LISTEN: http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/about-12-almost-christians/
"'Almost Christians' will almost get to heaven. But close isn’t going to be close enough." - Alistair Begg Not everyone who professes to be a Christian is truly a follower of Jesus Christ, regardless of the Christian language they use or the Christian activities in which they participate. These “almost Christians” always try their best, struggling to do for themselves what God, in His grace, has already accomplished. In this study of Acts 19:1-10, Alistair Begg discusses the identifying marks of genuine conversion and the evidence of the Spirit’s work in the Christian experience.
LISTEN: http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/about-12-almost-christians/
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Saved or Self-Deceived? Part 1 Saved or Self-Deceived? Part 2 The following is from SO4J: John MacArthur - Salvation Survey - Empty Words & Empty Hearts: Matthew 7:21-29
Saved or Self Deceived? By John MacArthur. Salvation Survey Series on Matthew 7:21-29 - Empty Words & Empty Hearts. These Videos & Articles help [you] to Examine your Faith with God's Word (2 Cor 13:5) to make sure you are Biblically Saved, and ready to face Jesus on Judgment Day (Matt 7:21-22,23). There are actually Two Bible Studies on this page. This Series is called: "Saved or Self-Deceived". Part One is called: "Empty Words," Part 2 is called:"Empty Hearts." SO4J added all the below Subtitles or Sections for easier reading. Is it possible to understand the Gospel Message, have strong Religious Convictions, serve in a Bible-believing church, and be convinced you have a saving relationship with God, and yet still not get into heaven when you die? The Bible couldn’t be any clearer on the answer. Yes, many people will one day stand before God and be shocked as they hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” (Matthew 7:21-23) So does that mean it’s impossible to really know if you’re saved? Can you ever be certain of your salvation? How can you tell if you’re self-deceived about your standing with God? Don’t live in fear and uncertainty—take John MacArthur’s Salvation Survey and settle, once and for all, the most important questions you will ever face. - See more at: http://so4j.com/saved-or-self-deceived-john-macarthur "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" - James 2:19 Do you have a genuine saving faith or only a demon faith? The answer to this question is crucial. It's the difference between eternity in heaven and eternity in hell! The following is from GotQuestions.org:
Therefore: "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5 (See: Examine Yourself - John MacArthur)
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The following is from Proclaiming the Gospel (December E-Newsletter):
How Does the Bible Define a False Convert? by Mike Gendron The most terrifying words any professing Christian could ever hear would be the irreversible words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Depart from Me, I never knew you" (Mat. 7:23). Tragically, Jesus will turn away "many" who call Him Lord on judgment day. They are people who may have been loyal to their denomination, who did mighty works and prophesied in His name, yet they will be unqualified to enter into heaven (Mat. 7:21-23). The phrase "Depart from Me" is the final sentence to hell as noted when Jesus uses it again in Mat. 25:41. He declares: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." You would think this unexpected and horrifying judgment would cause Christians to wonder who these people are and, if in fact, they could be one of them. Some would dismiss any idea that the warning applies to them because they know they believe in Jesus. But how do they know their faith is genuine? ... READ MORE The following is from Apprising Ministries: TIM KELLER RECOMMENDING ROMAN CATHOLIC MYSTICISM By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Jan 27, 2011 A while back Apprising Ministries told you that Rick Warren And Peter Scazzero Are Up To Monk-ee Business and also asked is: Tim Keller Endorsing Counter-Reformation Contemplative Spirituality? Briefly, Leadership Network’s propped up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren has actually been been up to spiritual monk-ee business for years now in opening the door for corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) ala Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster—and his spiritual twin Dallas Willard—within the mainstream of evangelicalism. You need to understand that this spurious CSM is basically reimagined Roman Catholic mysticism allegedly “discovered” by Foster, and now perpetrated within the mainstream of evangelicalism as supposed Spiritual Formation—with an able assist from his running mate Willard; both were key mentors of the sinfully ecumenical neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church aka the Emerging Church. CSM was a core doctrine in the EC right from its hatching in Hell and plays a large part in the development of its postmodern Progressive Christian theology—a Liberalism 2.0—that they often refer to as “big tent” Emergence Christianity. The truth is that the very rotten core practice of this CSM is Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP), which is sometimes referred to as practicing “silence and solitude” or by the ridiculous moniker “wordless prayer”; but it’s actually a type of meditation in an altered state of consciousness that’s virtually identical to that practiced in Eastern religions such as Zen Buddhism and the transcendental meditation of Hinduism. And yet this kind of spurious spiritual formation—so-called “Christian” mysticism, which really developed in the antibiblical monastic traditions of apostate Roman Catholicism, is now showing up in more and more evangelical churches. Read more: http://apprising.org/2011/01/27/tim-keller-recommending-roman-catholic-mysticism/ Related:
