Did you know that more than two-thirds of Americans profess to have a “relationship with Jesus Christ?” Many professing Christians believe they are on their way to heaven because they have prayed a prayer, been baptized, joined a church, built friendships at church, learned the “church-talk,” and enjoyed church fellowship activities. However, Jesus said “many” people, churchgoers even, will be shocked and horrified on the Day of Judgment to be told that they are pretenders, and that He “never knew” them (Matthew 7:22-23). How can you be sure you’re not one of them?
Jesus said a true Christian is known by their fruits (Matthew 7:20). What are some of those fruits?
• Repentance: Turning from sin (Matt 3:8; 2 Tim. 2:19)
• Knowledge: A desire to know God through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15-4:5)
• Good Works: Obedience to Scripture (John 14:21, 23; Colossians 1:10)
• Holiness: Growing in Christ-likeness (Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22-24)
• Evangelism: An urgency to see others saved (2 Cor. 5:18-21)
The Bible says a person is truly saved and changed, displaying repentance (turning from sin and self) and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (turning to the Lord, to follow Him). A true conversion always produces genuine, lasting, and visible fruit. A false conversion, on the other hand, will only have a pretending faith and will not show fruit.
God is filled with wrath against us because of our personal sins against Him. We have lied, stolen, and taken His holy name in vain. We have hated others, and looked with lust (God considers that to be adultery in your heart - Matthew 5:28). We are all deserving of Hell, but God is merciful and has made a way for each of us to be forgiven and be given eternal life. God sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, to suffer and die on the cross to satisfy the wrath of the Father. Then Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, defeating death, proving Himself to be God. Please take the time to examine yourself like the Bible says (2 Corinthians 13:5), to see if you are truly in the faith, or if you, too, like so many others, are just pretending.
