How would you explain the difference between sheep and
goats to someone who is unfamiliar with either animal? (Consider Matthew
25:31-34) Think about it: Goats smell bad, but sheep don’t smell good. Sheep
have split hooves, and so do goats. Goats have horns, and so do sheep. If they
have horns, sheep horns are wide and curl on loops around the head and goat
horns are narrower and upright. Sheep have wool, and so do goats. Sheep grow
wool that must be sheared in the domesticated breeds, and goats have hair that
does not have to be sheared or combed. Sheep do not have beards and some sheep
have manes, and some goat breeds have beards. Sheep are bulkier than goats and
goats are thinner than sheep. Sheep have long hanging tails that are usually
cut short for sanitary reasons, and a goat has a short tail that usually points
up. Sheep have a divided upper lip that is very noticeable, and goats do not.
Both animals butt heads, but a sheep backs away and then charges while a goat
stands up on his hind legs and comes down with force. Sheep prefer grass and
clover, and goats prefer shrubs, leaves, and twigs. Sheep prefer to stick with
the flock while goats tend to be more independent and curious; on the other
hand, a sheep likes quiet solitude whereas a goat likes a whirlwind of
activity.
One especially noteworthy characteristic of goats is
that a goat is the more religious animal; goats spend more time on their knees
keeping up an appearance of piety than any other animal. Being more religious
does not necessarily mean being more spiritual or closer to the truth; it often
means the opposite.
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am
known of mine.” (John 10:14) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me.” (John 10:27)
Why are there warnings in the Epistle of Hebrews and
other New Testament Epistles about the importance of chequing yourself to be
sure you are saved? The New Testament Epistles were addressed to professed
believers and among professed believers are those who are yet unsaved but
believe they are saved, and the church ought to be reaching out to unsaved
church members as well as the unchurched instead of always assuming that every
profession of faith is genuine. (Matthew 13:24-30)
While there may be occasions in which a child of God
may have doubts about salvation, this probably does not happen as often as
supposed. Many professed believers have doubts about their salvation simply
because they are not saved, and many unregenerate professors of faith are
convinced that they are saved because they believe myths, misconceptions, and
unscriptural theories about salvation. Many believe they are saved merely
because they had a religious experience, but a religious experience does not necessarily
mean salvation. You can bathe and brush your teeth religiously (and you
should), but this won’t save you from Hell. It worries me when someone says
they were so young that they don’t remember much about the experience: For one
thing, if you had an experience that you don’t remember much about then you
didn’t have much of an experience. Many refer to certain works or ceremonies as
the reason to believe they are saved, but this tends to indicate the opposite:
Salvation is a personal experience with Jesus Christ and is through the
finished work of Calvary, not the shed blood of Jesus Christ and additional
supplements. (John 3:13-16; Acts 2:21; 10:43; Romans 4:5; 5:1-2,8-11; I
Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:17-18; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5-6; Hebrews
5:9; I Peter 1:3; I John 5:20)
What about religious experiences or spiritual gifts
manifested after salvation, doesn’t that confirm salvation? Not necessarily.
Keep in mind that if your religious or spiritual experience does not make you
love more and have a burden for lost souls that is a good sign that you are on
the wrong track and need to do some prayerful self-examination.
Did you repent? (Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:3) Many
describe a salvation experience that did not include repentance, which
indicates that they are not saved. A mere belief without genuine repentance is
not saving faith. (Acts 3:19; also consider Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 55:6-7; 57:15;
66:2) Faith and repentance can be described as the two sides of the same coin,
as they are inseparable; repentance is the turning from sin to God, and faith
is the turning to Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) for salvation. (Acts 20:21) Repentance
is necessary for salvation; it is the effective agent for forgiveness and
remission of sins through the power of the cross. Saving faith is repentant
faith. (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30-31; I Corinthians 1:17; II
Corinthians 7:10)
In which Jesus did you believe and how do you describe
Jesus Christ? Faith always has an object and the proper object of saving faith
is Jesus Christ, and more specifically, the Jesus Christ Who is presented in
Scripture. (John 3:13-16; I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 11:4; I Timothy
2:5; I John 4:2-3; II John7)
Was there a change in your life? (II Corinthians 5:17;
Titus 2:11-12)
Do you practice sin less than before? (I John 3:3-6)
Do you know that you are a child of God? “For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14-16) Many
believe they are saved because they said a certain prayer and they have more
faith in the sincerity of that prayer than they have in Jesus Christ. When you
pray for salvation, you should repent and believe in Jesus Christ and pray for
his mercy and grace until God touches you and you KNOW you are a child of God.
If you have doubts about salvation you should go to
Jesus as a lost sinner seeking salvation. What if you go to Jesus for salvation
and don’t need to? God will forgive you. It would be better to seek salvation
and not need it than to finish this life hoping in a counterfeit salvation.
The problem is often a result of wrong directions to
lost sinners. Note that in Acts 16:30-32 Paul and Silas responded to the
jailer's question by leading the jailer and his household to Jesus Christ.
Multitudes neglect the issue of salvation altogether, and multitudes of
unregenerate feel assured of salvation, because of improper directions. All too
often someone is assumed to be saved, even assured that he is saved, because of
works and appearances. For example, in many religious circles someone is often assumed
to be born again if he merely says a repeat-after-me prayer, affirms some basic
truths, and decides to live right; this does not necessarily mean that he was
convicted over sin, that he genuinely repented, that he knows he cannot save
himself, that he has a personal experience with Jesus Christ, or that he even
knows which God and Savior to whom he should pray. In many cases there was no
genuine conversion, but merely a yielding to pressure from concerned friends or
relatives or acting in accord with myths or misconceptions about God and
salvation. When such people "backslide," losing what they never had,
they are likely to assume that Christianity is vanity or meaningless. Preachers
and lay members alike need to remember that we all have an obligation to spread
the Gospel, but regeneration is an act of God (not man). We must be careful
that we are directing people to genuine salvation.
Charo Washer's Testimony - Paul Washer's Wife
True Repentance Will Lead to Salvation
What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?
What does it mean to be chastened?
Skip navigation Search Create Avatar image PAUL WASHER on Examining the Sinners Prayer
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