I Was Just Wondering...

I read this recently: 
              Regardless of whether someone claims faith in Christ, the only way to know whether or not they are saved is not on the basis of a past decision, but on whether they are willing to let Christ be Lord of their lives right now in the present. If not, then it is likely that they never were saved--not that they had lost their salvation.

                I’ve often thought about the people that I have known who had professed faith in Christ at one point in their life, but has since turned away from all things “Christian”.  For some of these people they still hold on to some semblance of faith during hardships or a death in the family. But for others, their life and behavior, as well as their character, or lack thereof, demonstrates nothing of faith in Christ.

 I‘ve heard many Christian’s say, “So and so accepted Christ when they were __years old, so at least they’ll be OK.”  Really? Can people live and behave [continually] being morally corrupt and possess eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord?

I’ve been pondering this for some time now. It’s as if some people are holding on to their “ticket” to heaven that reads as follows: On this date__ in the year of our Lord ____, I (Name here), asked Jesus to come into my heart which hereby assures me free entrance to heaven.

I ponder whether the “church” [as a whole] has done a disservice in teaching people about Jesus Christ and eternal life. Somehow people seem to believe it is the “prayer” that saves them, hence, their “ticket” to heaven. 

The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The essence of this doctrine is found in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” So we see that faith, given as a gift by God; His grace through faith is what saves us, not because we recited a special prayer. 

But the next verse in Ephesians 2:10; tells of the results of that salvation: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We cannot be saved by some easy act of our own wills, we are saved by God Almighty, by His will and for His use. If there is no evidence of growth and good works, we have reason to doubt that salvation ever truly took place. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20), and a dead faith is not a saving faith.

I am not advocating that one’s “good works” is what entitles a person’s entrance to heaven, God forbid! But because we are saved, we will and do [produce] good works.

A side note:

I also believe that we, as a society have become ignorant on what the Bible actually teaches. Mainly because people are looking for others to tell them what the “truth” is. So many people are willing to read someone else’s book or will listen to what a particular preacher, teacher, or priest tells them, and teaches, or whatever happens to makes sense to them. However they are unwilling to read the Bible for themselves; not trying to figure it out, but seeking God to reveal His Truth to the reader’s heart. The story Jesus told about the Pearl of Great Price comes to mind. If it’s important one will sacrifice to find it!