Have you been told in church that reciting a prayer that says you “welcome Jesus to be the Lord of your life” or that if you “believe in Jesus”, you are saved…. guaranteed 100% saved? I cringe when I hear that in church because so many people say a prayer and walk away believing that is all that is necessary to have eternal life.  Yes, it is a free gift because you cannot buy it, but your life must change with the renewing of your mind.

The scripture used by many is;

  • Joh 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that  whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

But what people are not told is;

  • Joh 3:36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

People have failed to study what the word “believe” truly means in the word of God.  Believe is not intellectual knowledge or agreeing the Jesus existed, it means to OBEY Jesus.

What about Matt 7:21-23 where Jesus says,

  • Mat 7:21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
  • Mat 7:22  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
  • Mat 7:23   And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

One is not saved just because you call Jesus “Lord”. You must do the will of God.  No matter how many spiritual experiences one has had, if you do not obey the Father, Jesus does not know you. His response to those is “I never knew you”.

Salvation is not about a prayer; it is about sanctification.  Without sanctification there is no salvation.

  • 2Th 2:13  But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Notice it says, “to be saved through sanctification”.  I challenge church leaders to preach to word on being saved, not use one scripture to draw in members. Scripture validates scripture.  If you find inconsistencies, it is not being interpreted correctly.