By Ray Gano
I have been feeling the need to write a series of articles in these last days of the last days dealing with salvation, due to all the deception taking place in the world today.
To start things off, let me pose to you the situation that we are currently facing.
According to American Religious Identification Survey, 2001, 76.5% of America identifies with some form of Christianity in America. This study included Mormons and Jehovah’s Witness in among the title “Christian.” (1)
Now here is another study, one which I find very interesting by George Barna.
Barna Survey Examines Changes in Worldview Among Christians over the Past 13 Years
The Definition
“For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.”
The Conclusion
“The same questions were asked of respondents in national surveys by Barna in 1995, 2000 and 2005. The results indicate that the percentage of adults with a biblical worldview, as defined above, has remained unchanged for more than a decade. The numbers show that 7% had such a worldview in 1995, compared to 10% in 2000, 11% in 2005, and 9% now.” (2)
The numbers are going down with those who maintain a biblical worldview.
So my question is, how can you claim to be a Christian, when only 7% - 9% of America maintains a true biblical world view?
But here is a more interesting question, which percentage factor do you fall into; the 90% who do NOT hold to a biblical worldview or the 7%-9% who do?
Now to narrow this down even further, if you are part of the 7% -9% that maintains a biblical worldview, are you truly saved and how do you know / prove it?
The Strait Gate or The Wide Gate
I want to present to you some if not THE scariest verses to a Christian that there is in the bible. Folks, these verses should terrify you if you claim the title Christian.
Matthew 7:13 (KJV) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:15 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:16 (KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:17 (KJV) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matthew 7:18 (KJV) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matthew 7:19 (KJV) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 7:20 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 (KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I have been doing a lot of study on Matthew 7. I have been reading commentaries, listening to sermons, ect. My conclusion is that Matthew 7 of God’s Word is one of the most profound chapters for Christians living in these last days of the last days.
The Profound facts are…
1. In Matthew 7 Christ was talking to and addressing professing believers and not the unbelievers as has been taught for the past 50 or so years.
2. That many who are claimed “Christian” and think they are believers, are in fact non-believers sold a lie and are destined to hell.
3. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing deceiving and selling many the lie thus leading many to hell.
4. Nothing good at all comes from a false teacher… NOTHING.
5. Finally, it is not our acts / works / fruit that save us, it is our acts / works / fruit that prove we have been saved.
Are You Truly Saved And Walking The Way?
I am a person that stands on the fact that once a person is truly saved, they can not loose their salvation. In other words I stand on the doctrine of Eternal Security.
Eternal Security is the idea that once a person is truly saved, he can never lose his salvation.
The primary verses I stand upon are the following…
1 John 5:13 (KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John 6:37 (KJV) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:39-40 (KJV) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 10:27-28 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
But here is the point that I am getting to with a question to consider. How does a person know he was ever saved in the first place?
I want to point back to Matthew 7:13-14
Matthew 7:13 (KJV) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
If you read these two verses you see that there are actually two gates and two ways. You see, we have been teaching about the gate since the day of Pentecost, but it seems that in the last 50 or so years, we have forgotten to teach about The Way, which is also spoken of by Christ.
If you remember, my first profound point that I made about Matthew 7 is that Christ is addressing the professing believer / Christian and NOT the unbeliever or heathen. We know that this is fact due to the context Christ was speaking. Who else in the world’s religions truly call Jesus Christ “Lord Lord”? No one but a professing Christian. Not even the Mormons, who DO NOT admit to Jesus as THE LORD, but “a lord” and the same goes with many of the other cults out there that claim connections to Christianity.
So it is only the professing believer, as we read in context that Christ was addressing and talking about and who addresses Him as LORD.
So when we read in verse 13 about the Wide Gate and the Broadway, it is professing “Christians” who have entered that Wide Gate and are walking that Broadway.
But there is more. We learn in reading Matthew 7 about false teachers and how we are called to judge them by their fruit, but in reading, we see that we are judged by our fruit also.
Matthew 7:20 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
See, that is the $500,000.00 question that has been forgotten these past 50 or so years.
How do we know people are Christians?
We know by the fact that they are walking upon the narrow way as Christ clearly teaches. It is by our fruit that we are producing. If we are walking upon the narrow way, we will produce fruit according to that path.
Another point, is that if you are truly born again the World will hate your fruit, but if you are a “Christiain In Name Only (C.I.N.O) then the world will love the fruit you are producing.
