Are you a “Hope so” church member or a “Know so” Christian believer?
Answers to Bible Questions
Scriptures are from the KJV of the Bible
(Q) Are you a “Hope so” church member or a “Know so” Christian believer?
(A) This subject is one that I am very familiar with because I gave Bible studies at some of our local nursing homes a few years back. Of course all of the residents were elderly, but the ones attending my Bible studies still had all of their mental faculties and alert. The one thing that bothered me the most about those attending these studies was the fact that not one could give me a “Know so” answer to the question, “will you go to Heaven when you die.” All of these people were from a different denominational background. None knew for sure if they would go to Heaven when they died. I thought to myself why not, why don’t they know? What are people being taught in our churches that someone can be spending every Sunday of their lives in a church service and not know where they will go when they die? It seems most people just don’t know or maybe they just don’t care! Whatever the case may be, who’s at fault for this ignorance or uncaring attitude?
Well let’s put the blame ultimately where it belongs, on you. You some day will stand before your creator and you alone will be responsible for the way You lived your life, be it good or bad.
The profound ignorance of so-called intelligent people concerning spiritual truth is pitiable and deplorable, if not inexcusable. It is no exaggeration to declare that the great majority of the present or former members of religious organizations are either ignorant or confused as to God’s message of salvation, the Bible way from earth to heaven. And it is also true that the great majority of those who believe this message, who not only know the true way but are on that way, are equally ignorant and confused as to the believer’s position, membership, hope, and calling, in the true Bible Church. This is because they have little, if any, knowledge as to what the Bible teaches concerning the Church of the living God, the Body of Christ.
It is also evident that our theological schools are not training our clergy the truth of God’s word. The lack of Biblical understanding coming out of these theological schools is a big part of the apostasy taking place in our churches today. A lot of the problem in these schools is that according to surveys taken, a big part of the teaching faculty are not even Christian believers. Anyone who is not a Christian believer cannot be teaching others about God’s word, because they themselves do not understand spiritual things. 1 Corinthians 2:9-14: backs up the statement I just make: 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. If these teachers do not have God’s Holy Spirit, they will never be able to teach the deep spiritual truth of God’s Word, the Holy Bible.
So what about all the people graduating from these theological schools hoping to become part of the ministry? Do you think they will understand the deep spiritual thing of God? Impossible, unless they know Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior and take the initiative to study God’s Word according to 11 Timothy 2:15 which says: 15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. There is only a very small percentage of people who study God’s Word this way, and they are the ones who are looking for truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, whatever the truth happens to be.
Most, but not all of the ministers in our churches today are teaching a watered down message of salvation and other vital truths that need to be taught. They would prefer to teach a message that is not offensive to anyone, but more or less teach what the people want to hear, be it the truth or not. Most ministers teach that God is love (which is true), but don’t teach that our God who is all loving will also send anyone still in their sins when they die to hell. Most people do not want to believe or hear that our loving God would ever send anyone to hell.
Well, I am here to tell you what God really says in his Word, and God’s Word says many will end up in hell, because they did not believe the truth of God’s Word concerning salvation. The point is that even if you don’t believe God would send anyone to hell, it will not change the fact that, YES, God will send anyone to hell still in their sins when they die. I am not here to purposely offend anyone, but the truth must be told and understood that God will not compromise when it comes to sin. It must be paid for by the one and only one who has already paid for all sin, Christ Jesus, but you need to believe it. Acts 4:10-12: 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
So, is it possible for anyone to know for sure they will go to Heaven when they die? Absolutely, YES, YES, and Yes! Anyone can be a “know so” Christian believer if they desire to be one and know positively they will go to Heaven when they die.
What do the scriptures say concerning our salvation? 1 John 5: 11-13: 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These 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. Here we learn that God, the Father, wants His redeemed children to know that they have eternal life. They are to know this on the authority of God’s statements in the Bible, because they are trusting in Jesus Christ His Son and what He has done, what He is now doing, and what He is yet to do in the future.
Here is what Christ has already done for us: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” I Peter 3:18. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.
Then note what faith in Christ and His redemptive work accomplishes for the believer: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5.
“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39.
Then note the spiritual benefits which the believer enjoys because of the present ministry of the living Christ in heaven:
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:31 and 34.
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:5.
