I am sitting under the apple tree in our backyard. Although we did not get to visit, I was very glad to meet you. I had asked God to cause our paths to cross. God is good!
I am starting this letter to you because there are things of great importance that you may know but it certainly has not been through me and to my knowledge no one is pastoring you.
There are two types of knowing. Here are a few examples: knowing that George Bush is President of the United States and knowing George Bush; knowing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and knowing Jesus Christ; knowing the definition of love and loving; knowing the definition of forgiveness and being forgiven; knowing the definition of forgiving others and forgiving others.
If we have been in an orthodox or evangelical church, we have been taught truths about God, sin, and salvation from sin. Since we know the truth, we think that we have experienced the truth. Many “Christians” have not experienced what they know and consequently have not been saved. They are not really Christians.
When you were married, I did not check very thoroughly, if at all, whether you had experienced and were presently experiencing the joy of your salvation. Here is a way you can evaluate yourself experientially and scripturally.
1) “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14). Do you love to be with real Christians? Real Christians are to love everyone: neighbors, brothers, wives, enemies, and God. Jesus said that even pagans love the people who love them. There is nothing distinctly Christian about that. People who are not Christians are not able to love their enemies or Christians. Christians can do both. Do you love real Christians? Do you love your enemies?
2) “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3). Obedience to God is the means of knowing we are saved.
3) “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). Do you understand the Scripture? Do you love the Word of God?
4) “…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Are you led by the Spirit of God?
5) “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:22-24). Which list describes you the best? Jesus saves us out of the first list and saves us into the second list.
6) “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:16-17). Does the Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?
7) "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:5-11). Do you get disciplined by God? Is your conscience more sensitive that it used to be?
8) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). Have you heard? Do you believe?
If all of these truths confirm to you that you are saved, then it is a simple matter to get back into the joy of God’s salvation. Ask God to bring to your attention any and every unconfessed sin you have committed since you received Christ. When these are brought to your attention, confess them one by one to Him.
If the above Scriptures have caused you to doubt your salvation, then turn to God in repentance and call upon Him and confess that Jesus is Lord.
If this letter gets you angry, it might be because some of it is true.
With love and respect in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson
I am starting this letter to you because there are things of great importance that you may know but it certainly has not been through me and to my knowledge no one is pastoring you.
There are two types of knowing. Here are a few examples: knowing that George Bush is President of the United States and knowing George Bush; knowing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and knowing Jesus Christ; knowing the definition of love and loving; knowing the definition of forgiveness and being forgiven; knowing the definition of forgiving others and forgiving others.
If we have been in an orthodox or evangelical church, we have been taught truths about God, sin, and salvation from sin. Since we know the truth, we think that we have experienced the truth. Many “Christians” have not experienced what they know and consequently have not been saved. They are not really Christians.
When you were married, I did not check very thoroughly, if at all, whether you had experienced and were presently experiencing the joy of your salvation. Here is a way you can evaluate yourself experientially and scripturally.
1) “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14). Do you love to be with real Christians? Real Christians are to love everyone: neighbors, brothers, wives, enemies, and God. Jesus said that even pagans love the people who love them. There is nothing distinctly Christian about that. People who are not Christians are not able to love their enemies or Christians. Christians can do both. Do you love real Christians? Do you love your enemies?
2) “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3). Obedience to God is the means of knowing we are saved.
3) “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). Do you understand the Scripture? Do you love the Word of God?
4) “…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Are you led by the Spirit of God?
5) “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:22-24). Which list describes you the best? Jesus saves us out of the first list and saves us into the second list.
6) “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:16-17). Does the Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?
7) "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:5-11). Do you get disciplined by God? Is your conscience more sensitive that it used to be?
8) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). Have you heard? Do you believe?
If all of these truths confirm to you that you are saved, then it is a simple matter to get back into the joy of God’s salvation. Ask God to bring to your attention any and every unconfessed sin you have committed since you received Christ. When these are brought to your attention, confess them one by one to Him.
If the above Scriptures have caused you to doubt your salvation, then turn to God in repentance and call upon Him and confess that Jesus is Lord.
If this letter gets you angry, it might be because some of it is true.
With love and respect in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson
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