Salvation Deception

III John 4--I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

     We have an epidemic, a huge issue that must be addressed.  Our problem today is a misunderstanding of true salvation.  Many have been taught, or chosen to hear a version of salvation that is both unScriptural and false.  Churches are full of people headed to hell, when they may truly feel they are headed to heaven.  How can this be?  Let me first explain the deception and then the determining factor to true salvation.

     The deception.  Luke 11:35 says, "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness."  Genuine fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit(I John 1:3) has been replaced with nominal fellowship within a social group.  Teaching the whole counsel of God(Acts 20:27) has been exchanged with seeker-friendly, non-offensive, psychological talks that only aim to make congregants feel good about themselves.  Being encouraged to read and memorize God's instruction manual(Ps. 119:11), the Bible,  has been swapped with a degrading of God's Word as inaccurate and unreliable in today's culture.  Is it any wonder how deception crept in??  Take away the Trinity and the Textbook and your left with millions of deceived souls.  People in church today love such a gospel, because it accepts their sinful passions and practices and refuses to call them to repentance or sacrifice.  If you are under such a gospel, come out and recognize what it truly means to be saved.

     Eternal life with Christ/salvation.  John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." After genuine repentance and conversion is made in an individuals life, the new believer strives and seeks to know, and be known by, his Savior.  That believer will read God's Word to learn more about Him, hungering and thirsting to live a righteous life, that his Maker may be pleased.  During this time such a fellowship will be created, as His Spirit confirms with their spirit that they are a child of God. (Romans 8:16)  This fellowship and intimacy only grows as the believer draws closer and closer to God.  They begin to understand what it means to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, they begin to practice the teaching of denying themselves daily and taking up their cross.  Growth is obvious. As sin is left behind, new traits are continually adopted.  Repentance is frequent, not because they want to rid themselves of a guilty conscience, but because they understand that their continual sin can separate them from the close relationship that they long for.    Do you have such a relationship?  Do you know Him like that?  Because that is true salvation.