Then what am I supposed to do??? I've prayed over and over to God/Jesus, and you're saying that it was all for nothing? Plus I went to church innumerable times and went through Baptism and Confirmation and Confession, and you are saying it was all for nothing....???
These are legit points and questions. I hate to tell you this, but we're all facing a system that may very well be completely corrupt. Specifically, I am talking about nearly every Jesus-claiming system there is. As said, we are all facing this problem. We should all be concerned about what it is that we believe and why we believe each idea. The Bible is clear that there is only one Gospel, but what is that? Who even talks about it? Who identifies it? What classes are there in "churches" that even teach what the "Gospel" actually is? What church requires a person to take this class before they are allowed to become members?
Do you see my point? What if we haven't been taught the truth? Think about it: We don't get together and practice sharing the Gospel with each other. "Christians" aren't interested in practicing that "stuff."
So yes, when a person is involved in a cult, or an organization that shares many of the same features, all of the efforts would technically be "for nothing." And if that is true, then I have given you the opportunity to take my hand so that I can help you out of the pit. You have been given a chance to have the Veil pulled away so that you can finally respond the way you would like. But based upon your behavior, which is behavior that is consistently produced because of a Sinful Nature, it seems evident that you remain under that Adamic Curse, as do MOST people, including MOST who think they're genuine believers. The difference between you and most believers is that you realize the predicament that you're in, yet there are some who may have responded to you yet are living a more sinful life than you yourself. You, however, are waking up and recognizing your malady, the very struggle that Jesus left His Throne to come to Earth and help us with this problem.
Look . . . the Gospel Saving Plan revolves around the main ideas. They are:
1) The Purpose of Christ
2) The Work of Christ
3) The Effect of Christ
If we can't talk about these main ideas, then we don't really understand the actual Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is the Purpose of Christ? To Redeem people of their sins and be the Holy Path to follow that leads us into a Right relationship with the Father.
For there to be a Purpose to Christ, there must also be actions involved. This brings us to the Work of Christ. In other words, what does Jesus do to get us to the point where we are made Right with the Father? Jesus has four primary Works. They are:
1) Circumcises the heart of all "stone," "hardness," "corruption," etc. This is the cutting away of the Sinful Nature. It is also known as being released from the captivity of the Devil. Col 2:9-15 states that this act of Christ takes us from Spiritual death to Spiritual Life. That seems critical to have been taught.
2) Jesus grants the ability to "Turn" and Repent. This choice which becomes an action, is an intellectual tool that we are given and exercise. Unless Repentance is granted, we will say that we have Repented, yet the habitual structure of our sin proves that we have not.
3) Jesus sends the gift of the Holy Spirit as an Effectual lead and guide. With the Holy Spirit Indwelling His Elect, those Children of the Lord will be caused to change, for we will learn to reflect the Glory of God more and more . . . and this is beyond our control.
4) Jesus's Life, death, and Holy Resurrection are vital, as believing in Jesus and the Power that raised Him from the dead is necessary for Salvation. The Faith we have been given through Circumcision of heart, Repentance, and the Effectual Holy Spirit, these three miracles bring any person who has received them, a changed life. Those who have received these four Works of Christ cannot remain the same. They are set free, and will thus begin changing and Transforming.
Why don't you hear people ranting and raving over how God has changed them? When people only see each other at church on Sunday mornings, why don't they rant and rave about how the Lord is changing them beyond their own Power? Why aren't we talking about these miracles that we all read about in the Bible? It is because most people have not undergone this Spiritual Work that I have outlined above. How do we know? Easy . . . there is a Holy Effect to the Work of Christ.
The fact that a person is guaranteed to change by the Power of God, yet very few ever improve in their sinful lives, tells at least me that the "church" has a major problem. Right, when you and I attend church, the likelihood of you standing next to genuine Christians is slight at best. But again, this is not necessarily their fault, nor is it necessarily the fault of the pastors? Most of us believe that we're all in the right faith system. Can we help what we believe? There is no coolaide to drink if we want to question our faith. We aren't threatened with death should we leave, yet we still blindly believe what our ears receive. Well . . . this has been happening for centuries, meaning that our beliefs are being handed down to us. Are we really studying the Bible upon our own effort, to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to teach us the Story of God?
Maybe it is the evidence of you waking up to your sinful condition that places you well ahead of nearly everyone around you. Maybe it is you who is currently on a higher mountain than most of those around you, for your view seems to be from a bit of a higher plane.
