A southern gentleman, giving his testimony about coming to Christ, mentioned that after he first professed his faith in Christ as an eight year old, his dad told him to stop lying about his faith in Christ.
Apparently there was no evidence of it.

Someone should have demanded of me the same thing when I was a kid. I recall memorizing tons of Bible verses in Vacation Bible School, but then expressing profanity on the school play ground. There was a disconnect. We had both become religious, but we had no relationship with God through His Son, the Lord Jesus. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus said; Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. I didn’t say that, Jesus did. When asked about the Galileans whose blood the Roman soldiers shed, that was the Lord’s response. When asked about those upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell, His response was the same; Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of direction.

Many claim to believe the Bible, but through traditions and church teachings they deny Christ. Scripture says there is one mediator between God and man, but some offer prayer to others. Scripture also says; But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever (count’em…One!), sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). Where is Messiah Jesus right now? I’ll give you a hint, He is not still on the cross.

Scripture speaks of the narrow gate and the broad gate. People in practice believe that both gates lead to eternal life. But Jesus said; 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 (Matthew 7:13&14). Speaking of Jesus, Acts 4:12 says; Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Not everyone will be in heaven. I Corinthians 6:9&10 lists the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 names the practices (lifestyles) of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Revelation 21:8 summarizes those who will experience the second death, which is eternal separation from God in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

The good news; And such were some of you. But you were washed (cleansed by His blood), but you were sanctified (set apart), but you were justified (declared righteous) in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11).

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs 1:22-33

Perhaps the cultural view of the love of God should be relooked in the light of Scripture. When one loves, of course there is something hated.

...let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Temptation is not sin; it is the call to battle.

FP Wood

Let’s make an important distinction between self-denial and penance. Self-denial is giving up creature comforts to work toward a worthy goal. Penance is self-punishment in hopes of earning God’s favor, which is absolutely, 100 percent impossible – and 100 percent unnecessary. No one can be good enough or make himself feel bad enough, to earn his way into heaven. But no one has to, because Jesus paid the full price of entry on behalf of all true Christians.

From Hard to Believe – copyright 2003 by John MacArthur (Published by Thomas Nelson – Nashville, TN), p.145

The following are excerpts from an interview conducted by Current Magazine* with Rev. Myron Moony of the Trinity Free Presbyterian Church located in Trinity, Alabama.

Current Magazine – Please share with our readers how you came to know Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

MM: I grew up in a Christian home so my family was regular in attending Sunday school, morning and evening church services, and Wednesday night. At eight years of age, I made my first profession because I was afraid of hell. I never had assurance, and my dad told me that I shouldn’t lie anymore because I said that I believed in Jesus. Having no assurance, I made my next decision/profession at age sixteen and was rebaptized. After making more decisions while a student at Bob Jones University, I still found no assurance. In the spring of 1978, Rev. S. B. Cooke was preaching at Faith Free Presbyterian Church. During one Sunday morning message, I finally understood that Christ had fully atoned for my sin, and I began immediately resting only on Christ’s finished work.

Current Magazine* – You have labored all of your ministry in an area of the country that is known as being part of the “Bible Belt”. Has this been a hindrance or a help in your efforts to establish the work of God in Decatur?

MM: The “Bible Belt” means that there are some vestiges of our Christian heritage remaining. People are in some ways more conservative in the South. Most people here have made some kind of religious decision or profession at some time in their lives. The sad truth is that many people seem to depend on something religious that they have done, rather than on what Christ has done.

*Current Magazine – Quarterly Publication of the Free Presbyterian Church of North America – 2013 Fall Edition, pages 6-8. Used by permission.

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Philip P. Bliss, pub.1875 – copyright status is Public Domain. Courtesy of Timeless Truths Publications – Copyright © 2002-2020 Free Online Library

The love of God is greater far
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell;
the guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
and pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure:
the saints’ and angels’ song!

When years of time shall pass away
and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
when men who here refuse to pray,
on rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so pure shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

Could we with ink the ocean fill
and were the skies of parchment made,
were every stalk on earth a quill
and every man a scribe by trade,
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
tho’ stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]

Author: Frederick M. Lehman (1917), Copyright Status – Public Domain

And you hath he quickened (made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan) the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation (manner of life) in times past in the lusts (strong desires) of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath (judgment) even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:1-10

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Though the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding small;
Though with patience he stands waiting,
With exactness grinds he all.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

But though he (Jesus) had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake;

“Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?“

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again;

“He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.“

These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:37-43

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

They (the Pharisees) answered and said unto him (Jesus), Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. 

Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself,

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:39-47

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…