As my Friend David Kirkwood says, "The church does not need to be told their dead works cannot save them. They need to be told their dead faith cannot save them." As I study First John, I see that real faith changes your actions, not just your words. If fact John says our words are meaningless without actions. We are warned over and over again not to be deceived. 1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."
Jesus said the same thing in
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
1 John 3:10 "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God..."
Paul says the same thing in 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. "
The transformed life happens this side of Heaven; Not when I get to Heaven. I don't get a new nature, just a new body. John says in Revelation 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” No change in Nature, just a new body. You and I are not all of a sudden going to turn into a lover of God if we didn't love Him during our lifetime. Holiness happens in our lifetime here on earth, if we allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives.
Many Pastors give people False Assurance they are on their way to Heaven when they continue living a lifestyle that is no different that an unbeliever. No change of heart or actions. Paul said in 2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." Pastors are afraid to test someone, as First John clearly lays out, to see if someone is a Christian or not. They would rather give a person the false assurance they are a believer than have them "doubt their salvation." The reason people have "doubts" is because the do not pass the test. They are told, "If they prayed a pray at one point in their lives and if they were sincere their they are on their way to heaven", even though their actions prove otherwise. Pastors like to use the words, "Carnal Christian" for someone who calls themselves a "believer" yet is practicing a lifestyle of sin. Again giving that person the 'assurance" they are a "believer" so there is no real need to repent and turn to God. They have a "Dead Faith" that cannot save as James says. Sad to say many are deceived because they do not pass the tests given in First John and they are caught up in "Religion" instead of "Real Faith." Do not be deceived into thinking you have assurance when you do not pass the test!
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Real Faith Continues in His Word Real Faith Abides in HimReal Faith continues to Trusts
Real Faith Loves and Obeys
