Savior AND Lord

What about the person who professes they are saved and never obeys Jesus as Lord? Are they truly saved? Here is what I have literally and physically had said to my face, “You don’t know. It’s not up you who’s saved and who’s not. Why don’t you mind your own business and let God be the judge.” I quote Acts 4:12 and John 14:6 and I just get the heat of pure hate come out of them. I am such a bigot. I am “the problem”. I am the reason too many people don’t want to come to church cause I’m so full of hate and closed mindedness and got no love for people who are just trying to get over their hurt. Two months ago I finished reading a book about Jonathan Edwards. Are you familiar with his stuff? He was a preacher during the Great Awakening, preached the sermon “Sinner’s In The Hands Of An Angry God”, first president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), and in 1751 was fired after 21 years of being pastor of his church. Why? Because he wanted to stop serving open communion. (Anyone can partake.) Why? Because he no longer could trust anybody who came through the doors and said they were “Christian”. Why? Because they didn’t act like Christians. The church sold the “good seats” to the rich people and the poor people sat in the balcony. They had no care what so ever of spiritual things or what the Bible said to condemn their hard hearts. They didn’t know the Bible, didn’t read the Bible, didn’t care what the Bible said. Jonathan Edwards preached and preached to these people because he was convinced that true saved people with the Holy Spirit alive in them would see their error if the Bible clearly showed it. It was there in chapter and verse! He was sorely mistaken. About what? That truly saved people with the Holy Spirit alive in them would see their error if the Bible clearly showed it? No. He was mistaken that these people were, in fact, saved people with the Holy Spirit in them. But he didn’t want to be. He wanted a process by which to find out. A trial period where he could examine their walk and discern. His congregation flipped out. They had had about enough of his big mouth and condemnation from the Bible and they were going to get rid of him. Not the other way around. I have quoted chapter and verse to people in Bible studies, Christians, people who lay the Christian vocabulary on thick… ”Praise Jesus! Praise the Lord!”… And me pointing to scripture draws the same reaction from them as a pig staring at a Rolex. "Rick Warren has been such a blessing to me.” “Joel Osteen just makes it so simple.” “I have 1000 Rob Bell podcasts. He’s so easy to listen to.” All real quotes. (Two of them from very close family members of mine.) Quote the Bible passage that shows them wrong and you might just get your glasses slapped right off your face. Or a copy of “The Message” bounced off your melon. (They’re not so bad. Most are still in small paperback. They just sting a bit if the corner catches you. Those hard bound NIV Study Bibles hurt like being hit by a brick.) They do get defensive. You are blowing holes in all they hold sacred. They don’t like it. It doesn’t feel good. Jesus is about feeling good and you’re not feeding that so you’re a great big speed bump in the go cart ride. Outright calling them deceived, not really saved, or so stupid they should be watered twice a week all would have the same effect. They get furious. But I am no longer shocked. I used to be. ”How in the world can you keep saying that when the Bible outright says the opposite?” They don’t even bother to figure out how. They just get mad and shut you off. I’m disgusted and disappointed but no longer… Shocked. Or wait, some figure out a loop hole. I have heard this, “Dude, the Bible is just a book. I worship a ‘God’. You keep your book. I’ll stick with God.” ??? A God who did what? A God who said what? Say’s who? You just drop your jaw. What a profoundly defective attitude. Anyway… Jude said that false teachers in his day had “crept in unaware.” (Jude 4) These days they walk through the front door and people pay them stacks of cash to do it. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But… Are any real Christians deceived? I have to say I don’t think so. John 10:4-5 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Now I know a deceived false teacher can easily point to the same verse and say they aren’t deceived either. Maybe another topic. I’m digressing… I’m just saying Jesus said the wheat and the tares look alike. (Matthew 13:24-40) And God allows them to grow up side by side. But c’mon. They’re not alike. Either way. None of us know the heart of anyone. That guy could be saved. That lady over there. Maybe. Maybe not. Eleven disciples were genuinely shocked when Judas betrayed the Lord. The only thing I’m saying is that we must rid ourselves of man made formulas that make that determination. Just because you saw this guy walk down the aisle for an altar call doesn’t necessarily mean they are saved. It could. (I walked down an aisle at an altar call.) But that does not always, in all cases, no exceptions, positively mean they are born again. Make sense? Well, there are people out there who argue that it does. If that is accepted as true than anything you do or say to get them out of their chairs and up front to the altar will do. People “saved” with a card board, cartoon, insufficient gospel will have a false salvation in which they have a false sense of security that makes them reject the true gospel with a cross and repentance and rejection and enmity with the world because they are sure they don’t need it. Since they are not regenerated people the cross of Christ is still foolishness to them (1 Cor 1:18) and so they react in the same carnal way any un-regenerated person would, with hostility. Additionally, people saved so easily will be far greater in numbers and able to drown out the voices preaching the cross of Christ. So… When we see so many around us deceived by these false teachers are we looking at true sheep of Christ the Good Shepherd? I don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong. A Christian can back slide and sin. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. But I don’t think the Bible teaches that a child of God can be. 1 John 2:19-21 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction (an anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. A true child of the Living God knows their Shepherds voice and they do not listen to another. That voice is in His word, the Holy Scriptures, and not in any man or woman saying they speak for God. How do you tell? We must compare all things to His word in the Bible. (Acts 17:10-11) 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. And don’t ever be intimidated by anyone telling you you’re being too picky or splitting hairs just because you see where the Bible disagrees. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. Stand your ground.