Hi Cage,
Earlier, when our Mormon Friend, Dwight/Skippy, told me, "Bill, You neednt (sic) worry anymore about me or my wife. You said 'once saved, always saved' so we will be great! Ya (sic) see, what you dont (sic) realise (sic) is that we both accepted Jesus as our personal savior and became saved before we joined the Chursh (sic) of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So... We
(sic) goin (sic) ta (sic) heaven no matter what! Now show me how you can conterdict (sic) yourself and tell me we are going to hell."
And, I responded, "Well, Dwight/Skippy, There are 'professing' Christians and there are 'confessing' Christians. A 'professing' Christian loudly professes to the world that he/she is a Christian -- and then jumps back into his/her worldly lifestyle.
A 'confessing' Christian truly confesses Jesus Christ (the real Jesus Christ of John 1:1 -- not the Mormon Jesus Christ, brother of Satan, nor any other cult Jesus) as personal Lord and Savior -- and makes all effort to follow Him faithfully."
I cannot say which you are -- but, it is common knowledge that we can get a pretty good indication by the 'fruit' or 'lack of fruit' of the person's salvation. Any Christian who will turn to following a cult church such as the Mormon church is not showing any real Christian 'fruit.' So, my Friend, 'profess' all you want. That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee."
And, Cage, you ask me, "Wait a minute, Bill. What if that 'professing' Christian believes, with all his heart, that he is truly following the scripture? What if...some of that 'worldly lifestyle' is not interpreted by the 'professing' Christian as...worldly? (Does) he still get a pass?"
Cage, that is a very good question -- and, unfortunately, in some Liberal Theology churches -- and in virtually all cult churches; the answer would be yes. But, the true Biblical answer is NO -- not if the person is truly only a "professing" Christian. A person cannot be a Christian on Sunday -- and live a worldly life the rest of the week.
If that person truly believes that he/she is saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ -- and lives that -- he/she is not a "professing" Christian -- but, is a baby "confessing" Christian.
Billy Graham, and now, Greg Laurie, in their Crusade meetings tell us that the people who come forward at the altar calls -- are not called "converts" -- but, instead are called "inquirers." Why? Because folks come forward for many reasons. Some come forward because their friends went forward; some come forward out of the emotion of the moment; some come forward out of a sincere desire to know and follow Jesus Christ.
And, when these folks are connected with a local church fellowship where they can become involved and join in the study of God's Word, i.e., in solid "Christ-centered, Bible-teaching" Bible studies and Sunday School classes -- so that, in time, they mature in their faith -- most will stay and become true converts.
The experience of both Crusade organizations has been that many of those who come forward out of emotion or because a friend did -- will very soon return to their worldly pursuits and drop away. These folks were "professing" believers -- but, not "confessing" believers; for when the world closed in on them -- they chose to stay with and in the world.
Cage, you ask, "What if...some of that 'worldly lifestyle' is not interpreted by the 'professing' Christian as...worldly? (Does) he still get a pass?"
NO. Why? Because a "worldly lifestyle" is not defined by how the person sees it -- but, is defined by how the Bible views it. So, no, it is up to the person who has chosen to follow Jesus Christ to learn what is Biblical and what is not.
An example: Before I was a Christian, I was involved with the New Age religions, paranormals, and psychics. About a year after I had become a Christian, at a Bible study, I shared with the group about a New Age belief to which I still clung. Pastor Sam gently explained to me that this was New Age and is not Christian. So, I trashed that worldly belief and followed what the Bible was teaching me.
This is the kind of learning process that most all new Christians will go through, i.e., what part of my old life does not fit into my new Christian life? And, as we find excess baggage, i.e., New Age beliefs, cult beliefs, world religions beliefs, etc. -- we throw it all in the trash dumpster of life -- and stay the course for Jesus Christ.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
