"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48 KJV)
"Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any man wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."" (Mark 8:34-38 NLT)
Unlike the rest, whoever or whomever, the rest might be, each of us are accountable for our own way of understanding and following God's word. If someone misleads you, they will be punished, most likely more than you, but you will also be held accountable for your own beliefs. We must read and study God's word ourselves, proving those things we are told, whether they are true or not.
That said, there are things that are debatable, and people might disagree on; but when to comes to the path of salvation, there is only One way that we are saved, and that is by the blood of Jesus Christ! No matter who might be speaking, works do not save people, no matter how hard they might work, it does not count, unless you have already been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ!
This is not something that can be debated, because without having been washed by the blood of Christ, all the works we think might be good, are really just filthy rags in God's eye! (Isaiah 64:6) What we do after we have been saved, that is a totally different story. Then we are governed by the love of God!
Much like that two-edged sword illustration, that cuts both ways, we are responsible for the love we live out, both towards God and through God! In other words, it is the love we have towards God that gives us the strength to love Him as we should, or at least try our very best; and it is God's love that lives in us that helps us to love others as we should.
These are the works that matter, as they are powered by God's love, both ways, up and down; we love Him, and He loves through us! We are just a vessel for God to work through, a humble servant that is meant to be used and subject to God's commands. I know that some people might not like how that sounds, but it is pretty much cut and dry, the way that it has to be!
Yesterday I heard a very small portion of a message, but it was enough to remind me what real love looks like. Not sure what the topic was, but I am pretty sure it was a Valintine message for women that might think they are in love. The portion that I heard, had to do with the woman that has a boyfriend who wants to have sex with her before they are married. The pastor said, as clear as day, that she must realize that the man she wants to marry, really does not love her, because love is patient, and if he really loved her, he would wait!
How many people do you think might follow that rule today? It cuts both ways, in this day and age...
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. If does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)
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