Truly SAVED -- or Truly DECEIVED?

This blog entry is for those who profess to be Christians -- those who claim CHRIST JESUS as their LORD and Savior, those who say they believe in GOD the Father-Almighty Creator, those who think they are Holy SPIRIT-regenerated and indwelled, born-again children of GOD.

i myself thought i was saved in 2003. i claimed CHRIST JESUS as my heroic Savior (my Knight in shining armor) who rescued me from the evil dragons of life. i proudly labeled myself Christian, not knowing what that meant, then i proceeded to sanctify my own self with much self-effort, which was a doomed endeavor from the onset. Was i truly saved or truly deceived in 2003? i don't know. But last year i got the fullest sense that i am indeed truly saved -- the Holy SPIRIT granted me assurance of my salvation, for the SPIRIT Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of GOD. (Romans 8:16)

GOD providentially provided many sources to make me aware of the reality that false converts abound. From Ray Comfort's Hell's Best-Kept Secret and True and False Conversion, to Paul Washer's "Shocking Youth Sermon," to John Piper's Desiring GOD Resource Library and his sermons on "Christian Hedonism," John MacArthur's Study Bible and his verse by verse exposition on the First Epistle of John (Grace To You) and C. H. Spurgeon -- the "prince of preachers -- making much of CHRIST.

The following are excerpts from John MacArthur's book Saved Without a Doubt.

Jonathan Edwards concluded in A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections that the supreme proof of true conversion is a zeal for holy things and a longing after GOD and personal holiness -- "holy affections." He wrote, "As the principle evidence of life is motion, so the principle evidence of saving grace is holy living."

The New Testament's First Epistle of John was written specifically for professing Christians: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of GOD, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

The Epistle is a series of tests to determine whether the professing Christian truly possesses eternal life. MacArthur, from his expositional sermons on 1 John, posed the following questions as a means to test the professing Christian so that he (or she) may examine his salvation and be assured that he is "Saved Without a Doubt." So test your spirit -- may you pass with triumphant hallelujahs!

Have you enjoyed fellowship with CHRIST and the Father?

We have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and His Son JESUS CHRIST. (1 John 1:2-3)

Are you presently enjoying communion with the living GOD and the living CHRIST? Do you sense His presence? Do you have a love for Him that draws you to His presence? Have you experienced the exhilarating joy of talking to the living GOD through prayer? Does the Holy SPIRIT continually illumine new truths to you through the reading of His Word?

Are you sensitive to sin?

GOD is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JESUS, His Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)

Do you realize that to have a true relationship with GOD, you have to live a holy life -- that you can't walk in darkness and claim fellowship with Him? Are you willing to confess and forsake any sin in your life as you become aware of it? Do you realize you can now choose not to sin? Like the apostle Paul (Romans 7:14-25) -- are you weary of the burden of sin in your flesh?

Do you obey GOD's Word?

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1 John 2:3)

Do you desire to obey the Word out of gratitude for all CHRIST has done for you? Do you obey GOD's commandments not only out of reverence for Him as Almighty Creator, but also out of love and delight in JESUS?

Do you reject this evil world?

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15) All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:16)

The "world" is today's system encompassing false religions, errant philosophies and damning ideologies, crime, immorality, materialism, godless living, vain pursuits. Do such things repel you? Instead, do you love GOD, His truth, His kingdom, and all that He stands for?

Do you eagerly await CHRIST's return?

Dear friends, now we are children of GOD, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord JESUS CHRIST, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

Is your blessed hope and supreme joy found in seeing CHRIST JESUS face-to-face at His return and being made like Him? Does your hope of Christlikeness compel you to act more like CHRIST in reaching out to others and fulfilling all that GOD has set out for you to do? Do you find yourself longing for the return of CHRIST?

Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life?

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of GOD appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

No one who is born of GOD practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of GOD. By this the children of GOD and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:4-10)

Do you see a new pattern of holy affections (love for the things of GOD) in your life? Though you are still in the flesh and therefore not sinless, do you sin less -- do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? Do you practice righteousness (even if imperfectly) -- righteous motives, righteous desires, righteous words, righteous deeds? Do you see victory over sin in your life?

Do you love other Christians?

By this the children of GOD and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:14-16)

JESUS said, By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

Do you characteristically love other believers? Do you have a desire to reach out and meet their needs? Do you sacrifice your time, treasures and talents for other believers? Do you intercede in prayer for those in need? Do you enjoy fellowshiping, studying the Word and praying with the brethren? Do you see the love of GOD in your life through your words and actions to others?

Do you experience answered prayer?

Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:22)

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

You know you are a believer if GOD answers your prayers. The only way that can happen is if you keep His commandments, and the only way you can do that is if you belong to Him. Answered prayer is evidence that GOD hears you, which is evidence that you live in Him and He in you.

Have you had your prayers answered? Is that a pattern of life for you?

Do you experience the ministry of the Holy SPIRIT?

