RELIGIOUS BUT LOST - Many who profess to be Christians may be deceived. We cannot save ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God–not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Religious, But Lost

Written by M. Larson

My friend Mary had been a very religious person all her life. She had been baptized when she was 12 and had abstained from smoking, drinking, and other things she considered worldly. 

But when she was 47 years old, she suddenly realized that she had never trusted in Christ for her salvation! So she humbled herself before God and others and gave her heart to Christ. 

Shortly thereafter her son, who was studying for the ministry, called to tell her that he too had just been saved!

Some well-known Bible teachers have suggested that perhaps 50 percent of evangelical church members are not truly Christians. That includes self-righteous persons like Mary, and it includes many who are living lives of deception.

Many who profess to be Christians may be deceived as Mary was. Others may be like a middle-aged woman I met while visiting and ministering to hospital patients. As I was about to hand her a tract to read, I felt compelled to ask her if she were saved, if she knew Jesus as her Savior. She grabbed my hand in desperation.

“No, I’m not really saved!” she cried. “For most of my life I’ve served in my church and everybody thinks I’m a Christian. But I’ve always been afraid to respond to invitations to receive Christ because of what people might think!”

That evening the woman prayed with me to receive Jesus, and when I left she was rejoicing in the assurance of her salvation.

How to be sure of your salvation.

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves: Have I ever felt convicted of my lost condition before God? Have I ever repented of my sins? Have I ever responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit by truly receiving Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord? Has my life been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, as Second Corinthians 5:17 says?

We cannot save ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God–not of works, lest any man should boast.” 

Romans 10:9. 10, 13 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (NIV).

Peter declared that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance–and that “all” includes you and me and everyone.

 If you have doubts as to your salvation, and if you realize that it was for our sins Jesus Christ died on the cross, why not cry to God right now–“Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me for Jesus’ sake!” In a moment you can be a new person in Christ, clothed in His righteousness!

Questions: If Christ should ask you why He should allow you into His heaven, what would be your reply? How can a person know for certain that he/she will go to be with Christ when they die?

About the Author Muriel Larson

https://powertochange.com/blogposts/2009/09/18/religious-but-lost/