THE UNSAVED/THE UNSURE
PREFACE:
We all know that we are to love our enemies, and show Christian kindness to all peoples.
Matthew, Chapter 5:
44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Galatians, Chapter 6:
9)And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
However, this does not require us to marry, abide with, or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure.
HYPOTIISIS:
The unsaved and the unsure are both lost with regards to salvation, for neither has repented, and accepted Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Savior.
DISCUSSION:
The unsaved. Scripture speaks directly about how we should/should not enteract with the unsaved
.
2 Corinthians, Chapter 6:
14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1 Corinthians, Chapter 5:
9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Ephesians, Chapter 5:
5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;
10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Given that this is how Scripture tells us to think/act regarding the unsaved, should we act any differently with those who are "unsure?" (IMO) The unsaved are those who make no pretense about being saved, believing in Jesus Christ, or, even believing in God Himself. The unsure appear to me to be a group of peoples who might believe in God, might believe in Jesus, and might be seeking to find Him/themselves. I suspect agnostics would fit nicely in this category.
However, in my opinion only possibly, these peoples are also lost with regards to salvation, for they do not fully believe that Jesus is Christ and Lord, that God is the Almighty Father and Creator of all, and have not fully surrendered their lives to Him.
While it is encouraging that they are at least asking/questioning, and may be peoples with a good heart (but how can a heart without Christ be good?), that is not enough to assure them of eternal life. Thus, they too are lost.
Those of us who are saved, know we are! Like the old Hymn says: "Blessed assurance......"
1 John, Chapter 5:
1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
QUESTIONS:
1) Do you believe it is possible for someone to be saved and not know it? Personally, I do not, for the reasons stated in the above Scriptures.
2) Do we honor God, and are we being obedient to Him when we marry, abide, and/or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure?
I fully believe we are to testify/witness to them. As Christ stated for us to do in the Gospel of Matthew, and I believe it would be ok to have a meal with them, if the purpose of that meal is to testify/witness to them of Jesus Christ. However, I do not believe we honor God, or are being obedient to His Word when we marry, abide with, or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure. (this is not a question of salvation for us) I also believe that when Christians do this, that is the major reasons their marriages/relationships fail and so much sorrow is experienced.
I, myself, have been guilty of this, and know full well the sorrow and pain a failed relationship can cause when one is unequally yolked with an unbeliever. I also know (from experience) that when one is witnessing to the unsaved/unsure, there comes a time when any conversation becomes useless, and will do more harm than good. The time comes when we need to "come out from them," or to "have no fellowship with them, but reprove them" as Scripture states. This is applicable in the "real world" just as much as it is here in the "cyber world."
2 Timothy, Chapter 2:
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
PREFACE:
We all know that we are to love our enemies, and show Christian kindness to all peoples.
Matthew, Chapter 5:
44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Galatians, Chapter 6:
9)And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
However, this does not require us to marry, abide with, or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure.
HYPOTIISIS:
The unsaved and the unsure are both lost with regards to salvation, for neither has repented, and accepted Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Savior.
DISCUSSION:
The unsaved. Scripture speaks directly about how we should/should not enteract with the unsaved
.
2 Corinthians, Chapter 6:
14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1 Corinthians, Chapter 5:
9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Ephesians, Chapter 5:
5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;
10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Given that this is how Scripture tells us to think/act regarding the unsaved, should we act any differently with those who are "unsure?" (IMO) The unsaved are those who make no pretense about being saved, believing in Jesus Christ, or, even believing in God Himself. The unsure appear to me to be a group of peoples who might believe in God, might believe in Jesus, and might be seeking to find Him/themselves. I suspect agnostics would fit nicely in this category.
However, in my opinion only possibly, these peoples are also lost with regards to salvation, for they do not fully believe that Jesus is Christ and Lord, that God is the Almighty Father and Creator of all, and have not fully surrendered their lives to Him.
While it is encouraging that they are at least asking/questioning, and may be peoples with a good heart (but how can a heart without Christ be good?), that is not enough to assure them of eternal life. Thus, they too are lost.
Those of us who are saved, know we are! Like the old Hymn says: "Blessed assurance......"
1 John, Chapter 5:
1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
QUESTIONS:
1) Do you believe it is possible for someone to be saved and not know it? Personally, I do not, for the reasons stated in the above Scriptures.
2) Do we honor God, and are we being obedient to Him when we marry, abide, and/or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure?
I fully believe we are to testify/witness to them. As Christ stated for us to do in the Gospel of Matthew, and I believe it would be ok to have a meal with them, if the purpose of that meal is to testify/witness to them of Jesus Christ. However, I do not believe we honor God, or are being obedient to His Word when we marry, abide with, or fellowship with the unsaved/unsure. (this is not a question of salvation for us) I also believe that when Christians do this, that is the major reasons their marriages/relationships fail and so much sorrow is experienced.
I, myself, have been guilty of this, and know full well the sorrow and pain a failed relationship can cause when one is unequally yolked with an unbeliever. I also know (from experience) that when one is witnessing to the unsaved/unsure, there comes a time when any conversation becomes useless, and will do more harm than good. The time comes when we need to "come out from them," or to "have no fellowship with them, but reprove them" as Scripture states. This is applicable in the "real world" just as much as it is here in the "cyber world."
2 Timothy, Chapter 2:
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
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