Therefore, on the authority of God’s Bible, every person who believes God’s Word and trusts God’s Son should say with confidence and positive assurance what John wrote in I John 3:2:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Here we read what believers are, and what they shall be. But let us never forget the statement in I Corinthians 1:29: “no flesh should glory in His presence.” Note how the greatest of all Christians stated this in Philippians 3:3—“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Note again Ephesians 2:9—“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
See how this statement is joined with other statements:
“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 2:7 to 10.
A great and blessed time is ahead for believers, saved by grace. True believers really believe Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work.”
If and when the believer, knowing that by nature he is unworthy and unrighteous, is saved by grace through faith in the redemptive work of the worthy Son of God, Jesus Christ the Righteous, he will not glory in his goodness, his religious activities, or in anything that he can do to help get him into heaven. He will know that he is going to heaven by grace, by faith in the work of another; that he is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. The believer is saved because he is the recipient of God’s grace; because eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23. Then he can say—“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
The true Bible Christian knows that it is an insult to God to try to make the redemptive work of Christ more efficacious by adding religious ceremonies or to endeavor by any human scheme or service to supplement the grace of God and the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note again carefully Romans 4:4 and 5: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
With such knowledge and with such an experience the believer can be ready, and should be ready, at all times to give an answer to anyone who asks him for a reason of the hope that is in him. This should be done with meekness and fear, but with absolute confidence, and positive assurance. In other words, when asked the question, “Are you saved?” or “Are you sure you are going to heaven?”, the person, who is trusting wholly and solely in the grace of God and in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, should answer humbly, but boldly, “Yes, by the grace of God and on the authority of God’s Word, I certainly am.” “These things are written that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
Note Titus 1:2 and the words of Jesus Christ, in John 6:47 and in John 5:24: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
JOINING THE CHURCH
Multitudes of unsaved religious individuals, for different reasons, have become members of some religious organization; have joined some organized company of people—a church. The Greek word translated “church” in the Bible is “ekklesia,” which means “called-out.” God’s Word thus instructs God’s “called-out” people—“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” Hebrews 10:25. God’s Word, in I Corinthians 14:23, mentions the church coming together. In Acts 14:27, we read that the church was gathered together. Therefore, by Scriptural authority, believers in different communities should gather in assemblies for worship and Bible preaching. But they should first be members of the one true Bible Church before they gather in an assembly with other believers for worship or Christian service. Many, many people who are members of some religious church organization are not members of the true Bible Church. Note the Bible description of the Bible Church of this present dispensation: “the Church which is His (Christ’s) Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22 and 23.
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12 and 13. Now let us carefully note how being joined to Christ and His Church is described in the Bible:
“Christ, from Whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15 and 16.
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the Body is not one member, but many.” I Corinthians 12:12 to 14.
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; So we, being many, are one Body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:4 and 5.
Believers are joined to Christ. Believers are joined to one another. Believers, by the work of God, are made members of Christ’s Body and the two shall be one flesh. This is the great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:32. Only God by the Holy Spirit can join the believer to the Bible Church.
Then note the future of the true Bible Church:
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27.
“When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4.
This should cause diligent, thoughtful, serious meditation and consideration on the part of every religious person who is hoping to get into heaven because of membership in some church organization, whether that person is enthusiastically and emotionally religious or an inactive and indifferent member.
This is a very serious and important matter, something that the individual can settle this side of death. But the sinner who dies unsaved will remain forever unsaved. So let each one ask of himself this question, “am I a member of the Body of Christ?” “have I been baptized by one Spirit into this organism, this one true Bible Church?” What a tragedy that multitudes of deceived, religious church-members are going religiously to perdition! The very moment any sinner today is saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that individual becomes a member of the one and only Bible Church, and this is accomplished without application to, or examination by, any group of church officers.
So in conclusion, don’t be a “Hope so” church member, but a “Know so” true Christian believer. When, or if you are asked the question, “will you go to Heaven when you die,” and if you have put your faith in Christ alone, you can say with complete and total confidence, YES, I WILL, I “KNOW SO” because I trust in the authority of God’s Word which tell me I will, and I believe it.
One last scripture I want to quote is from Ephesians 1:13-14 and this is one of my favorites: 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest (assurance) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. According to this scripture you are Heaven bound when you first believed the gospel of your salvation.
From a “know so” believer, have a good day.
Maranatha (Lord come)
John