By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His SPIRIT. (1 John 4:13)

Do you experience the SPIRIT illuminating Scripture to you so that when you read the Word, its meaning is clarified to you? Does He convict you when you're sinful? Is your life manifesting the fruit of the SPIRIT (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)? Has He enabled you to minister to others? Has the SPIRIT drawn you into fellowship with GOD through prayer and praise?

Can you discern between spiritual truth and error?

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from GOD, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the SPIRIT of GOD: every spirit that confesses that JESUS CHRIST has come in the flesh is from GOD; and every spirit that does not confess JESUS is not from GOD; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

When you are exposed to the false teachings of cults (Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, etc.) which attack the Person of CHRIST and then postulate a substitute or addition to the Bible (Science and Health with Keys to the Scriptures, The Book of Mormons, or The Pearl of Great Price) -- can you discern their lies with the enablement of your resident truth Teacher in the Person of the Holy SPIRIT? Has the SPIRIT of GOD convinced you about salvation through faith in CHRIST alone and the veracity of the Scripture?

Have you suffered rejection because of your faith?

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)

Have you experienced animosity, hostility, rejection, bitterness, alienation, ostracism, prejudice, or outright persecution from representing and advocating what is right?

John MacArthur formulated the above questions from the apostle John's tests, as given in his first epistle. A true believer may receive a Biblical basis for confidence in his salvation if he can answer truthful affirmatives to the tests posed in 1 John -- so you may know that you have eternal life... (1 John 5:13) Saved without a doubt -- possessing 14-karat faith!

As for me, i can truthfully and gratefully say "YES" to the questions above, and further evidence of my salvation are the joy and delight that the Holy SPIRIT has poured out into my heart so that i am loving JESUS with more experiential abandon and heartfelt sincerity. Today, by the work of the Holy SPIRIT in magnifying the LORD in my spirit -- CHRIST is my ever precious Treasure, my ultimate Joy and everlasting Delight.

In Memory -- THELMA BOBO

Friends are GOD's way of taking care of His family...

Thelma Bobo was GOD's way of befriending many to Himself. He blessed many a soul, including me, with our "Momma Bobo" -- a grand lady who generously shared her chocolates and opened up her heart to all with endearing warm hugs and quickness of wit: a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

Yesterday evening, on Momma's day of stepping forward into the precious Presence of GOD -- Ann, Gloria, Sarah and i celebrated her glorious entry into Paradise, by experiencing a glorious sunset at the shores of Imperial Beach. What unsurpassed joy and incomprehensible peace did our Father in Heaven impart to us as He painted the skies with fiery colors that only He can create. Our hearts exulted in jubilant unison -- Bless the LORD, oh my soul!

Thelma Bobo, daughter of GOD...forevermore! (click on her name for her candid video interview)

A poem -- in memory of Thelma Bobo,

our blessed "Momma"

BE STILL, OH MY SOUL

Be still, oh my soul, rest assured

in the satisfying peace of the LORD's embrace.

For as in the eye of this hurricane called life --

There is steadfast calm and sure safety

in the center of GOD's will.

Praise the LORD, oh my soul! Taste and see

that He is infinitely good and indescribably lovely.

Delight, oh my soul, in the LORD JESUS.

For He is the Key who unlocks

the everlasting fountain of joy

that opens to blessed eternal contentment!

Mortify, oh my soul, this prison of flesh

so that the Life of my LORD JESUS

may shine forth in radiant splendor --

that He may reign supreme

over this unredeemed body of death.

Starve this flesh by emphatically denying

this world's array of empty fast-food junk --

all unsatisfactory morsels for the new creation within.

Nourish, rather, the wholesome fruit of the SPIRIT.

Be replete and fully satiated

with the transforming Word of GOD.

Trust in the LORD in all ways always,

Lean not at all on my own understanding;

but in all my ways, i gladly surrender!

Let CHRIST be my faithful Compass

as i sojourn briefly on this earth --

leading and directing me as my Good Shepherd,

caring with all power and tenderhearted mercies

this nearsighted sheep that i am.

Bless the LORD, oh my soul!

All that is within me, bow down before Him

and reverence His holy name!

Rejoice evermore! Rejoice -- come rain or shine,

stormy skies or double rainbows.

Dance, oh my soul, in joyful abandon --

for JESUS is more than enough!

Joy in the LORD -- forevermore!

IN MEMORY OF John AKO and Patricia (PERRY)

John AKO became a good friend of mine at work -- everyone liked him! He was a hard-working young man, who also attended Grossmont College and played drums at his church (St. Luke's Episcopal Church). He was always ready to greet me with a ready smile on his face. Never did i hear a complaint from him about standing up the whole eight hours at work. He worked patiently and diligently, and he got along well with the other men working with him. Jose told me today that he misses Ako -- we all do!

i liked the foreign uniqueness of John's name, so i called him Ako -- and i felt a special kinship with him because i too lived in Africa for a few years. Because he is my brother In CHRIST, i sympathized with his family's plight -- escaping from southern Sudan, which is torn by civil war and CHRISTian persecution.

It was very difficult not to feel a sorrowful ache at seeing the vacant emptiness of Ako's work area, for when i would look up from my sewing machine, i couldn't help but see him as he was usually in my line of vision.

