Reference: Acts 1:8, and Matthew 23:1-3
If you are a person that claims to be aChristian, I hope you are aware of the fact that you are either a true, or afalse one. There are two types of religious people in the world today. Onetype, of which there are thousands, are those that talk their religion, whileon the other hand, there are those that live their religion. Those who talktheir religion, do not live it. Many people belong in this category. There is agreat difference in possessing Christ, and confessing Him. Most people confessChrist as Lord and Saviour, but they do not possess Him in their lives. Themost common belief and teaching in the world today, is to accept Christ as yourLord and Saviour, which is done by you making a decision. This teaching istaught in all churches that I know of. If you confess that Christ is Lord andSaviour, this does not make you a Christian. You are only stating what theBible says that He is. You cannot receive Christ into your heart and life byjust confessing that He is the Saviour. This, you very much have to believe,but this does not make you a Christian. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, that, you mustbelieve that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek forHim. Just confessing that Christ is Lord and Saviour is not seeking for Him.You must seek, before you will find Him. Your confession that He is theSaviour, only proves that you are a believer in Him. You must, after youconfess Him, begin to seek for Him with all your heart, or you will never findHim. Every church that teaches the belief on Christ as Lord and Saviour,thinking this saves you, and makes a Christian out of you, are teaching falsedoctrine.
This doctrine will make a type of Christian that has a talkingreligion, instead of living it. You will never come to the knowledge of thetruth revealed in the gospel, because you think you are already a Spirit-filledChristian, when actually, it takes the truth revealed in the gospel, to makeyou a Spirit-filled Christian, in a daily process that takes time and patience.The Bible tells us that, we are to be witnesses unto Him, but very few peopleunderstand the truth of what a true witness for Christ is. Most people thinkthat a witness is a person that talks religion constantly, no matter where theyare, or what they are doing. This is not what a true witness for Christ is. Atrue witness for Christ is a person that lives a life of righteousness as thegospel reveals. A life of righteousness is not constantly trying to win someoneto Christ by talking them half to death. There is a saying that says,"Actions speak louder than words," which is very true, especially inthe realm of religion. A true Christian is said to be a light in this world.Jesus said that true Christians are the lights of the world, and that they areto let their light so shine before men that they may see your good works, andglorify your Father which is in heaven. Please notice that Jesus said, so theycould see your GOOD WORKS, and not your loud mouth. A light is somethingthat everyone can see, and know that it is around, but the light is notflickering on and off so that you will notice it. A light bulb does not make asound but yet you know it is there, and shining brightly. A true Christian willbe known by their fruit which they produce, and not by how loud they can saythat they are Christians. A person who talks their religion, and don't live it,is considered to be a fanatic, by the greatest majority of people. I certainlybelieve in being a fanatic for Christ, but not the way most people are tryingto do it. Actions always speak louder than words, but this in no wise meansthat you must not speak about the goodness of God to people. If you do not livewhat you confess, then your testimony is not worth a rotten hill of beans. TheChristian life is a personal thing between you and God, and not between you andman. The true Christian seeks constantly to please his or her Heavenly Father.To please God, can be done only by your giving your alms in secret. In secret,is where God can be pleased. This simply means that you do things in the sightof God, so that he only, will know what you have done or said. Many people seekto please man instead of God, thinking they are pleasing God. To please man isdone by your doing things and blowing your trumpet so that everybody will knowwhat you did. The talking religionist does exactly this very thing, trying toget everyone to know that they are a Christian. Actually they are a hindrenceto many that try to live for Christ. The person that talks their religioninstead of living it, are called hypocrites in the word of God. Many get theidea that a witness for Christ is a person that manifests the signs of Mark 16, which are, castingout devils, healing the sick etc. The signs will follow the true believers ofthe gospel, but these signs are not what proves you are of God. The proof ofyour possessing Christ is proven by the fruit that you produce. If you produceevil fruit, then you are not a true Christian. A true child of God willmanifest the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, goodness,gentleness, meekness, longsuffering, temperance, and faith. These fruits of theSpirit are perfected within you by your obedience to the revealed truth of thegospel. Many people think that the Spirit is given for the purpose ofmanifesting great signs and wonders, but this type of people are completelyvoid of the fruits of the Spirit. This is because they failed to realize thatthe Holy Ghost is given to us to lead and teach us the truth that will make ustrue born again children of Almighty God. Many are in the land today thinkingthey are doing great miracles, but actually they are living in a world ofstrong delusion, given to them for their rejection of the truth of God's word,revealed in the gospel. Many people will confess to Christ at the judgementthat they did many wonderful works in His name, but Christ will tell them thatHe never knew them, because they were the workers of iniquity. Iniquity is yourrejection of truth, failing to receive it, and yet confessing to be aChristian. Many say they love the Lord, but are as void of truth as a hen is ofteeth. You may put pretty soft music to your confession of Christ, but if youfail to receive and obey the truth, then you will wind up in a devils hellalong with your pastor who failed to obey the truth of the gospel. Did you knowthat the Bible is a road map to eternal life? How much of it has been revealedto you?