A force to be reckoned with

Do you realize that is a description of YOU? You know that you were wonderfully and fearfully made … that the God of the universe breathed the breath of life into you which means that He breathed some of Himself into you. Now the only question is - what are you doing with your earthly inheritance?

One extremely easy thing to do is to discover if those around you are in fact saved when they say they are. They could be operating under, what I consider, one of the greatest lies satan has every perpetrated. Church going does not necessarily mean someone is saved even though they may think so. 

   "Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” [John 3:1-8]

Jesus is who said this! Shouldn't we follow what He says rather than what man has proposed? Jesus went on to teach:

   "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], " [v 16-18a]

This should be crystal clear with no misunderstandings. If, however, further proof is needed there is always the writings in Romans 3, 5, 6, 10

   "... since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,
[3:23]
  " For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" [6:23]

   "But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

[5:8]

   "... if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation."

[10:9-10]

   " For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.”

[10:13]

We can also add the words spoken by Peter on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended:

   " And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”

[Acts 4:12]

Now, in any of those words from the Lord say anything about Church going? Yes, in another part of scripture it does tell us not to forsake the gathering together (Hebrews 10:25), but that is the gift we get the pleasure of enjoying after salvation. 

Church going, fellowshipping is important for us all. It's where we learn, grow, get healed, understood, share our gifting and so much more. But it is what comes from salvation. Salvation is the beginning. And most certainly is a force to be reckoned with when applied. So how do you know if the person sitting next to you is saved? A very simple question. Turn to them and ask - would you share your testimony with me... testimonies always encourage me in my here on earth journey. If they won't then 10 times out of 10 they aren't saved and you have a chance to be a seed planter - share your testimony.