What are my Choices to be Saved
Matthew 7: 21~23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? "And then I will declare to them? I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
There were those who preached in the name of Christ, but did not preach Christ as Savior; those that preached 'Lord Lord' and will proclaim this once they face Christ and but were never known by Christ. Some were casting out demons in Christ's name, but themselves were not of Christ themselves. Some had performed many wonders that were seen by others that they were of Christ, but themselves were not. There were many who hoped and believed they would be called, some of them who even preached the name of Christ in their sermons, but were not resting in Christ, not witnessing for Christ or promoting His Kingdom. They were not concerned about preaching the gospel; after all they themselves never heeded to the call of the gospel in their own lives. Was not their own concern about pleasing men and drawing attention to their own self-righteousness. The Savior goes on to say that many, on the fact of a mere profession, would claim admittance into his kingdom.
As grand as that outward profession of religion, that list of self-righteous acts, such remarkable words of wisdom; will not place their foot any closer to the steps to Heaven, without a genuine conversion of their soul.
A man may preach from the pulpit, appear to have many gifts and been called to ministry; and yet himself be a wicked and sinful man himself in need of salvation. He may preach grace but be without grace himself; he may preach about sin, but still be in sin himself; he may preach about mercy, but himself still needing mercy for his own soul and not know it. Many including himself may believe they have attained a place in Heaven, because they have a good reputation among religious professors, keeping the traditions and ordinances set up my man, as if this would atone for their sin.
Christ said it is He who does the will of my father, the Fathers will is to recognize you are a sinner in need of salvation, only found through Jesus Christ. It is God's will, that we believe or trust in Jesus Christ, that we repent of our sin, that we desire to live a holy life, that we love one another. Those that have no more than a mere profession, he does not accept, nor will he own them in the great day.
To come face to face with Christ only to be told 'I never knew you; depart from Me' and then to be cast into Hell, how truly sad it is. It is terrible to come so close to the word and yet never justified, to have all at your finger tips and end up with nothing but Hell; but how many will be in this place. Here it says that 'many'; oh many will their be.
Luke 14: 28~31 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, "saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
We read of those that considered first and counted the cost. It involves bowing to His yoke, surrendering to His Lordship, and living for His glory. Coming to Christ with a repentant heart involves the turning of our backs upon the world and identifying ourselves with the one the world has despised and rejected.
Do you know the origin of excuses? You will find it way back in Eden. When Adam had sinned, he tried to excuse himself. "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." He tried to lay the blame on God, Eve tried to lay it on the serpent; and down to the present time, men and women, with one consent, begin to make excuse.
Luke 14: 16~20
-material things
-jobs, occupations, business
-family ties, social relationships
Remember that these men Luke tells us about were not invited to a funeral, or to hear some simple lecture or sermon; they were not invited to visit an hospital, or a prison, to witness some terrible scene or execution something that would have pained them. It was to go to a feast. The Gospel is represented in the Bible as a feast.
Did you ever stop to think what would take place if God should take, at his word, everyone who makes excuse? if He were to say, "Yes, if you want to be excused from this feast, I will excuse you," and with the next stroke should sweep them all from the face of the earth?
It is a very solemn thought that God will excuse you if you want to be excused.
Now let us consider how Felix handled this question.
Acts 24:22~26 (25) Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."
Paul was on trial accused of certain crimes, all false. This case eventually found its way to Felix the Roman governor assigned to Judea. Here we see evidence of the legal decision that Felix had to make regarding Paul, a personal decision regarding Jesus Christ, and a great opportunity for salvation. Felix was exposed to the great plan of Salvation from Paul but sadly he rejected it. Felix had previous experience about Christianity and knew enough about it to do what was right, but didn't. Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, found in Acts 12 also had knowledge and exposure to Christianity; adding to Felix's knowledge.