Examples of the Religious World Fruit…
- Fighting against Global Warming
- Fighting for equal rights for homosexuals (Sodomites) and Gay Marriage.
- Fighting for pluralism in the religious world.
- The end justifies the means.
Where we learn in scripture that the world loves it’s own and the love of the father is not in that person.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
But that is if we are walking The Narrow Way, our fruit is as follows…
- Obeying God’s Word and a thirst to learn the deeper things of God.
- Living a Holy and acceptable Life pleasing unto God
- Our love for the brethren, delight in church and fellowship
- Our desire not to sin and a life of continued repentance
- Judging all through the lens of God’s Word and not of the World.
To the world, those things above seem foolish and to the person walking the Broadway, these things seem impossible. You see we can not achieve those things listed unless we have the Holy Sprit working in our lives and the power of the Lord giving us His strength to do so on a daily basis.
The sad thing is that many believe we are on the Narrow Way, but we often forget the most terrifying part that Christ speaks of about this… FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
How do we know that we are walking upon the narrow way?
James 2:14 -19 (KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Now note here that I am not talking about Salvation, also known as The Gate. I am addressing The Way. See there is a true salvation and a false salvation. Christ calls it the Wide Gate and the Strait Gate.
“For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat.”
If you have chosen the false Christ – the wide gate – and you are walking upon the broad ways, you are leading a life destined to destruction believing you are one of God’s children, when in fact you have been lied to and believing a deception.
How do we know we are on The Narrow Way? We know because our life reflects a life growing more and more in Christ. We live a life where we have presented our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, not only in our public life, but our private life as well. We have not conformed to this world: but we were transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
Let’s read what Romans 12:1-2 states…
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you are walking on the narrow path you will naturally show an outward practical holiness as a mark of one saved by grace.
Let me be very clear here; I am also not talking being saved by works here either. One can not be saved by works, and in fact if someone tells you can get to heaven from works, run away from them as fast as you can. It is only through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which we are saved.
For Christ said…
John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It is Jesus and Jesus alone who is the Strait Gate. The problem is that many have chosen the Wide Gate thinking it is The Narrow Gate. That is because we preach about “The Gate”, but no longer “The Way.”
Living as a Changed Man or Living as a Filthy Pig?
Charles Spurgeon stated the following…
“The man who is born for heaven "hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity." All men have their joys, by which their souls are lifted up; the worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights, which are mere empty vanities; but the saint loves more substantial things; like Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He who is content with husks, will be reckoned with the swine. Does the world satisfy thee? Then thou hast thy reward and portion in this life; make much of it, for thou shalt know no other joy.”
Imagine that there is a pig and I am standing about 100 ft away. To one side is a beautiful 7 course dinner and to the other side is a large bucket of slop.
We release the pig and where is he going to run to? To the slop of course! Why? Because he is a pig and that is all that pigs know.
Now imagine if you will that we were able to change that pig into a man, all the while he is eating the slop. What will happen? Well the odds are that he will lift up his head and look around at his environment and then spit out the slop he was feeding upon when he was a pig. Why? Because he is no longer a pig that is able to feed upon slop, but a man needing a form of food to give him nutrition that he might live.
This man is now a new creature and is no longer a pig.
Now from time to time he may even have pig thoughts about the wonderful slop he once ate when he was a pig. He may even go to the slop bucket from time to time, smell it, look at it. But the moment he feeds upon it what will happen? He will spit it out because he is no longer a pig but a man. Even if he as a man he forces himself to eat the slop, which men are able to do, it will eventually cause him to vomit it all up and make him sick possibly unto death because his body no longer accepts slop because he is a new creature.
Now if one thinks he is a man and can still stomach the slop day in and day out, what makes him think he was changed into a new creature in the first place? If he is feeding upon the slop of the world and does not get sick to his stomach, maybe he was never changed into new creature in the first place and to this day remains a pig.
Scripture says…
2Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 5:5(KJV) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Hebrews 12:6(KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
When we are truly converted, we can no longer stomach the slop of the world, the fleshly sin that we once indulged in. When we entertain the sin, and all of us do from time to time, it makes us sick with guilt and shame because it is the Holy Spirit working in our lives chastening us from the inside out because God loves us as His children. Scripture says that God chastens His own.
