There are many who claim to know Christ, but in the end the ONLY thing that matters is whether or not He will say that He knows us in the end. Think of all the people who you have once known in your past. Can you honestly say that you know them today, or would it be more accurate to say I once knew them? People change, and so do their circumstances, desires, and what they seek after in their lives. Like a straw blown in the wind, some people will shift from one place in life to another and it all depends on where their minds are focused. This is no different than with our walk in Christ, yet many will water down what Jesus truly expects from us, boast the claim that Jesus knows them, but either never having a true personal relationship with Jesus or walking away from the one they once had. It is true, no one can snatch us out of the Father's hand; however, with our freewill we can choose to wander off the narrow path Jesus spoke of and blindly find ourselves on the broad path that leads to eternal destruction.
Jesus told us plainly, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 The Lord also told us, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25 The many Jesus spoke of includes those who falsely believe that just making an initial commitment to follow Jesus is enough to gain eternal life in heaven. In doing so, they discount the true cost to have a real personal relationship with Jesus, the type of relationship where we follow Him daily surrendering our will to allow Him to do His will in our lives. Thus, this is what defines what a true personal relationship is with Christ. Jesus declared, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 He was not kidding when He said this!
Moreover, Jesus clarified what would happen to those who make an initial commitment to follow Him, and then step off of the narrow path and back onto the broad path that leads to eternal separation from Christ. Jesus explained, "The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature. But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:13-15 The Lord left nothing to the imagination here, you either cling to what you have heard and follow Him daily, or you go your own way and are disconnected from the true vine, Jesus! Where is your life, have you remained in the vine?
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:1-8
To conclude, the scriptures tell us, "Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant." Colossians 1:21-23 "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries." Hebrews 10:26-27
Jesus told us plainly, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 The Lord also told us, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25 The many Jesus spoke of includes those who falsely believe that just making an initial commitment to follow Jesus is enough to gain eternal life in heaven. In doing so, they discount the true cost to have a real personal relationship with Jesus, the type of relationship where we follow Him daily surrendering our will to allow Him to do His will in our lives. Thus, this is what defines what a true personal relationship is with Christ. Jesus declared, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 He was not kidding when He said this!
Moreover, Jesus clarified what would happen to those who make an initial commitment to follow Him, and then step off of the narrow path and back onto the broad path that leads to eternal separation from Christ. Jesus explained, "The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature. But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:13-15 The Lord left nothing to the imagination here, you either cling to what you have heard and follow Him daily, or you go your own way and are disconnected from the true vine, Jesus! Where is your life, have you remained in the vine?
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:1-8
To conclude, the scriptures tell us, "Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant." Colossians 1:21-23 "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries." Hebrews 10:26-27
