Matthew 7: 21-23 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
“We are more interested in Christianity as an improvement to our lives, rather than an inconvenience to it”.
Don’t be too quick to say that you’d give your life for Jesus if…
- You don’t give your time
- You don’t give your money
“We aren’t saved by works but we are saved by the kind of faith that inspires our works”.
Philippians 2:12-13 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
PROBLEM: We don’t see sin as a contagious cancer that devours everything it touches until there is nothing good left. We see sin more like dirty clothes that need to be hidden in the closet whenever we invite Jesus over for dinner.
We want God to bless the house we’ve already built, not tear down our house and foundation, move us, and start with a brand new foundation.
If you can withhold your offerings to God without deep regret and conviction, then you are not God’s kid.
If you can withhold forgiveness from people who’ve hurt you without or regret and conviction, you are not God’s kid.
The request of Jesus is not to put on a religious t-shirt but that we would choose to die to ourselves and follow Him.