The following is from the Christian Research Network:
RESEARCH: CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER Contemplative prayer (also referred to as centering prayer, breath prayer, meditation or listening prayer) is one of the most esteemed spiritual disciplines taught in spiritual formation. In both practice and purpose, contemplative prayer stands in contrast with what Scripture teaches about prayer. Practitioners believe that one must clear the mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may more easily be heard and that one may be united with the “divine spark” within. Advocates of contemplative prayer believe and teach that it is a necessary practice if one desires to become more like Christ. In claiming this, however, they often appeal to the practices of ancient Roman Catholic mystic monks rather than the Word of God. Contemplative Prayer is a prayer of silence, an experience of God’s presence as the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment…. Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart – our whole being – to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions. We open our awareness to God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing – closer than consciousness itself.1 Contemplative prayer, in its simplest form, is prayer in which you still your thoughts and emotions and focus on God Himself. This puts you in a better state to be aware of God’s presence, and it makes you better able to hear God’s voice correcting, guiding, and directing you…. The fundamental idea is simply to enjoy the companionship of God, stilling your own thoughts so you can listen should God choose to speak. For this reason, contemplative prayer is sometimes referred to as ‘the prayer of silence.’2 Read more: http://christianresearchnetwork.org/topic/contemplative-prayer/ We Cannot Contribute Anything To Our Salvation
The Bible says "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— not from works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) A preacher said, "Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay." Our sins had to be paid for with Jesus' blood. There is nothing that we can offer God to pay for our own salvation. As the hymn goes,"Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow." When Jesus was hanging on the cross being sacrificed for the sins of all those who would believe - the Bible says this: After This, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30) There is nothing more to do. Chuck Swindoll writes in his devotional Walk with Jesus: A 40-Day Journey to the Cross and Beyond, "With Jesus' last breath on the cross, He declared the debt of sin canceled, completely satisfied. Nothing else required. Not good deeds. Not generous donations. Not penance or confession or baptism or ...or ...or ...nothing." To quote Augustus Toplady, "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling." You simply need to REPENT and TRUST in the Savior. See: “It Is Finished!” Jesus Does Not Need Your Help | Tetelestai by Tony Miano - CARM Twenty Characteristics of False Teachers Embraced by the False Church by Brannon Howse ©
The following is an excerpt from Brannon's book Religious Trojan Horse 1. False teachers are insincere and use God's word for personal gain. 2 Corinthians 2:17-For we are not like the many who market God's message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God (HCSB). 2. False teachers appeal to the flesh and sin nature of people 2 Peter 2:18-For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. "Actually escaped"" is better translated "trying to escape or barely escaping." These are often people who are not saved and seek through man-centered efforts to escape the consequences of their sinful lives, only to be deceived by false teachers. 3. False teachers deliberately take scripture out of context to attract a following. Acts: 20:30-Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 4. False teachers have a form of godliness but deny God. 2 Timothy 3:5-having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 5. False teachers openly reject truth. 2 Timothy 4:4-and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. READ ALL TWENTY CHARACTERISTICS [HERE] Click here for more details on Brannon's new hardcover book and e-book from which this article originated Click here to join Brannon's Facebook page Click here to join us on Twitter "How to Not Be Deceived, Bamboozled or Snookered by Religious Hucksters, Snake Oil Con Men or Your Own Idolatrous Notions" by Chris Rosebrough |
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