How few comprehend what it really means to “believe in Jesus Christ.” To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe what He said and to ACT UPON what He said. To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe that He is one’s Lord and then to allow Him to be just that. Jesus asked, “Why call ye me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?” (See Luke 6:46). Immediately after making that statement Jesus warned that if we heard His teaching and failed to obey His teaching we were then building our house without a foundation and such a house would inevitably fall (see verses 47 through 49, Luke 6). It is the false convert who believes all one must do to be saved is believe Jesus Christ died for them. He has no foundation for such a belief. Every Mormon believes that. So does every Roman Catholic. Every professing Christian on earth believes that. That doesn’t mean they have all been granted God’s Holy Spirit and are saved.
Jesus Christ said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (See Matthew 24:35). He warned that “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (See Matthew 22:14). Only the faithful and obedient are chosen. It is to them and them alone God will one day say, “Enter into the joy of thy Lord.”
Many believe that much of what Jesus Christ said did pass away, that His words were spoken only to the Jews, only to those of a long since ended and passed away dispensation. I am afraid all such are in for a very rude awakening when they are brought before Jesus Christ at the judgment.
In what is called “the Great Commission” given to His apostles following His resurrection and shortly before His return to heaven, Jesus said, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations (America included)……teaching them to observe ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you” (See Matthew 28:19-20). At the very outset of His ministry Jesus delivers what has been called “the Sermon on the Mount.” In that sermon He cites word-for-word two of the Ten Commandments and says, “Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven” (See Matthew 5, verses 21, 27 and 19). I don’t want to be viewed as one of the least in God’s eternal kingdom. I have been one of the least of men during all of my earthly sojourn. I don’t want to be one of the least for all eternity. And my Master assures my heart I shall not be. I only need stay on the path I am on and allow the Holy Spirit to continue perfecting me and bringing me into ever more greater obedience, and that I am resolved to do.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley