Feb 13, 2009

Is There Faith On The Earth?

By J.R. Hall

There is a portion of Bible prophecy that is, for the most part, dangerously overlooked. Many times our efforts to sound the alarm and alert the masses that ‘The End is Near’, ‘The Lord could Return at any Moment’, or ‘Watch and be Ready” overshadow the warnings that Christ himself gave about the Church. Christ indicates that the Church in the time of His return would become extremely sick indeed.

In Luke 18:8, we see Christ ask, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

In light of reports from all over the globe as to the health and fortitude of Christianity, can we not all agree that the Church is indeed becoming contaminated with gospels of prosperity, works, and methods and means, and long ago forgotten is the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the only gospel that saves?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” - Rom 1:16

And yet, have we not forgotten the gospel? We hear from our pulpits the words, “Ask Christ into your heart and be saved”. And yet no where in the Word of God do we find those words preached or taught. Even attempts at the gospel such as “Believe in Christ and you will be saved”, fall short of the true meaning and the true means unto salvation.

What is the end result of the insufficient words in the delivering of the gospel message? The end result is a person who believes they are saved, and yet they truly have no idea what that really means. They have believed on a salvation that is superficial, without heart, without sincerity and without repentance. It is a salvation based upon the words of men, and not the Words of God.

Did not Christ warn of this very thing?

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This passage is clear that there will be those who THINK they are Christian and fit for the Kingdom and yet they are found lacking. So lacking in fact that Christ calls them workers of iniquity (lawlessness, immorality, sin).