Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Unrepentant Believer (oxymoron)

I have heard “Woe is the unbeliever!” I say to you, “No! Worse is the unrepentant believer.”
As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23: ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven… Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name and in Your Name drive out demons and in Your Name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
They are twice crucifying Christ (Hebrews 6:4-6). He was crucified once in the flesh, they are (figuratively) crucifying Him again in the Spirit- by understanding what He did, but still rejecting Him & holding Him up in contempt, to their own harm. They have tasted the Fruit, partaken of the Banquet Table & have chosen to walk away. This is the WORST. This has many faces, whether they’re walking in sin, are doubting, questioning or just plain lazy.
Much like the Deists operating under the Founding Father’s Christian principles, they are receiving the benefits & blessings of godliness, without ever having been saved themselves. Even if they don’t believe it wholeheartedly themselves. A non-believer, acting like a believer, enlightened, not adhering to the Truth. Tasting, but not digesting the Truth. Seeing & witnessing the Power of God, while never experiencing it themselves & still denying it (like the unbelieving Pharisees). The incredible difference between mere interest & real commitment. Their hearts are hardened, they will not repent. They looked at Grace & said “no thanks.” They cannot lose their salvation because they never had it in the first place.
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips. They walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." – dcTalk

Argument roughly developed from Marc Sikma’s (Matthias’ Lot Church) sermon over Hebrews 6:1-8 on Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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