Are You and Your Friends Legitimate?

The most successful illegitimacy of all is the unsaved church member

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Hebrews 12:4-7.

Illegitimate: not recognized as lawful offspring or not sanctioned by law. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illegitimate

The large numbers of folks who attend our churches and are not Believers would be and will be astounding to everyone when Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church. They are Illegitimate and not born of faith.

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "So then, you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:15-21.

Most of us who have friends and are not Christians will not understand the truth of the previous statement made by our Lord. However, the truth is found in John’s Gospel. For this reason alone I am burdened by for everyone, church members or not. They must be ‘born again’ to enter the Portals of Heaven.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:1-5.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27.

Many, who are members of local churches, have been living an illusion for a very long time and are not born again Believers I Jesus Christ. These are friends of others who are Believers, but have never been challenged about their faith and are simply living ‘under the radar’. Friends will not ask them for fear of being embarrassed or angering their friends. Why the fear when their eternity demands an answer?

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” Luke 12:3-6.

Your fear for them is found in God Almighty, not in embarrassment. Far too many people have illegitimate understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?" But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Matthew 15:12-14.

I cannot say more because Jesus is Lord.
BobW