The apostle Paul closes his letter to the church at Corinth with these words: “If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha” (1 Cor. 16:22 NASB). “Maranatha” (Greek maran atha) translates, “Our Lord, come.” The word for “accursed” in Greek (anathema) refers to a thing "devoted to God without hope of being redeemed." I give you the original Greek words here so that you can see how nearly every letter used to make up anathema is also used for Maranatha, mentioned only here in the New Testament.
Speculation has been made regarding the connection of the two words, but this post is not meant to further that discussion. I am led to believe that those who profess to be followers of Christ but who do not love Jesus will be among those who are "devoted to God without hope of being redeemed" (anathema) when the Lord returns (Maranatha).
What is of utmost importance, in my opinion, is the immediate question posed to all who profess to be Christians: Can you admit with honesty and integrity that you love Jesus? I did not ask whether you “believe in God” or if you “believe (in a historical way) in Jesus Christ,” nor did I ask if you are perfect or consider yourself to be a good person. I also did not ask if you love Jesus perfectly. Some of you, however, profess to believe in God or even in Jesus -- your confession amounting to beautiful words -- but do you love Him?
I heard a story about a pastor’s son, now in his thirties, who supposedly “accepted Christ” at a young age but presently demonstrates no fruit (evidence) of a changed heart or life (and has not since his youth). The son cannot confess that he loves Jesus. This post is not about the doctrine of Perseverance or what some call "once saved, always saved." The moral of the brief story of the pastor’s son, however, is that he still has the mistaken view that he is currently and will be saved -- saved, even though he cannot confess that he loves Jesus; saved, even though there is no evidence whatsoever that his heart has been changed as a result of “accepting Jesus.”
I want to address this son personally, and all like him: The matter of your spiritual state in Christ is not merely that you are not “living as you should” right now (but that you may "get your life straight" later on). The matter is much more severe. You cannot confess to love Jesus presently, which speaks volumes about your present condition with regard to salvation. I admit that I am uncomfortable with the language of “accepting Jesus.” In my Southern Baptist context, I have heard the phrase used by many pastors. They mean no harm by its use. For them, the phrase means the same as “receiving Jesus.” John the Baptist states, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 NASB). I prefer the language of receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. I do not think the Greater (King Jesus) needs to be “accepted,” if you will, by the lesser (sinful human beings).
If stated another way, we (the lesser) need to be “accepted” by God (the Greater) through Christ -- this is the biblical way to understand the matter, in my opinion. For Scripture states that God “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:5-6 NKJV, emphasis added).
If you cannot confess with honesty and integrity that you presently love Jesus, you can be guaranteed one of two truths: 1) that salvation has not yet come to you (so that you still need to be born again); or 2) that you have backslidden into a state from which you need to turn away or forsake. The words of John the Baptist still speak to you today: “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8 NASB). I like the way the New Living Translation states the matter: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
This gospel message was given to Jewish people who were relying on their family lineage to make them right with God. Some professing Christians today are relying on their baptism, or their connection to God through a godly parent or grandparent, or their own good deeds, or, in the case of the pastor’s son, on his dad-pastor’s baptizing him -- that a one-time confession of allegedly "accepting" Christ rather than an on-going faith in and love for Jesus amounts to eternal security and salvation -- to make them right with God. But they fail to consider that each individual will have to appear alone before the judgment seat of God in Christ to give an account of his or her life. Faith and repentance are individual experiences. No one will be admitted into God’s presence by someone else’s faith and repentance.
Scripture teaches that “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5 NASB). When a person believes or trusts in Christ for salvation, the Person of the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within that individual. The “love of God,” whether it is love for God or His love for us and others, is then evident in that person. The person who does not love, Scripture teaches, does not belong to Christ: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NASB).
We had no love for God prior to being born again: “This is real love -- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10 NLT). More to the point, Jesus Himself states, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me” (John 14:24 NASB). Our faith in and love for Jesus is most clearly demonstrated when we obey (a result of repentance) His commandments. Those who live their lives for themselves, in direct disobedience to Christ, do not love Him. No matter what they profess about their supposed Christianity or their belief in God or in Jesus Christ, if they do not love Jesus (exhibited by a life of obedience and worship), then they are not now and will not later be saved, but instead cursed (anathema).
Please, do not let this moment of grace pass you by. Trust in Christ Jesus and you will be born again and/or reconciled to the Lord. You will then love Him in sincerity and with humility, obeying and worshiping Him from the heart. Do not be deceived: Our Lord will return (Maranatha), and those who do not love Him will be without hope of being redeemed or saved (anathema). I want you to know that Christ loves you, in spite of your sins, in spite of your not loving Him. I also want you to know that He is offering you salvation by grace through faith in Him at this very moment: only trust Him.
I am a pastor. My oldest son, Jonathan, was raised in the Lord. He and I were best friends and he made a profession of faith at a very young age and i baptized him. Sometime in High school he became involved with an unsaved girl. His life unraveled and after graduation he led a life of drugs and debauchery. No one thought he was saved. He was very violent and because of his body building and size (6’3” 280 lbs.) he not only became a bouncer at a club, but he beat up people as well. He was very scary.
ReplyDeleteWe prayed and prayed, and I tried to encourage him in the Lord. After several years of great heartbreak, Jon one day came to his senses. I discipled him for at least two years and his life was transformed. He now has graduated from Liberty University with two masters, and he has led many people to Christ. He witnesses to more people than anyone I have ever known, and because of his great strength he influences many teenagers and college age people. Many call on him to counsel their wayward children.
I share this to tell you this. Jon says he knew he was saved and in a very backslidden condition, and although he never let on, the fact that we were praying for him haunted him relentlessly. And every non-confrontational verse I shared with him in love penetrated his heart, although at the time it made him even more angry. Parents, do not give up and keep praying. It is most difficult since there are no earthly rewards and many times there are no encouraging signs.
And do you know what was the straw that broke the camel’s back and opened his heart to receive the things of God once again? Jon stole $4000.00 from me and got caught. It was at that lowest point where I almost despaired that God spoke to his heart and he submitted himself to my spiritual guidance. As long as your child or loved one’s heart still beats, there is still an opportunity for a miracle. Perhaps someone needed to hear this.
Rick,
ReplyDeleteWow do we have similar life circumstances! Your son could have been me, minus the 6'3" 280lbs. I was a nightclub DJ, having strayed far from home, both of my parents and my Savior! They kept praying for me -- for 9 years -- until finally I, by God's grace, repented and trusted Christ.
That is one great story! Thank you for sharing it here. I have been blessed by it.