). Are you lost in your sins? There is hope. Jesus lived a perfect life (even His thoughts!) then gave His life on the cross to pay for all your sins, and to make you right and holy in God's eyes. He rose from the grave and defeated death, offering the gift of forgiveness to all mankind (see 1Co. 15:3,4; Rev. 22:17). Before you get saved, you must recognize that you are lost, but once you see yourself as God sees you, repenting from and recognizing the folly of your sins, God's promise becomes amazing: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). Call out to God in prayer, receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour, and He will save you, change you, and make you eternally sure (see 1Jn. 5:13).
A New Life
If you've trusted Christ, please contact us for a free study. Attend a solid church and start reading the KJV Bible (2Ti. 3:16). Be baptized (Acts 2:41), pray always (1Th. 5:17; Eph. 6), and tell others how they can be made right with God (Jude 22,23).
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory… Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
(Isaiah 6:3,5)
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
(Isaiah 55:6,7)
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