MORNING MANNA 3-16-22
SAD SIGHTS
“ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”– 1 John 2:3-4
Life is full of sad sights. Sometimes it involves people we know and love. Other times it’s someone we’ve never met – like the children we see in hospitals, or the people in Ukraine. The pain is intensified when we can’t do anything to help.
But a sadder sight is seeing those who do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior. In most cases it has to do with those who have never heard the gospel – people who are just a heartbeat away from hell. That’s something we could do something about.
But there’s another group who are in serious trouble. I’m talking about those who have heard the gospel and profess to be Christian’s, but aren’t. They attend church, at least occasionally, and might carry a Bible, but they’ve never been born again. They claim to be Christians, but there is no evidence that they are.
Such people can often quote scriptures, sing about Jesus, and use words associated with Christianity, and still not be saved. Salvation doesn’t come as a result of knowing the historical facts about Jesus, joining a church, or doing things associated with being a Christian. Salvation is received by recognizing that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness and placing your faith in the sacrifice Christ made for your sins.
And true saving faith will manifest itself by your affections, your attitude, and your actions. As James 1:26 puts it “ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” When a person gets saved they become “ a new creature in Christ” – 2 Cor. 5:17. And when a person loves God he will love others, and when he loves others he will be willing to share the gospel with them. Therefore we must conclude that we have reason to doubt a person’s salvation when they don’t care enough to tell others about Christ.
What about you? Do you know beyond a shadow of doubt that you’ve been born again? Is there evidence of it? Are you sharing the gospel with others?
HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
www.lakewaybaptist.org
