Just A Church Goer

[LadyKay]

I think it's a dangerous game to play to presume you know the state of someone else's salvation

 

I just think that since all people are unique, they express themselves differently.  We may not see any dramatic changes outwardly, but in their heart things may be considerably different.  God manifests Himself in different ways in people's lives, so we never really know how deep of a relationship one may or may not have with Christ. 

By no means do I mean to judge anyone. But clearly there is something not going right when a person life is not reflecting the love of Christ. When they seem to live for their own self happiness. This post is really a  combination of people I know. Not just one person. With that being said I think as Christians it is a good topic to talk about. How do we find our lost sheep?

Edited October 23, 2015 by LadyKay

[missmuffet]

I think it's a dangerous game to play to presume you know the state of someone else's salvation

 

I just think that since all people are unique, they express themselves differently.  We may not see any dramatic changes outwardly, but in their heart things may be considerably different.  God manifests Himself in different ways in people's lives, so we never really know how deep of a relationship one may or may not have with Christ. 

By no means do I mean to judge anyone. But clearly there is something not going right when a person life is not reflecting the love of Christ. When they seem to live for their own self happiness. This post is really a  combination of people I know. Not just one person. With that being said I think as Christians it is a good topic to talk about. How do we find our lost sheep?

We certainly can see someone who is not reflecting the love of Christ by what they say and do.No we can not judge another person's heart because that is only up to God but the Bible does not say that we can not just.It just says we should not judge hypocritically.

[JohnD]

I think it's a dangerous game to play to presume you know the state of someone else's salvation

Amen and amen.

[JohnD]

"Heavens gonna be a s'prisin' place, da faces we see

Not ever 'un 'at cry out Lawdy Lawdy 'sgonna make it, hm um

'times da greates' good 'sdone in da lowes' key,

An' I'm scurred 'nough for da rest of us jus' worryin' 'bout me"

 

Edited October 24, 2015 by JohnD

[Guest shiloh357]

Have you ever know someone who has gone to church for years and years, but nothing Godly ever happens to them? I know someone like that. They attend church but nothing ever changes in their life. They believe that as long as they believe in God and in Jesus being the son of God, that they will make it into Heaven. But they never really accept Christ as their savor, or make any changes in their way of life.  I just wonder about people like that. How they can sit through church services after church service but the message just does not get through.

There are a lot of people who mistake mental assent for faith.  There are many who assent to the claims of the Bible about Jesus and they presume that simply accepting those propositional claims counts as "faith." 

The problem is that salvation is based on merely accepting what the Bible says is true.  It is based on a personal and transformational encounter with Jesus.  That's what makes the difference. 

Many believe IN Jesus, but they don't believe Jesus.  They admit He is the Son of God, and that he died for their sins, but they never take the step of actually making a decision for Jesus and accept Him as their personal Savior and Lord.  They never come to Him in repentance.  And yes, they are on dangerous ground.  If they die in that condition, they will enter eternity separated from God.

[Willa]

Our pastor grieves over those who come week after week but never come to repentance.  He has said that they must be hardening their hearts over and over.  

As long as there is a today, Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as they did ---in the wilderness.  Heb. 4:2 NKJV  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.   3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

[walla299]

I think it's a dangerous game to play to presume you know the state of someone else's salvation

I think you're right.  

I was told early on that there are 2 kinds of "Christians" in the world. There are "cultural Christians," those who have been raised in it, go to church, etc. or otherwise follow a culture or tradition of Christianity but may not have an actual relationship with Jesus Christ. Then there's the 2nd kind of "Christian." The ones who have a relationship with Jesus Christ and can be rightly called Christ followers or disciples. 

There's a problem though. We can't tell one from another from the outside as humans, but God can tell the difference and I'll leave that in His hands.

Jesus did say something on the who's lost and saved that's a good guide: "By their fruits shall ye know them." 

 

[walla299]

Our pastor grieves over those who come week after week but never come to repentance.  He has said that they must be hardening their hearts over and over.  

Maybe not.

I met a man about 6 years ago who had an interesting (and kinda scary) testimony. He'd been a member of a church I was visiting for over 15 years, was an elder, taught classes, and many of the usual things you'd think of for an active church member. He said that one day he was turning out the lights on his way out of the main sanctuary -- and it suddenly occurred to him that he wasn't saved. No bells, buzzers, sirens, voices, visions, or anything. The Holy Spirit turned on the lights and he knew he wasn't saved. He got saved right there and then. He'd been a believer for about 3 years when I met him.

Sometimes the seed takes a long time to germinate. We're only called to plant or water - but God gives the increase.

 

 

[gdemoss]

Have you ever know someone who has gone to church for years and years, but nothing Godly ever happens to them? I know someone like that. They attend church but nothing ever changes in their life. They believe that as long as they believe in God and in Jesus being the son of God, that they will make it into Heaven. But they never really accept Christ as their savor, or make any changes in their way of life.  I just wonder about people like that. How they can sit through church services after church service but the message just does not get through.

Ignorance.  Many do not understand that God has a full dinner buffet made for us to have full lives with.  They stop at McDonalds on the way to the buffet and grap a snack then forget they are hungry. He came to give us life and life more abundantly!