Fake Salvation by Keith Cook
"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." 1 Corinthians 8:6
In survey after survey the majority of people in North America say that they believe in God and want to go to Heaven when they die? There are not many people who want to go to Hell and spend eternity (forever) without God!
Fake Salvation Is Coming To Jesus To Escape Hell
Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after me..." Surely Jesus knows that people want to come to Him and have peace with God and receive life forever. Why would He have to say that? Jesus may have said this to show that there is a vast difference between wanting to escape Hell and really wanting to come to Him.
Jesus wanted people to come to Him because they were choosing to be His people, not just for eternal fire insurance to keep them out of Hell. There are many people who are scared to death of Hell and dying. All you have to do to get them to say they trust Jesus is to talk about Hell. Jesus would say this is not coming to Him. This example would represent running away from Hell, not coming to Jesus. There is a big difference.
Fake Salvation Is Coming To Jesus Because It Is Popular
Many people come to Jesus because it is the popular thing to do. People often say they are born again in order to gain favor or approval from someone. When I was in high school, most of the guys soon learned that if they wanted to date the "popular" girls, they had to go to church. So, every Sunday morning all the hung over, love sick guys were in church. Many a young woman was tricked into thinking "Mr. Right" was right, on the basis of a false commitment.
Religion is big business these days. Every major shopping center has a Christian bookstore and most metropolitan areas have Christian radio and T.V. stations. The Good News is popular. The sad thing about a real commitment to Jesus is that it is not really going to be a popular thing for long.
After I was saved, my entire vocabulary changed, my friends changed, along with my old habits. I went through a very dry spell as far as popularity was concerned. If my faith had been built on being popular, I would have dropped out, proving my commitment was not real.
Fake Salvation Is Coming To Jesus To Get Something
Some people make promises with God while in the middle of tragic and difficult situations. This often happens when they are financially burdened or when they are suffering physically. I have even heard some people say they "got saved" in order to have God bless them financially or heal their bodies. Some prosperity gospel teachers and hyper-healers fuel this practice, not the Bible! This is an example of coming to Jesus, just to get something.
Fake Salvation Is Coming To Jesus To Get Someone Off Their Back
Many young people say they are saved just to get their mother or grandma off their back. Wayward spouses often try this! When someone makes a false commitment they may get people off their back, but they inherit a heavy sense of guilt. Deep inside their spirit they know they are no better off. God knows that this is a fake decision and He does not live in them. A person who dies in this state does not have a place prepared for them in Heaven.
Fake Salvation Is Coming To Jesus Without Forsaking False God's
In the Orient, some people will say they want Jesus to come into their lives and they say they accept Him. What they actually do is accept Jesus along with other gods like Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, etc... All they have done is add another god to their list. They do not want to offend our God. In our culture, some people who think they are born from above are really not because all they have done is tack Jesus onto materialism, humanism, legalism, and countless other gods. They say they owe Jesus. Yet they never talk about Him because they are embarrassed. They sing about how great it is to be a Christian, but they will not take a stand on moral issues. They say "times have changed" and we need to be culturally sensitive. They are still holding on to other "gods."
Easy Believism Is Fake Salvation
All these shallow examples of "easy believism" will not change a person's life. Their lives are not built on the solid rock, Jesus, but on sinking sand, religion. This kind of faith will not hold up in crisis times. The real power of Christianity is Jesus and He will not come in and share a vessel with any other doctrine or religion: not humanism, legalism, materialism, or moral living.
All of these reasons for coming to Jesus are wrong, and in reality, they are not coming to Jesus at all. If you personally have come to Jesus by any road other than that of the Cross, through His shed blood, because of your sinful, helpless condition, then you are still lost and on a one-way street that leads straight to Hell itself. Jesus is your only way out!
Take The Fake Salvation Test
I want you to take a test. Now my son, Keith Jr., has a fantastic mind and he can memorize and recite long passages of facts he has gleaned from books. He really likes tests - he is just like his mother. I, on the other hand, hate tests. But it won't take a rocket scientist to pass my little quiz.
My test only has three questions:
1. Do you believe in Jesus?
2. Do you believe in the Bible as the Word of God?
3. Do you believe going to church is a good idea?
Now think with me. How did you answer these questions? You probably said yes to all three. Well I've got news for you. You just passed the "Devil Test." You could be in the same condition as the Devil, because the Devil believes, just like the majority of people living today believe. Let me explain. The Devil believes in Jesus! He knows Jesus is the Son of God. The Devil knows the Bible is the Word of God. He probably can quote great amounts of scripture! He also goes to church. He sends his demons regularly. So what makes the kind of belief you have any different from the Devil's?
Tomorrow, we will share about Real Salvation, and discuss true saving faith in Christ.
Personal Prayer Focus: Pray fervently for the lost who are deceived and holding onto "Fake Salvation". Pray that God will convict and challenge their hearts and that they will put their faith in Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go Prayer Focus: Joan Cook's "Women On The Go" Ministries. Joan's "Women On The Go" programs are implemented at women's conferences, local churches, retreats, and separate stand-alone events. God has given her a burden to minister to and encourage women in their walk with the Lord. Pray for Joan as she ministers and shares from her heart and as she presents motivational, evangelistic programs, materials, and leadership to and for women that will challenge and motivate them to a deeper walk with the Lord.
Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.
On The Go Daily Devotion for June 5, 2014
Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
Copyright (c) 2005, 2014 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
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