This is not an easy topic, in fact in face to face talks people can become quite heated when you bring this up. Many people will not even read this article as the heading suggests to some of them that a Christian going to hell is impossible. Don t let me just rave on, let me share some of Jesus teachings and stories with you.
There is the Parable of the Talents.
Jesus told a story where one man was given ten talents of gold, one was given five talents and one was given one talent of Gold. The Master said to each of them that we was going to go away for a while and that he wanted them to be good stewards of the wealth that he entrusted with them and give him what they earned when he came back to them.
The man with the ten talents is a man that has been gifted in many ways by God. There is nothing especially better with him, it is just that he has proven to be more worthy to be trusted with a lot of skills by God. When a man fully engages his talents to the Glory of God, he is the man that has multiplied the talents and earned the Master another ten talents. This can be money, resources , skills, your birth right as a person born to a family of wealth, anything that sets you apart in this world. The Lord Jesus is saying if you have been blessed with a lot, that he expects you to use that lot to God s glory.
The man with five talents has been blessed with half that amount of the first. One ( ten talents) may be the richest man in a country, one ( five talents) may be the richest in his city. One( ten talents) may have the best selling album in the world, One ( five talents) may have the highest selling album in one country. The five talent person is expected to bring Glory to God with what he has.
Then Jesus talks about the man with one talent. He may have the best voice in his home town choir. The man with the one talent did not use his voice for God s Glory, not instead he buried it under some dirt. In other words he wasted the talent that God gave him. This man is said to be cast out to the torturers where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is an image of hell. Jesus was saying if you have been blessed with a gift, you have to use it for God s glory and to bring Jesus honor or else you may be in trouble.
John 15 back this up and says that the person who bear no fruit in the Christian life will be cut from the vine and thrown into the fire.
The Parable of the Sower.
There are three grounds where the Christian does no bear any lasting fruit. This is not a salvation message. It is about the true Word of God being taught for correction and direction in the Christian life and people not heeding or obeying the Word.
The seed that falls on the wayside that is picked up and stolen by Satan is this message that I am preaching being rejected by you without an email or a phone call to me or further research. If the fact that you can lose you salvation from not producing fruit and using your God given gifts for God, is offensive to you and you outright reject it, then this word I am preaching is falling on the wayside.
If you accept what I preach and you go and learn what you spiritual gifts are and what it is to bear fruit and how to do it, and you start to do it as you fear for your salvation, and yet Satan comes to attack you, and you get persecuted for obeying, then you stop obeying, your seed has fallen upon the stony ground. If you endure the temptations and attacks and persevere there is still one hard thing to overcome.
Jesus said, If one was to come after him he must:
1. Deny Himself;
2. Take up his cross;
3. Follow Jesus.
Jesus left his mum, his brothers, his sisters, his family friends, his home town, his wealth, his income, his stable roof over his head, and his reputation to follow his Father. Don t be surprised if God asks you to do the same.
Part of self denial is giving at least or more than 10 to the poor or the good ministries in the world. If your church is giving to the poor give it all to them.
The practicing Jew used to give up to 30 of their yearly income to God and some still do. Self denial and taking up your cross are needed if you are to avoid the cares of this world , and the deceitfulness of riches that the. weeds are that can choke your fruit from appearing.
May Christians do not know what living for God is and being set apart for God. If you do not get to this stage though your life will bear no fruit and you will be cut off the vine. People that do not bear fruit do not go to heaven. To want more of the world, to want what you neighbor has and have all the latest things, is called coveting and the Lord says no covetous person will be found in heaven.
There is much to learn on this subject. I hope I have opened you eyes. Here is a prayer of repentance if you are able to pray it.
Father:
If this is true and I have been blind to the meaning of these parables and my eternal salvation, please give me more insight and lead me to the best teachers in the world on true holiness and the true Christian life. Father help me to get my eyes of myself and my family and on to you and the poor in my midst that need help. Father give me your eyes and forgive me for my selfishness. I stand undone before you, please give me your grace to change and your Holy Spirit s guidance so I might learn.
Two People I suggest you do searches on are Paul Washer and David Servant who have a lot to say on these matters.
Author Resource:
Matthew Robert Payne can be found on any search on Google. He is a committed born again Christian and has a very deep love affair with Jesus Christ. He runs a free personal prophecy website where you can request a free personal message off God at http://www.personal-prophecy-free.net Visit him today
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