evangelist

Are You Saved?

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I remember back in my Union days there was a popular evangelist who went around saying that if you couldn’t pinpoint the day and time that you trusted in Jesus, then you weren’t saved. He got a lot of people to come forward at the altar call, but I suspect many of them were repeat customers. Many of them were already saved but possibly insecure about their salvation or maybe less than discerning. That goes to show that numbers don’t always mean everything.

I mention that because I read something by the late Dr. Adrian Rogers about how to know you’re saved. It’s not about what you believed back then or what you prayed as a child, but what you believe now and who you’re trusting in now. I have a hunch that a lot of people in church pews are trusting in a prayer they prayed 40 years ago instead of a living Savior who is their Lord right now. Here’s what he said:

“I’ve heard it said that if you cannot name the time and the place you were saved, you’re not saved. Have you ever heard that? There’s just one thing wrong with that—it’s not in the Bible. The Bible never tells you to look back to past experiences for proof of your salvation. It does not say, ‘He who believed has eternal life.’ It says, ‘He who believes.’

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. If you’re not believing on Jesus today, you’re not saved. And if you are believing on Jesus today, you did believe on Jesus in the past. It’s impossible to presently believe on Him without having believed on Him in the past. Indeed, there was a time. Indeed, there was a place. But, if you’re not believing on Jesus now, whatever you call the past time and the place, there’s something wrong with it. The big question is: are you believing Jesus now? If you have the time and the place, wonderful. But if you don’t, that doesn’t mean you’re not saved. If you’re trusting Jesus right now, you are saved.”

I couldn’t remember my own salvation experience for a long time. I still can’t recall what year or what day. But I know that I’m saved because I know that Jesus never loses anyone who comes to Him in faith. My security isn’t about how big and strong my faith is but about how big and strong the God I believe in is.

Sign of the Times

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“You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant” (2 Timothy 4:3-5, The Message).

“because a time will come when some will no longer tolerate sound teaching. Instead, they will live by their own desires; they’ll scratch their itching ears by surrounding themselves with teachers who approve of their lifestyles and tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from the real truth you have to offer because they prefer the sound of fables and myths. But you must stay focused and be alert at all times. Tolerate suffering. Accomplish the good work of an evangelist, and complete the ministry to which you have been called.” (2 Timothy 4:3-5, The Voice).

Here’s the thing. Lots of people are determining their theology by whether it feels right or not. If it feels good, it must be true; if it makes me uncomfortable, it must be not I but that doctrine or belief that needs to change.

I don’t claim to understand it all. I don’t claim to have all the answers. I do know this– Feelings are fickle and changeable. Feelings will (and often do) lie to you.

If I put my feelings over the Word of God, then I make myself the final judge of what is or is not true. But if I determine my feelings by what the Word of God says, then I’m submitting to God’s authority.

I really would like everything that’s true to feel good all the time. But I know that I (and the rest of us) are fallen human beings. Our emotions, our minds, our thought processes are affected by the Fall.

I trust God. I trust His Word. Even when it makes me uncomfortable.