The other problem with depending too much on the external is those who think they are saved because they prayed a prayer some time and added works to it.
There’s a lot of thinking out there that works added to *faith* saves someone and can end up giving a false sense of security.
Some of the most committed believers I know, who loved the Lord deeply, still occasionally swear, drink on occasion, and have even been known to go to bars on occasion!
*gasp*
Turns out some of the best witnessing I’ve done was in a bar with some friends. It’s an unbelievably relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere. Better than many churches I’ve been in, sad to say. And both those people ended up eventually accepting Christ and are genuinely saved.
That has always amused me that Christ Himself made water into wine for the guests to drink but some of today’s so called Christians hyperventilate.
>> Turns out some of the best witnessing I’ve done was in a bar with some friends.<<
Same here. It’s really, really sad that people feel more welcome in a bar than they do in many churches. I loved country song where the guy went to church and ended up sitting outside.
Indeed. We all spend time here on LP defending the Biblically sound Grace by faith. I don’t think JM who many call a Calvinist is peddling a different gospel. He is pointing out what Paul, James, John and Peter tell us, which is to examine ourselves. We are not discussing how one is saved, but how one who is saved obeys his Master.
The RCs stereotype us as antinomians. It is a false accusation. JM is giving a sermon on dead faith. It is very Biblical and SHOULD make us feel uneasy. It is not that we examine ourselves externally or internally to see if we are meriting salvation...May it never be! We examine ourselves as washed in the Blood of Christ Kingdom citizens. For me it has to do with pleasingly Him and what pleases Him is to obey Him because we love Him.
We are the pound puppies. Saved from the dog catchers needle of death, the pound puppy wants to please his master who saved him.