“Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it (vs13-14).”
Few people know God in Jesus Christ. I had an inquisitive mind continually ask me the same questions, because he could not understand the things of God and how holy He is. God is not a god that can be worshipped as we see fit. If I claim to be a doctor and prescribe you poison, your “sincerity” won’t keep you alive. Trusting a FALSE christ won’t save you either.
Many serve god on their terms, but that isn’t the God and Father of Jesus Christ the Lord. To BELIEVE God is to lay down yourself, relinquishing control and the ability to do your will; it is RELIANCE upon God to save you on His terms and to give the salvation revealed in scripture that’s unto good works – “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 16:24-25).
Here are four characteristics of TRUE worship and TRUE piety.
1. We do not judge – “You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the [twig] out of your brother’s eye” (Matt 7:5). The first thing that we do is judge ourselves unfaithful for our lack of love, and then we help the brother. We judge ourselves guilty of numerous crimes against God that are forgiven, so that we can serve. We judge OURSELVES saved by grace, so that we use what we know for men’s good, rather than to glorify self or be seen. We CORRECT ourselves of the BIG problems, so that we can HELP the brethren and HELP poor deceived sinners. True religion makes you rely upon the blood for your acceptance, and thus it is your message to men, “Repent and BELIEVE the goodness of God to sinners”.
2. Believers find God – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (Matt 7:7-8). We are not people that seek and don’t find the God of glory, but He REVEALS Himself to us.
Jacob found God in his need. He prayed and wept, having no strength to save himself, and yet BELIEVING and NEEDING, he sought God’s free promise of grace in Jesus Christ the Lord and obtained what he was seeking, as EVERY believer does. It is written, “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. And he said unto him, What is your name? and he said, Jacob. And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but
3. God gives GOOD things, like salvation and peace, unto us, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him” (Matt 7:11)? We EXPERIENCE God. It isn’t merely a doctrine in the book to us, but we evidence by life that we believe God’s teaching, following His word. We have the experience of faith and her fruit because we find the God who makes men whole.
Men who pretend their relationship with God do so because they’ve never trusted Christ at all, had no conviction of the Spirit UNTO salvation, and they haven’t REPENTED, which is BELIEVED God in the forgiveness of sins unto good conduct, “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not” (Rev 2:21). It has been, “I will work”, or it has been, “I will not change, because I don’t believe it is needful to me”. But, the BELIEVER experiences quickening and renewing continually (Ps 143:11). God is FAITHFUL to us, having brought us pain and grief to lift us up. He brings about what He commands, calling us to Himself, so that He can GIVE us the fruit of His love.
4. We love people, “Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt 7:12). We are forgiven and loved, so we FORGIVE and love, because every saved man loves Him that begat and loves the brethren (I John 5:1).
Forgiveness is a battle, but God gives us LOVE with every glimpse of Christ and EVERY revelation of the Spirit is UNTO good works of faith. Every quickening in the FORGIVENESS of sins brings with it pity for my neighbor. God doesn’t save a part of the man, but He RAINS grace upon him daily, giving him all that he needs to conquer sin, for we ARE more the conquerors through Him that loved us.
I don’t preach a failing God; I preach Him who helps faltering people, calling us unto and giving us repentance. We sin, and we sin, and yet sin is no believer’s master. We love people, especially brethren, treating them upon the basis of Christ’s DYING FOR and forgiving us, “And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32).
We do not love for praise, applause, or merit; it is in THANKFULNESS to God and in hope that someone else sees Christ. He says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”, so that seeking others salvation marks a believer (Matt 5:16).
