What a novel concept NO LOVE, NO HEAVEN. My pastor regularly speaks on this topic and it just happened his weekly pastor’s desk featured this quote and this sentiment. I simply had to share it with you and pray that you will not make a miscalculation on your salvation and find yourselves looking up to heaven instead of looking down. Now you’re asking “what in the world does she mean?” I am prepared to answer that. I believe scripture supports that salvation is that something, that confession that guarantees eternal life – a life lived in the presence of Jesus when He returns for His bride (US). It is clearly stated in Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved.” Simple, right? It is that simple because a confession like that is not based upon your level of education, your socioeconomic status, your race, gender or even your ethnicity. You just have to understand two simple things:
- It is not head knowledge its heart knowledge. Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This means as stated in scripture that once you’ve made this confession that you have become a new creation and all things are becoming new. This means that you have been changed positionally, no longer an enemy of God’s and your old man in being renewed daily, it’s growing in the knowledge of the Lord and His teaching and you are being conformed into His image. It means that your hardened heart is being (should be softened) and you understand because of what Christ did on the cross you no longer live for yourself but for Him. You are committed to being transformed by the renewing of your mind. Bottom line if you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior there should be a change in you. If no change, you’re living your life exactly as you did before you made your declaration of faith in Christ, then you’ve probably, not I’m going to take a greater step out there and stand on the fact that you have miscalculated.
- It is impossible to have a genuine encounter with Christ and remain the same. Paul said, let a man examine him/herself and see if they are really of the faith. Being saved has a past, present, and a future connotation. Once you made your confession you were justified – justification that’s the past. Now you are saved and you are studying, laboring in the word of God and endeavor through the help of the power of the Holy Spirit to truly become a transformed set a part creation of Christ this the mental transformation stage – that’s sanctification. Jesus said, “be ye holy as I am holy.” He further requested of His Father before His death on the cross that He would sanctify those who would be left behind, his disciples, in the truth. He informs us that sanctification of the truth is accomplished by honoring the teachings, standing in agreement with his statues, precepts, His commandments – “If you LOVE me YOU will keep my commandment” – this is the present stage. You remain in that state until Christ return. Once raptured up with Christ upon His return that’s glorification – future!!
Now having viewed those salient principles we can know explore this statement NO LOVE, NO HEAVEN. If you claim to be a child of God and yet you walk around hating people, disliking them, can’t stand the very sight of them, it begs to answer are you really saved? Now some of you right now are hating on me (smile) believing that I am overstating the situation. Let me prove my point. As in the Pastor’s desk he reminds us of the new commandment given to Jesus disciples’ and to all of us, “I give unto you a new commandment, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35”
James Moore Jr, Pastor New Paradise Baptist Church |
Here are some excerpts from Pastor James Moore Jr.
Too often there is a contradiction from those in the church who say they are Christians, but have trouble loving other Christians. Let me explain, there are those individuals who come to church with the notion of coming to worship; they sit in the congregation a few pews from an individual whom they actually do not like, (which is a kind way of saying they “hate” the person). Now the contradiction is these individuals believe they are Christians. Now before you become angry with me, let’s see what the Scriptures say: I John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not does not know God; for God is love.” I find it utterly ridiculous for someone to front as though they know Jesus and hate the one that is their brother or sister. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! If you don’t love your brother or sister in Christ; then you will not see the face of Jesus!”
I know right, I just said the same thing, “WOW!!”
He further emphasized: “The Word of God calls the individual who says he or she is a Christian and hates his brother or sister a liar. I John 4:20 says, “If a man says I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” It really means nothing to go through the pretense of worshiping if you hate your brother, because God will not receive your worship anyway. It is a joke to get happy when the choir sings and when someone you don’t particularly care for comes in and you loathe them. This is contrary to Christlikeness!”
Too many people go through the motions of being a Christian and miscalculate that they’re on the railway to heaven. Here are some examples: these are the ones who generally respond when greeted “how are you doing? Response: I’m blessed and highly favored!” This statement is usually made without a follow up caring one way or another as to how the person who inquired about their wellbeing is doing. It’s important for you to know how “holy” they are. This person generally is in church (the building) every time the door opens, and yet you can always hear them complaining or talking negatively about life, the church, people in general. This person usually gets upset if they help and someone forgets to make a public declaration about their contribution. They are the ones who you really only recognize as “Christians” by what they say, not by how they behave. James says if you want to see his faith look at his works. There must be an outward expression of your newness that is visibly witnessed – you are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth – Are you?
Let me also submit to you that scripture does not only tell us to love our brothers and sisters it also tells us to love our enemies. Okay I just lost some of you. Don’t shoot the messenger. It tells us to bless those and curse not those who speak despitefully of us, mistreat us. We are told to pray for those people. Think about it doesn’t God continue to love us when we do things that offend Him?
Bottom line as Pastor Moore’s closing remarks reminded: “It is imperative that we carefully examine our hearts to see where we stand in regards to loving our brothers and sisters, and our enemies (italics mine). If you have a problem loving, God is able to help you. Remember believers are known by the love we have one to another.
No Love, No Heaven. Think about it!
God Bless you Angela!
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