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Dogmatic Statements of Salvation

There are people who are very dogmatic that they have been saved. Everyone who is saved should know that they are saved. However, just because a person dogmatically states that they are saved, is no guarantee that they are saved.

Jesus said it this way.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

The real evidence of salvation is doing the will of the Father in heaven; it is who we are and what we do. This evidence, however, is not the means of salvation. The means of salvation is who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. It is not what we do that saves us. It is what Jesus Christ has done that saves us.

Before we are saved, we are slaves of sin and disobedient to God. After we are saved, we are slaves of righteousness and we express the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Have you seen this change in your life?

You may have been baptized as an infant or as an adult. You may have signed a card at an evangelistic meeting. You may have walked down an aisle in church. You may have prayed at the altar. You may have received Jesus as your Savior. You may have confessed Jesus as Lord. You may have said all of the right words and yet you are not saved. You may say, “What else do I have to do?” Well, first, you must quit asking that question.

Do you trust in Him? You say, “Yes, I have confessed Jesus is Lord.” When you say this, if the emphasis is on Jesus is Lord, then you are probably saved. If the emphasis is on what you did, “I have confessed,” then you might not be saved. Our trust is not in our confession. It is in the LORD and what He has done for you.

You respond to the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

Suggested reading is Romans, chapter 10.

You can contact me by calling (208) 883-0997 or by sending an email to ccm@moscow.com. Our website address is http://ccmbooks.org/.

(From Good News/Bad News)

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