Saved?                                      Matthew 7:21

I know we’re looking at this same verse again, but this one sentence has a lot wrapped up in it. I wanted to look at it again because of a conversation I had with someone about a month ago. The topic at hand was, once saved always saved; that is, if I believe and am gifted salvation, can and does God take it away?

I remember a pastor recounting a story about a young believing Christian woman. She accepted Christ but due to circumstances in her life, she chose to end it. Fortunately, she did not succeed, but when her pastor asked her if she was afraid of losing her salvation because of attempting suicide, she said “No, my salvation is secure for all time.”

Now the reasons why a person can feel their only option is to end their life involves more education and understanding than I have to discuss it, but this story leads us back to the same question; once we believe, can we lose our salvation?

Our verse says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” At first glance this seems to say that we must stay in God’s will to enter heaven. Anyone who goes outside God’s will by sinning, they are kept out of heaven. This leads us to ask, What is God’s will?

Matthew 5:43, “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary of doing good…”

Ephesians 4:32, “…forgive one another, the same as God forgave you through Christ.”

Are these God’s will? I believe and am saved, but I’m human, if I can’t forgive someone does that mean I lose God’s grace? No. All these things are how God wants you to respond to his grace.

 2 Peter 3:9 “…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” What is God’s will? He wants every man, woman, and child born to turn to him and accept him.

So what about our verse? It is talking to those who claim Jesus but don’t accept him. It’s about those who invoke the name of Jesus because doing so gains them earthly praise, money, or influence. The world is full of people who donate money, serve in a food bank, even go to church, simply to hear others say, “Oh what a good person you are.” In short, they claim Jesus by name, but they fail to do God’s will. They fail at accepting that they sin and need Christ. They fail to accept Jesus.

And what about those who accept Jesus but continue to sin, do they lose their salvation? I hope not because that is me. That is every one of us.

Another verse people use to try and prove we can lose our salvation is Matthew 24:13, “but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” We have to endure to the end? What if I can’t? What if doubt enters my mind? What if I don’t give aid every time? I’m going to lose heaven?

This is something I see all the time when someone tries to use scripture to justify their belief instead of examining scripture for its truth. In this case Matthew 24:13 is only half of the sentence. Matthe 24:12 and 13, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

The world is full of wickedness, lust, envy. It is full of temptations. And it can look like the most ungodly earn the most accolades. Most who give in to the world and look away from God lose their compassion, their empathy, and their willingness to give comfort to others. Most certainly don’t see a need for God. They’re living a life of luxury. Their love grows cold. Those who see the truth of their sin and turn to Christ, they will endure the torments of this life, and at its end, they will enter heaven. When examined, this verse again explains that it’s not about the works you do, it’s about believing in Christ. When you do, in the end, you will walk through the gates of heaven.

How about Matthew 28:29, Jesus’ parting instructions to his followers, “…teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you to the very end of the age.”

 Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you,”

Matthew 11:25, “And when stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them…”

Matthew 5:41, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

John 15:4, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.”

Jesus gives us many ways in which he wants us to live. These are wonderful and godly ways to live, but are they Christ’s commandments?

All these, and more, aren’t Jesus’ commandments, but they point us to them; Matthew 22:37-38, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself.” These are Jesus’ commandments; the commandments he instructs us to teach others.

How do we love God with heart, soul, and mind? By accepting him into our hearts and lives. When we do, we will love our neighbors with the motivation of God. We will think of others and their needs with the same vigor we think of our own.

“…teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you to the end of the age.” Jesus isn’t saying, “Do these things and then I will be with you, don’t do them and I will walk away.” Jesus is telling his followers, “Do these things and know that when you have difficulty, I am still here, I haven’t abandoned you, don’t give up.”

Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…”  We are human and Jesus understands we fall short. Jesus understands us         because he is us, and he’s not going to condemn what he is.

Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our transgressions from us.”

Hebrews 8:12, “I will forgive their wickedness, and remember their sins no more.”

Hebrews 10:14, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

He has perfected for all time. Accept and believe in Christ and God forgives all sins without exception; past, present, and future.

God is holy, perfect, and dependable. If I can’t depend on a perfect God in my imperfect faith or uncertainty, then God’s promises mean nothing. But my hope and salvation come from God’s own words. His promises are everything.

Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Jesus is the same eternally, so his word is eternal. Be comforted, honestly accept Christ and salvation is given. And it cannot nor will not be taken away.

Amen