A Message for All Who Profess Christ But Don’t Possess Christ

Why are many called, but few chosen? Because many think they are saved, but are not really saved and are headed for judgment.

The Need for Rest

Why are many called, but few chosen (Matt 22:14)? Because many think they are saved, but are not really saved and are headed for judgment (Dan 12:1-3; Rev 20:12-15). If you are a believer, it is your (and my) duty to warn them of the wrath to come for those who profess Christ but don’t actually possess Christ (Matt 7:21-23). I get a lot of criticism from people I know who profess to be Christians but criticize me for being too busy. They think I need to slow down, and after hitting 70 a while ago, I do agree I need to rest. I choose to rest on Mondays, but only every other Monday due to counseling visits at the state hospital every two weeks (on Mondays). I cannot rest on Sundays as sometimes I preach in three different locations. I wonder if the criticism of me being too busy is due to their own conscience troubling them that they are not doing what they know they ought to be doing (Matt 25:30; Luke 12:47-59).

The Proof of Works

One night, just before midnight, and after a long, hard day, D.L. Moody was asked, “Don’t you get tired of all the work?” D.L. Moody exclaimed, “I do get tired in the work but I am not tired of the work.” His point is well taken. We can’t grow weary in doing good for God (Gal 9:9) because His is faithful in rewarding His good and faithful servants (Matt 25:23). That’s why I wrote a friend one time who kept insisting I slow down and you can read my actual reply to them. Of course, I’ve withheld their name, but there are many other people I know who are in the exact same place. So please read below what I was trying to tell them why I am so busy in the work and why those who do not work may not actually be saved (Eph 2:10; James 2:14-20). The message I sent is as follows:

Letter to a Possible False Convert

Sorry…I am so busy my friend. I don’t always get back in timely manners. I have a person I’ve been praying for who never attends worship, even Easter services and forsakes the assembly (Heb 10:24-25), disobeys Jesus’ imperative command to “Do this” and ignore taking the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25). So how can a person claim to love Jesus and disobey what He commands them (John 14:21)? Of course, it can’t be so. When Jesus speaks to His own followers about doing for others, He says they are actually doing it to Him (Matt 25:40), but they don’t seem to notice because they say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you” (Matt 25:37-39). Jesus tells them: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40).

Now look at those who profess to have been doing things for Christ, and read His response: “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name” (Matt 7:22). What does Jesus tell them? He says, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:23). What?! What works of lawlessness? I just mentioned them (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25; Heb 10:24-25). They say they love God but break the Lord’s commanded laws. What is most troubling is Jesus saying, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21), so how many self-professed, but lone-ranger Christians minister to the poor, naked, hungry, those in prison or nursing homes, or make strangers feel welcome (Matt 25:35-36)? I know of none that I know of. Of all the professing believers I know who do not attend any church, I don’t even know one who does these things!

Doing Nothing for Jesus

How many believers do you know who have no affiliation with the Body of Christ (the Church) and still visit orphans and widows (James 1:27) and strive to make disciples of those around them (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)? What of those who only profess but don’t possess faith? What does Jesus say to them? “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt 25:41-46). That’s why people tell me to slow down and but that’s just why I can’t! For all who profess to believe but are doing nothing for Him, I fear for their eternal souls (Matt 7:23, 25:41-46). If you know someone like that who thinks they are saved, but may not be, share this. It’s urgent this side of hell.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Can You Tell Whether Someone is Saved or Not?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: False Converts, goats, tares