"Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you..." - II Peter 1:10
As a husband, I'm ignorant of a lot of things. For example, when my wife wants to "talk". I'm not sure how to listen properly without wanting to take corrective action. She just wants me to listen. In this case my ignorance probably isn't going to be fatal. Or when the fridge has a leak, I don't have a clue on how to fix that. In which I can get a repair man to help me and again, this ignorance probably isn't going to be fatal.
Consider all the warnings in Scriptures to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. They are put there to either give us assurance or to show us that we're lost. This ignorance fatal. Its consequences are eternal.
Just listen to most preaching these days! To enter in at the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13,14) you have to face the reality that you are a guilty criminal in the sight of God. As a wretched and vile offender of His perfect righteousness, holiness, and justice, you must find a way that you can stand in His awesome presence for all eternity. That's the biblical picture of God and natural man as His enemy. But the preaching of today will offer you 10 Steps to improve your life. Sermons like these will never bring you despair of your position before the King of Kings! The call to come to Jesus these days is to "just accept Christ" or "come to this alter and repeat a little prayer." And if you did that, "Praise God you are now His child for ever."
This is the common "method of salvation" in American Christianity. But it is unbiblical and is no where in Scripture. Because we've all suffered from this idolatress preaching of a god who is just loving toward us and a god who never judges or even cares about right and wrong. And we're told to just come to Jesus because He's the best thing that you can add to your life. But compare this god with the God of the Bible! Compare these gospel invitations to Jesus (love incarnate) when He invites us to come. He does not call us to "ask" Him into our hearts, but commands us to count the cost (Luke 14:28), repent (Mark 1:15), deny yourself (Matt 16:24), bear the cross (Luke 14:27).
If the preaching doesn't bring you to the point of "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" (Mat 5:6) it's simply not a biblical call to salvation. And you will come lacking genuine repentance, and with out repentance you can't be saved (Luke 13:3)!!
Much of the felt needs preaching of today doesn't make anyone tremble of fear the Lord. Initial fear of the Lord is needed to make a sinner "hunger and thirst" for Christ. What do we do in the church today? Let's preach to them 'stuff' that going to help with their daily life. This way you will come back next week and maybe join our fellowship.
How about you dear reader? Have you ever trembled before the throne of God as a helpless guilty criminal - casting yourself on His infinite mercies? Have you seen the Lamb that was slain for sinners, Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Do you know Him? Humble yourself today and cry out to God that He might save your soul!
How about you dear preacher? Do you say, 'peace, peace' when there's no peace? May God have mercy on you. Stop loving self and church attendance! Turn to face the Chief Shepherd and follow Him as a true under-shepherd, so that your flock (which God has given you that you will answer for) will follow you to Christ.
