Johann Quisumbing

Salvation Series by JQuisumbing

I am concerned.

I just read an article titled, “Almost Saved”. In short, it mostly talked about people who expected to walk through the Pearly Gates but ended up gnashing their teeth in the other place instead. The article labeled them as Almost Christians. (In truth, anyone who ends up in the place of eternal damnation were never Christians.) Anyway, what saddens me is that the kind of people described in that article are more likely to be relatives, friends, acquaintances and fellow countrymen.

I watch people going about their daily lives. I see smiling faces mixed with serious and somber looks. And I cannot help but wonder about their spiritual standing. I mean, I cannot stop thinking of their need for salvation. Whenever I hear or read about a death, this thought is there, ‘Is that person saved? Chances are… NO!’ 

How do I know this with certainty? As a human being, I am unable to determine anyone’s destiny. However, the Lord who sees all said this…

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  (Matthew 7:13,14)

These are the words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Mouth and I don’t need to explain to you what He meant. It is a hard truth, but I am still compelled by the Lord to reach out to relatives, friends, acquaintances, fellow countrymen… to everyone willing to listen. But how do I communicate the message of reconciliation to folks who sincerely believe they are already right with God but are really going the wrong way? 

Well, I start by asking, “Are you Christian because you and others call yourself a Christian?”  Then I will show you this.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in 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!’… ”  (Matthew 7:21-23)

This particular passage is also from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The seriousness of it is the reason why I am concerned for the ‘Almost Christian’. I mean, who would want to hear Jesus say, ‘I never knew you’? Ouch!

These three verses are a ‘nutshell’ depiction of the end of times. In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John described the final event of the end times with the returning of Jesus to the Earth… not anymore as our Savior… but as the final Judge!

He came to judge ‘the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.’ (Rev 20:12) But He was not there to determine whether they were guilty or not. This final court is for sentencing.

For as soon as their acts were examined by Him, ‘they were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.’ (Rev 20:14)

You can probably understand the evil being thrown into Hell, but then, how could Jesus cast those…

How could He cast them into Hell? The answer can be found within the same passage. Those that can enter the kingdom of heaven are the ones who…

‘do the will of my Father’.

Let’s look closer at those who stood before Jesus the Judge in verse 22 of Matthew 7 and see how they did not live up to His will.

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

These people expected entry. Their argument was that they deserved to go into Heaven because of the ‘good’ things they did in Jesus’ name.

It sounded good. So, how could this be against God’s will?

I was taught to always do good work with the belief that this would save me from Hell. But as I read the Bible, I learned that this was not God’s will.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This verse as well as more in Scripture indicate that good works whether done in his name or not, were never meant as a way to enter into Heaven. This is fundamental.

But, of course, I have gotten into trouble with people whenever I try to convey this part of the message. Some have accused me, even in tears, that I have devalued their works of good intentions and have branded them as ‘evil’. I admit that I have hesitated to approach teaching people with the bad news aspects of the gospel; fearing that I would be branded as being negative all the time.

Let me say that the message is not yet complete. The gospel which means “good news” is still to come.

Remember! Jesus is giving us a peek into an ‘end time’ event. Rule of thumb – when the Lord reveals a prophecy like this, He is giving you an opportunity to seriously check where you are and ask yourselves…

Does Jesus know you?

Some have asked how could Jesus not know who they were? Is he not God and all knowing? Of course, He is! So, how can he say, “I never knew you”?

Again, let’s take a closer look at Revelation 20:12.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. [Rev 20:12]

Countless books clearly cites all the deeds and all the secrets that the doomed hated to bring to light.

The Book of LIFE reveals a list of names of those who will enter the kingdom of heaven… that is, eternal life. I believe when Jesus says “I never knew you”, He is actually saying that your name was not in the book of life. So, I again ask…

Does Jesus know you?

Is your NAME in the Book of Life?

I apologize for being so blunt. I ask this of you because I care. I must risk alienation so that you will be aware. You see, Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount with these words as a way of splashing ice cold water on your face to WAKE YOU UP!

JESUS wants your name to be in the Book of Life!

It was the purpose of His coming.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

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Do you want your name to be in the book of life?

If so, then know that God is waiting and listening for you. Talk to Him with no delay and express your faith in Jesus Christ and receive Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Find a quiet place and use the prayer below as a guide. Pray this with sincerity, because when He enters your life, He will never leave you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving me. I confess that I am a sinner worthy of eternal punishment. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for all of my sins. With your help, I am turning away from all my sins. Today, I put my trust in you as my Lord and Savior and I receive you into my heart. Thank you for forgiving my sins and for coming into my heart. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Thank you that one day, I will go home to be with you in heaven. From this day on, I will follow and obey you. Amen.

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I invite you to wait for my next SALVATION SERIES post. Meanwhile, below are three verses that I challenge you to observe, analyze and then to meditate on. They are eye opening.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:2-4)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Roman 3:28)