Examination

One day last week at the mission, a few of us engaged in a brief theological discussion that included false assurance of salvation and its contributing factors. Then it just so happened that our most recent MacArthur sermon CD addressed the same topic...only with much more depth than our little office group gave it... naturally. ;) Anyway, it should be a topic of importance to everyone that claims the label of "Christian." In Matthew 7:21 - 27, Jesus warns: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" I dare say that no one standing before the Lord at the final judgment, assuming they are on their way to heaven, would want to hear that pronouncement.

According to John MacArthur, there are many factors that might contribute to a person's self-deception about their eternal destination. Many people that call themselves "Christians" are not even able to give an accurate gospel message, explaining how people are saved from our sins. Others might assume they are Christians because they feel good about God and have had an association with Jesus through a response to an alter call or church attendance. A fixation on religious activity or biblical morality (church attendance, Bible reading or study, memberships in Christian organizations) may also be a basis for self-deception. But probably the most pervasive cause is what MacArthur calls the "fair exchange approach." We want to believe that we are basically good, that on a hypothetical scale, we can balance our sin with our "good works." We fail to see and understand our unrighteous state and our need for the Savior.

Jesus instructed his hearers in Matthew 7:13 - 14 to "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." According to this verse, most people will enter the wide gate that leads to destruction. They might be those who are more interested in the by-products of faith (the blessings, the experiences, the good feelings, the "health, wealth, and prosperity") instead of Christ himself. Some people are more committed to a certain church or denomination than they are Scripture; there is a social orientation rather than a real desire to hear God's Word. Others are interested in theology as an academic pursuit rather than for growth in personal holiness and worship. Another indicator of self-deception is that there is a lack of penitence, a lack of brokenness over sin. And finally, there are those that see God as a means to their own ends. To them, God is a magic genie in a bottle that we can manipulate to give us "Your Best Life Now" or help us "Become a Better You."

Those entering the narrow gate are those whose lives have been transformed by the gospel, who have trusted in the finished work of Christ on the cross alone for their salvation and have repented of their sins. Their lives are changed, so they now have a genuine love for Christ and His Word, and will desire to follow Him in obedience. Everyone claiming the name of Christ should heed the Apostle Paul's instruction in II Corinthians 13:5 to "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves."