Post by Johnny Gotham on May 1, 2005 1:03:19 GMT -5
From www.jesus-is-lord.com/iused2b.htm
No you didn't used to be a Christian. You simply deceived yourself for a while and now you finally see that you aren't one.
People write me and say, "Yeah, I used be a Christian. I even taught Sunday School but I woke up." Well, sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car and sitting in church doesn't make you a Christian. Knowing a couple of Bible stories doesn't make you a Christian either. Even Satan can quote you some scripture.
You see, most of these people have been DECEIVING themselves. Satan is a great trickster and he loves what the world calls "religious people". They work and work trying to get into God's good graces meanwhile never repenting of their sins and following Jesus Christ. The ONLY way to get in God's good graces is through Jesus Christ. Period. There is NO other way. If you don't go through Jesus you are nothing but a thief and a robber:
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber...I am the door.
Jesus Christ, John 10:1, 7
It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY that he saved us (ref. Titus 3:5).
The RELIGIOUS, unregenerate man is just as hellbound as any other sinner. You see he can fake himself out for a little while thinking he's a Christian, but it isn't sustainable in the long run. That is why they come in church, endure for a little while and drop out. They've been spinning their wheels in "service" to God and then they get tired of it. They don't have that Holy Ghost power because they have not been regenerated. They were "counterfeit" Christians. As John saith--
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Many who say "I used to be a Christian" NEVER really forsook this world. They may have quit certain habits (a form of will worship) but the world still remained deep in their affections--they still loved it, more than the Lord. The Bible reveals that they were enemies of the cross though they called themselves Christians--
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
For a man to reject this world is totally unnatural. It is supernatural. I used to love and crave this sick place and the crummy things it offered--crummy tv, crummy movies, crummy relationships, crummy philosophies, crummy thoughts, crummy aspirations, and crummy problems. I was deceived and accepted it all--like a dog eating vomit. I gave my honour unto others and my years to the cruel (ref. Proverbs 5:9). I let strangers devour my strength (ref. Hosea 7:9). But, bless God, in 1991, something happened. The Father drew me to the Lovely One, Jesus Christ. I didn't want this world anymore. I wanted Jesus and I wanted to please Him. I was saved by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost (and no, I wasn't babbling like a madman). I was born from above. The scales fell off of my eyes. The Father, the Son and Holy Ghost came in to live in me. Things will NEVER be the same. I have no desire whatsoever to return to the rudiments of this world. I will testify against it until the day I die. Jesus Christ is THE LORD and anyone who denies this fact is a liar and an antichrist:
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
"I used to be a Christian." Mmph. Most people who say this used to be deceiving themselves and now their true colors have finally come out. What they need to do is repent of a truth and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ confessing His name and doctrine and bowing down before Him in service.
No you didn't used to be a Christian. You simply deceived yourself for a while and now you finally see that you aren't one.
People write me and say, "Yeah, I used be a Christian. I even taught Sunday School but I woke up." Well, sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car and sitting in church doesn't make you a Christian. Knowing a couple of Bible stories doesn't make you a Christian either. Even Satan can quote you some scripture.
You see, most of these people have been DECEIVING themselves. Satan is a great trickster and he loves what the world calls "religious people". They work and work trying to get into God's good graces meanwhile never repenting of their sins and following Jesus Christ. The ONLY way to get in God's good graces is through Jesus Christ. Period. There is NO other way. If you don't go through Jesus you are nothing but a thief and a robber:
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber...I am the door.
Jesus Christ, John 10:1, 7
It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY that he saved us (ref. Titus 3:5).
The RELIGIOUS, unregenerate man is just as hellbound as any other sinner. You see he can fake himself out for a little while thinking he's a Christian, but it isn't sustainable in the long run. That is why they come in church, endure for a little while and drop out. They've been spinning their wheels in "service" to God and then they get tired of it. They don't have that Holy Ghost power because they have not been regenerated. They were "counterfeit" Christians. As John saith--
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Many who say "I used to be a Christian" NEVER really forsook this world. They may have quit certain habits (a form of will worship) but the world still remained deep in their affections--they still loved it, more than the Lord. The Bible reveals that they were enemies of the cross though they called themselves Christians--
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
For a man to reject this world is totally unnatural. It is supernatural. I used to love and crave this sick place and the crummy things it offered--crummy tv, crummy movies, crummy relationships, crummy philosophies, crummy thoughts, crummy aspirations, and crummy problems. I was deceived and accepted it all--like a dog eating vomit. I gave my honour unto others and my years to the cruel (ref. Proverbs 5:9). I let strangers devour my strength (ref. Hosea 7:9). But, bless God, in 1991, something happened. The Father drew me to the Lovely One, Jesus Christ. I didn't want this world anymore. I wanted Jesus and I wanted to please Him. I was saved by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost (and no, I wasn't babbling like a madman). I was born from above. The scales fell off of my eyes. The Father, the Son and Holy Ghost came in to live in me. Things will NEVER be the same. I have no desire whatsoever to return to the rudiments of this world. I will testify against it until the day I die. Jesus Christ is THE LORD and anyone who denies this fact is a liar and an antichrist:
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
"I used to be a Christian." Mmph. Most people who say this used to be deceiving themselves and now their true colors have finally come out. What they need to do is repent of a truth and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ confessing His name and doctrine and bowing down before Him in service.