To answer the question.
It depends. I have had two recent
conversations, one on social media and the other in person, only yesterday. The
both were alarming to me and reminded me of a spiritual truth.
The first. The person was talking to me about their
spiritual angst and the feeling that they needed to draw closer to God. When I asked to tell me about their
conversion, when they became a Christian, they shared all of the churches they
have attended and the many things they did while they were attending. Good things.
The second. The guy was clearly on the edge of
things. He had been in prison, on drugs,
divorced, homeless. But with all of
that, I sensed he had a good heart .. seeking God. He attended church, but in the course of our
conversation it was clear that he knew little about the Faith. He told me that
a priest had prayed for him and told him that he “was good to go”. He did not have to worry about his
salvation. I told him that salvation is
personal, between the person and God. No
one can do it for another person.
Perhaps you know people like this. People with good hearts. People who do good things or, at least, want
to do good things. When Jesus met
Nicodemus that night, Jesus told him “you must be born again” (John
3:3-9) “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born
when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time
into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you,
no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the
Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. You
should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You
must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its
sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is
with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.”
Nicodemus didn’t understand.
He thought he was doing all of the right things. But something was not right. Just like for the two people that I talked
with. (1 Corinthians 1:22-24) “Jews demand signs and
Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those
whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God.” The Jews thought they had it all figured out, but Jesus turned that upside down. Gentiles - non-Jews - watch
Christians and mimic what they do, but they don’t have the Spirit in them. They have not been born again. They have a form of godliness but lack the
spiritual power to understand the Truth and live the life. They
lack the capacity to understand spiritual truth without the Spirit of God sealed
in their hearts. I suspect there are
thousands of people like that who attend church every Sunday. Maybe even in
leadership roles. Teaching but are blind
guides. Struggling in their battle with
sin. Wondering why life is not different
than it is.
So what to do when you discern the person you are talking to
thinks they are saved by their works and are actually lost and bound for
hell. Point them to Jesus and the
truth. Speak the truth in love. Even that burly guy that I was talking to
yesterday has a fragile heart. God has
given you an opportunity to fulfill your purpose which is to proclaim the
Gospel. Not with a punch in the nose,
but with a gentle touch. Trusting that
the Spirit of God is at work in their lives.
You do your part and let God do His.
And remember your part is not the saving, it is the telling and the
loving. God does the rest. For their
good and for His glory. CHARLEY
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