There may be millions of Americans who think they are Christians but in actuality are probably going to Hell. Why is this so? They naively think this for a variety of reasons: they were dedicated or baptized as an infant, are heavily involved in church, belong to the right denomination, have completed certain rites of passage, etc.
There is another grave lie being propagated in many American churches today. The lie is this: if you simply say a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart, you are saved from that moment on no matter what. Did I lose any of you? Am I speaking heresy? Let me offer an explanation.
Just because you profess to be a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean you are one. This is a scary proposition to consider indeed. Think of it. There are people walking the streets of America who consider themselves believers but they actually likely aren’t, and they would be staring at the entrance of Hell if they were to die today. How can this be? What is even more sobering is that there are professing Christians who have and are prophesying, freeing the demon possessed, and performing miracles in the name of Jesus, but are still not saved (Matthew 7:21–23). Wow! How is this possible?
Here is where I believe the Scriptures give some guidance. Speaking the “sinner’s prayer” is not enough. The Gospel has to also take root in your heart (Romans 10:9–10). As a result of a true heart transplant, your behavior will change—radically so, depending on how you were living before. The most awesome supernatural Force in existence now lives inside you and empowers you to live a righteous life. You will begin to detest sin more and more. This heart change manifests as life change and is a defining marker. Don’t get this confused with the heresy of works-based salvation, though. Rejection of sin and doing good works are proof that the Holy Spirit now lives in and through you and is helping you fight sin.
This doesn’t mean you and I won’t fail or lose battles. We are imperfect, fallen creatures, and so we stumble, but we continue to fight. However, what if we don’t fight, but embrace what the Bible calls sin?
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (underline added for emphasis)
Embracing sins like the ones mentioned here by Paul means heart change has taken a back seat. He is clearly stating that living these sinful lifestyles is supposed to be in the past, who we were. If we still are these things, how can we claim that we have become children of God? Have our hearts really changed?
For example, how can a man be in a sexual relationship with another man’s wife and claim that God has changed his heart? How can he possibly demonstrate that he has died to himself and that the Lord is living through him to accomplish the divine will of God and not his own sinful desires?
Amazingly, there are many professing Christians in America who not only believe it is okay to be a Christian while embracing a particular sinful lifestyle, but they are proudly proclaiming and propagating it. They deny these sins are even sins.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20
People I know and love are deceiving themselves into believing a glorious eternity has been secured by a particular act in their past. They believe they are saved for any of the variety of reasons I mentioned at the beginning. At the same time, they think they can act how they want and fulfill their sinful desires.
Only God knows a person’s heart. We can only guess from observation if a professing Christian truly is a believer. More importantly for me, I can pray for them and look for windows to engage them. One thing I do know for myself is that I don’t want to reach my dying day claiming to be a Christian while simultaneously living in open defiance of God’s Word. How dangerous.
I encourage you to study and pray over this matter for yourself. If you are living in open rebellion of the God you claim to serve, in my opinion you should be worried. Have you not only confessed with your mouth, but also believed in your heart? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Do you hate the sin you once loved?
I will leave you with some words from Jesus on the matter:
“For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it….Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 7:13; 18:3 (underlines added for emphasis)