…That my friend is part of walking The Narrow Way.
What you need to fear, is if you are living a double life and living in sin; AND… God does not chasten you. You may ask, how do you know God is chastening you? Oh believe me you will know. Your life will be absolutely miserable, that is until you repent and get back on the narrow path. But more importantly, you as one of His children KNOWS that you are called to repent and a refusal to do so is rebellion unto the Lord. Your own heart, soul and mind call you to repent, but you may choose to still run. Friend; God will let you run, but for only a short distance, then he will chastise you, bringing you to your knees and bringing you back as His own.
My friend, if you do not have God working and changing and chastening you in your life and you are claiming to be a Christian, you need to rethink your salvation and ask if you are truly saved in the first place.
There is no such thing as a Carnal Christian living long periods in the world. If you are, you are not saved. God does not let you run very long if you are one of His and if you are one of His, you know this for a fact because you yourself have experienced exactly what I am stating and you know it is true.
If your ways are not His ways and you do not feel God’s Hand chastening your life, odds are that you are not born again and are just one of those who checked of a box, raised a hand and that is about all. You are one who has walked throw the Wide Gate and is upon the Broadway bound for hell.
You have no fruit showing that your life has been changed by Christ. Instead your life reflects that of the world and a love for the world. It is the worldly music you listen to, the sex driven TV shows you watch the things of the world you indulge in. They are not the ways of the Lord, but the ways of the world. In fact you are like the many, indulging in the world, your sin, the flesh and walking upon the broad way which leads to hell and your fruit show it.
How Do I Know That I Am Truly Saved And Walking Upon The Narrow Way?
First John lists ways we can know that we are one of God’s elect…
(1) If we keep His commandments
1 John 2:3 (KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(2) If we keep His Word
1 John 2:4 (KJV) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him
(3) if we walk in love
1 John 2:5 (KJV) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
(4) If we love the brethren
1 John 3:14 (KJV) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death
(5) If we love in deed, not only in word
1 John 3:19 (KJV) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
(6) If we have the Holy Spirit within us
1 John 3:24 (KJV) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
(7) If we love one another
1 John 4:13 (KJV) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
(8) If we don’t continue in sin
1 John 5:18 (KJV) We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Walking through the gate, is the first part, but we must make sure WHICH gate it is that we have truly walked through and this is why Matthew 7 is one of the most terrifying chapters in all of scripture.
Christ said the following…
Matthew 13:3 (KJV) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Matthew 13:4 (KJV) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Matthew 13:5 (KJV) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Matthew 13:6 (KJV) And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew 13:7 (KJV) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Matthew 13:8 (KJV) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Matthew 13:9 (KJV) Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
If you are truly saved, you are as the good ground that brought forth good fruit, but if you are not, the seed that was sown was cast upon stony place, where the sun scorched or among the thorns. All of that seed did not produce good fruit and in all cases withered away and died.
What did Christ tell us?
Matthew 7:20 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
If you have gotten this far with me and are asking yourself “ Are You Saved?” You need to examine yourself.
Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind? Do you obey His commandments? When someone looks at you, do they see the world or do they see someone who reflects a life of Christ?
OR… do you make excuses and tell half truths about yourself.
Folks, a half truth is a full lie and you are not fooling anyone, but more than that, God knows and you are not fooling Him either.
Folks, if you are not saved, it is true that you can fake a lot of this. But as we have seen by many of the false teachers out there, it is only for a season and sooner or later they fall and their true secret lives are reveled. What do you do when you are alone and no one is watching? What are your private pet sins that you indulge in and truly enjoy? What “Christian” masks do you wear, fooling those around you and even yourself?
Romans 8:5-8 (KJV) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1John 2:3-6 (KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
I pray to continue this series as the Lord leads me. I am deeply concerned about the church today. Many have chosen the Broadway because that is what they have been taught. The sad thing is that it is a lie that leads to hell.
But more importantly, you need to sit yourself down right here and right now and really examine yourself.
Scripture says…
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
After that, ask yourself…
Who Do You Serve?
Jesus stated the following…
John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. Even the “devils” believe in God.
James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, we know that the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and is the inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.
If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.
Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 (KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.
If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.
1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
About the Author:
Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000 (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.
Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com
Endnotes
1 - http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf
2 - http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/252-barna-survey-examines-changes-in-worldview-among-christians-over-the-past-13-years
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