Are You Saved, Christian?

This question is as relevant today as it's ever been. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns his followers that many people throughout history will think that they're saved, but will not be able to enter heaven.

Jesus said:

21) “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22) On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23) But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ ~Matthew 7:21-23

I never had a close relationship with you," Jesus is saying to these people. "You practice doing evil things and live in rebellion to God!"

Why is Jesus seen rejecting people who live in a rebellious way? Isn't the message of the gospel that we're saved by God's grace (free gift) through faith in Jesus, apart from the things that we do?

Yes, it's true. The Bible talks about how doing good things will never save us, and that only trusting in the sacrifice Jesus gave by dying on the cross in our place can ever save us (Ephesians 2:8-9). But that salvation will produce the evidence of a changed heart, as Jesus mentions below.

15) “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16) You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17) A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18) A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19) So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20) Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. ~Matthew 7:15-20

Have you personally examined yourself, Christian? Do you know if you're really saved? I'm not trying to pick on anyone or present myself as more perfect than I really am, but this question, if not addressed, can and will have severe eternal consequences. I want all of my family and friends to make it to heaven, especially if they claim to believe in Christ now.

Let me tell you, before making these videos, the Lord really had to work on me and "clean house" in my heart. I was both very challenged by studying this subject out and very relieved to see that there's a biblical way to be assured of your own salvation that I didn't understand before. My prayer is that this will bring you closer to God if you're already walking with Him, and wake up those who are perhaps overconfident in, and unconcerned about, their eternal destination.

The apostle Paul implores fellow believers:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! ~2 Corinthians 13:5

So let's do that today. Let's examine ourselves to see whether or not we really believe in Jesus. This isn't about us living a perfect life, it's about if the Spirit of God is drawing us closer to Him.

I love you guys, and I hope that comes across in the videos. I'm praying for me, I'm praying for you, I'm praying for us.

Our time is always shorter than we realize.