Paul had opportunity to preach the gospel to Felix and Drucilla; conversation which he adapted to their condition and principles of Christian religion; to draw them to their sinful condition and lead them to repentance. We can see that Paul seized every opportunity of making known the gospel; whether a prisoner or free. It is said in the previous verses that Paul reasoned with them and was not argumentative, allowing the Holy Spirit to be the one the convict them of righteousness and lead them to repentance. It is remarkable about the boldness of Paul, seeing that he was dependent on Felix for his release. Many a person in this position would not be proclaiming Christ or doing anything that could delay their hope of release. This never seemed to have occurred to Paul.
Paul seemed to have his focus on presenting salvation, to save, if possible, the souls of Drusilla and of Felix. Paul spoke with Felix about his sin of not living up to God's standard of absolute righteousness and that this would lead Felix to his ultimate judgment. For Felix this apprehension of justice and the reminders of his own guilty life, produced alarm in Felix, and made him tremble.
Paul had reasoned about righteousness with Felix. This is God's absolute ideal, as used in Scripture and is nearly equivalent to holiness. Holiness is God's divine ideal as found in Matt.5:48 which says, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Second self control or temperance has the meaning of restraint of temptations and evil inclinations, and can include prudence, chastity, and moderation. With Felix it says that he trembled with fear considering the things of the Holy Spirit.
Next Paul shared with Felix about judgement to come, a day of retribution which the unjust, must give account of all the deeds done in the body. This judgement that will come on all transgressors, adding to the fear for both Felix and Drusilla. It was with great boldness and faithfulness in Paul to select them.
How did Felix respond? By telling Paul to go away until a more convenient time. His conscience was making him feel uneasy. We see here the power of the conscience when Felix is thrown into violent alarm. He was evidently not prepared to break off his sins and turn to God.
How have you reacted when the gospel is presented to you? Have the pleasures of life, make it not a convenient time to consider your salvation. Is it business dealings and profession that make it not a convenient time to come to religion.
Is it your youth that you want to wait for a more convenient time in middle age. Is it middle life one spends in business, and this is not a convenient time. Is it later years and still wanting to put it off just a little longer; are you still in love with the world. Seldom is it found to be a convenient time to prepare for heaven; it just keeps getting put off until death comes and then it is too late.
It is commonly believed that Felix never found that more convenient time to call for Paul. Will you have a convenient time to seek the Lord.
The gospel simply is this. Tell a man what God's standard is, show him that he cannot live up to it, and tell him that as such there will be judgement unless he recognizes that Jesus Christ took his sin, paid his penalty of judgment, and offers him His righteousness by faith.
Something else you should consider
1 Cor.2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The natural man here is not one who is a believer or even a babe in Christ but is one who has never received Christ, the unregenerate man who lives solely for worldly pleasures. He may be one who has great knowledge, attended the finest education institutions, who holds great positions in business or society. He may be one who is a devote family member, holds high esteem in his community and with his friends, or does a variety of volunteer services. He may be held in high regard by man; but still has no spiritual understanding though he may think he does; because he does not have the Spirit of God or has never been born again.
He does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because he does not have within him the Spirit of God. Therefore because he does have the Spirit, spiritual understanding is foolishness to him. This person does not know or operate under the grace of God or is enlightened by the truth and deep things of God. The unregenerate man also can not know them because without the Spirit to guide and reveal the things of God, he has no ability within himself to know the things of God. God's ways are spiritually discerned, they have a spiritual manner, given by a spiritual light, and under the influence and assistance of the Spirit. They are foolishness being looked on as absurd, contrary to good reasoning; and do not agree with the normal acceptance of society.
Also he cannot know the things of God since they are revealed only through the divine intervention of God, a spiritual but not natural light. This spiritual understanding comes only from the Holy Spirit within; and the Holy Spirit within comes from God who gives us of Himself when we truly repent of our sin and come to Him to save us from our sin.
Come to Jesus today, recognize you are a sinner, needing to be saved, repent of your sin, ask Him into your life and receive Him to yourself. Do not remain the natural man, but become born again.