It depends upon the individual as which stories are believed as told by the churches concerning one’s eternal salvation.
The churches (naturally) do not follow God’s Word on the topic of eternal salvation.
To give their listeners something to believe in–instead of God’s Word–the churches provide a NUMBER of different stories and supporting information as to eternal salvation.
FIRST off, the churches tell stories to get their listeners to feel better about their earthly situation. There are a NUMBER of stories told, from the one about how, to get to heaven, you have to ‘make a decision for Jesus’–AS IF Jesus was so hard up for followers, he just sits around in heaven waiting for a church person to ‘make a decision for Him.’
God’s Word informs the reader that it does NOT matter if the church person ‘makes a decision for Jesus’ or not. ‘Making a decision for Jesus’ does NOT get someone a ticket to God’s throne room.
“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:16
IF someone makes a ‘decision for Jesus,’ they will likely end up in the same place they were headed before they made their decision.
IF God shows a bit of mercy to that same person? Well, that’s a completely different story.
This article was written for a church person who proclaimed (to anyone who was within earshot) “Well, I choose to believe the church stories.”
Does it matter what one CHOOSES to believe?
OF course it does. CHOOSING TO BELIEVE something other than what is written in God’s Word is the same as NOT believing God’s Word. ALL nonbelievers end up in the same place.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
–Revelation 21:8
Some church folk take solace in their support of their church.
THIS has NOTHING to do with God or His Word. THIS has to do with supporting the wolves in sheep’s clothing who run the churches.
Another question which was posed to this writer by the person defending the churches was “Don’t you feel closer to God when you go to church?”
The answer was a plain “NO!”–accompanied by the explanation of how many churches MANIPULATE the various parts of their ceremonies in order to have their church folk feel ‘spiritual.’
THIS was not accepted as a good answer.
Perhaps the BIGGEST story told by the churches is the one that informs the listener ‘IF you want to be a good person, you go to church.’ As someone once put it: “I’m going to heaven! I go to church, don’t I?”
Again, THIS has NOTHING to do with God and EVERYTHING to do with making the church person feel better about himself.
IS the reader a church person?
DOES the reader want to end up in heaven?
THEN, the reader needs to throw himself COMPLETELY on the mercy and grace of God.
“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:16
God’s mercy is what gets one out of an eternity of torment and affliction and into heaven.
God’s mercy activated by a faith in Jesus Christ.
NOT attending (no matter how regularly) services in a building called a church every week.
IS the reader one of the ‘church folk’?
DOES the reader BELIEVE all of the church stories he has been told?
It is not YET too late–although time is surely running out: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
—1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 12, 2023.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.com
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-23. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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