If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it multiple times...repeatedly: We’ve been asking the ‘wrong question’ if it centers around whether you, or anyone else is ‘saved’...or not. I would even go as far to say that many sincere ‘believers’ today can’t clearly articulate ‘what’...it is they are actually ‘saved’ from, which doesn’t help.

I continue to make the case that the question we all should be most concerned with asking ourselves, as we examine our hearts, which we are admonished to do in 2 Cor. 13:5...is this: Are we ‘abiding’ in Jesus?

Clearly, there are many wonderful things we can be doing ‘in His name’, and still NOT be abiding in Him, let alone be known by Him (Matt. 7:23; John 10:27).

If you are not truly abiding in Jesus, then it is impossible for genuine lasting ‘fruit’ to be produced in you (John 15:4-5), and that in itself presents some serious ramifications for us all...whether you are ‘saved’ or not. (John 15:6; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:19-20; Luke 13:6-9)

But listen to what John shares with us in his first epistle (this should not be the first time you are seeing this): “He who says he abides in Him (Jesus)...ought himself also...to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

And while we are here, flip over one chapter to 3:6 that says: “Whoever abides/remains in Him (Jesus) does not continue sinning.”

Now we have a few ‘options’ here. You can tear that page out of your Bible and toss it away, or grab some scissors or a sharp blade and carefully remove those verses so they no longer exists in those pages. A black Sharpie might we quicker and less destructive if you just want to darken them out; or...you might take the more ‘intellectual’ approach and find some thick commentaries that will use a lot of words to explain why those verses don’t really mean what they say. But before you go that route, please review Gen. 2:17 and 3:1-6 along with 2 Cor. 11:3-4, first.

I, on the other hand...would suggest you just take God’s word at face value...and if you are having a hard time embracing what you read there...take it to Him and ask: “Lord...how can these things be?”

He may quickly direct you to John 15:4-5 and remind you that ‘apart from Him, you can do nothing’; so I don’t advise trying to do this on your own, no matter how sincere your intentions and desires are.

Now...if you really are ‘saved’, meaning you ‘belong to Him’ and are one of His ‘sheep’, rest assured, you will not only ‘hear His voice...and be known by Him’...but you will also follow Him- John 10:27. That’s what true ‘children of God’ do, according to Romans 8:14. And to keep all this in ‘context’...let’s also remember the words Paul left us that clarify...”IF...we are walking in the Spirit, we won’t be fulfilling the lusts of the flesh (sinful desires) Gal. 5:16. You might just read on there, vs. 19-21 for a quick review what some of those look like.

Now I am not pointing all these verses out to discourage you or to frustrate you by attempting to make you or anyone else to feel ‘condemned’. I just fear we have been ‘blinded’ to much of what God’s word is screaming at us...and we have paid dearly... the price for our ignorance (Hosea 4:6; Acts 3:22-23; Luke 13:3,5).

So what exactly is the Spirit going to begin leading us to do? Can I burst a few bubbles here to begin with? God did not put you down here on earth to make you a ‘great singer’ or a ‘gifted athlete where you could “glorify God” by scoring touchdowns or nailing 3-pointers. God did not call me to be some ‘gifted photographer’ any more than the apostle Paul brought glory to God by crafting tents, which is what he did for a living.

Do you know how the Father is ‘glorified’, which simply means to ‘bring honor to’? John 15:8 tells us: “By this...My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

Now that is not to say that God doesn’t ‘bless’ our businesses or ‘talents’ and such, but far too many people have been misled to believe differently. Any ‘saved’ person who is ‘abiding’ in Jesus has been called to follow Jesus in order that we be ‘conformed to His image’ (Rom. 8:29). And in order for this kind of ‘fruit’ to be produced in us, from everything we read in scripture...do you recall what has to happen first?

Jesus gives us a ‘hint’ – “Most assuredly, I say to you...unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies...it remains alone; but IF...it dies, it produces much grain/fruit.” (John 12:24)

Shortly after dropping that ‘truth bomb’ in their spirits...Peter makes a pretty bold declaration to Jesus and promises Him: “Lord...I will lay down my life for Your sake!” (John 13:37)...to which Jesus responds in a compassionate, yet a challenging and loving manner: “Will you, Peter? Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (38)

Now insert YOUR name there in place of Peter’s.

“This is how we know what love is, because He laid down His life for us and we also ought to lay down our lives for one another” (1 John 3:16).

Friends...how many of us really know (not to mention do by putting into practice)...what that even means...to ‘lay down our lives...for His sake (and one another)?”

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but hopefully it will ‘encourage’ you as I can tell you that it really is not as ‘dramatic’ as it might sound; i.e. – taking a bullet for someone, or jumping on a live grenade to save comrades in a fox hole, or jumping in front of a speeding car as you push someone out of the way and ‘save’ them. But it sure would help us to have a clear understanding...since we ‘ought to be walking as Jesus walked’...IF...we are going to abide in Him. Join me tomorrow?