Ako was a very special person to me. The t-shirt i painted for him reflected his ongoing relationship with JESUS -- All things i can do through CHRIST who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

This was Patricia's rLn original -- she hadn't yet worn it to work...

Patricia -- though we called her "Perry" -- was also a very special woman to me as she went to my church and she was my sister In CHRIST. We were family! When she showed up at work on her first day, i thanked GOD for the blessing of sending a CHRISTian sister to me... who even goes to the same church!

Perry and i would hug every morning (real bear hugs...none of that stiff European stuff!) and share goodies. We usually lined up together to clock out, then i'd drive her and Maia to the trolley station, where she would always rush out of the car to race to her bus.

So to go to work Monday and not see her cheerful face wrung my heart -- then to discover that Ako was also gone was almost too much to bear.

But yet because Ako and Perry were my family In CHRIST, my sorrow was tempered by the Reality that they were already in Heaven with our LORD JESUS. They were in His Presence, enjoying His glory and majesty! No more 8-hour "nine-to-five" -- no more dealing with this fallen world... no more tears, no more pain -- no more sin! Hallelujah!

We are here still -- left behind to experience the pangs of missing them. And yet rejoicing, for those of us who are JESUS' own -- we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called, according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

As for me -- i am strengthened in the knowledge that GOD is Sovereign GOD. He is all-powerful, all-wise and in all ways always good. His thoughts and His ways are beyond man's comprehension, for how can the finite understand the Infinite? And shall the clay say to the Potter, "why did You shape me this way?" or shall the canvas say to the Master Artist, "don't paint me with those dark pigments -- i only want the rosy colors"?

i will say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will i trust Him." (Job 13:15)

my Daily Delight: Magnifying CHRIST JESUS

Oh, MAGNIFY The LORD with me, and LET us EXALT His Name together! Oh, taste and see that The LORD is GOOD! BLESSED (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who takes refuge IN Him! (see Psalm 34)

LET those who DELIGHT in His Righteousness shout for JOY and be GLAD and say EVERmore, "GREAT is The LORD, who delights in the welfare of His servant!" DELIGHT yourself IN The LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 35; 37)

WHY do i DELIGHT IN JESUS? WHY is He MOST Precious to me? WHY is He THE Treasure of my life and THE Passion of my heart?

Because HE DIED for me...while i was YET a TRULY wretched SINner.

Because HE bore ALL my SINs upon Himself and imputed (credited/attributed) to me HIS OWN Righteousness. HIS shed BLOOD cleansed and washed away my FILTHY rags of SELF-Pride, SELF-Righteousness and SELF-Sufficiency. HE made me a NEW creature -- with a NEW Heart -- BORN AGAIN of The SPIRIT of GOD.

Because HE is breathtakingly beauty-FULL -- His Countenance INdescribably attractive and ALL-together lovely (even though the prophet Isaiah said that -- in His earthly Incarnation -- the Servant-King had "nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him). Because HE has INfinite Compassion and UNfathomable TENDERness. Because HE is ALLmighty, utterly POWERful beyond man's comprehension. Because HE is faith-FULL and TRUE -- HE canNOT EVER lie and will NOT EVER break His promises. Because HE made PEACE between The FATHER and me.

Because HE IS GOOD...Perfect and Wholesome in ALL ways -- always -- forEVER and EVER more!

Because HE (with The FATHER) sent the Holy SPIRIT to be my Comforter, Counselor, Helper. HE intercedes for me. HE prays those prayers i cannot utter. HE orchestrates and causes ALL things to work together for my BEST -- not just the good enough. HIS Righteous Right Arm guards me from harm...from that father of lies, that utterly evil one. HE emPOWERs and equips me to do the work that my heavenly FATHER has ordained to accomplish through me. HE gives me DAILY Provision. HE sustains and nourishes me in each moment...breath to breath to breath.

Because HE FULLY accomplished the work of saving sinners like me. i OWE Him my ALL. HE obeyed The FATHER's Plan of SALVATION -- even the DEATH on the Cross. HE gave up His Majesty and Glory with The FATHER by HUMBLING Himself -- becoming human, born into poor surroundings, REJECTED by His own. HE who had EVERY thing... HE who was the apple of His FATHER's eye, Who was in His FATHER's bosom in PERFECT ONENESS and HOLY Intimacy, for Whom the whole Creation was made -- HE gave up ALL to prove The FATHER's LOVE for the world. JESUS DIED to exemplify TRUE AGAPE-LOVE.

Because without CHRIST's completed work on the cross, i would STILL be part of the Walking DEAD -- living a pointless, meaningless, EMPTY life! i would STILL be captive to this illusion of being alive, yet never quickened to TRUE Life. Without JESUS' Good News, i cannot call GOD my FATHER -- my Heavenly DAD; but only tremble in fear of His WRATH in the coming Day of JUDGMENT. Without CHRIST's gift of ETERNAL Life, i would be RESURRECTED in a physical ETERNAL Hell.

But i REJOICE and EXULT IN CHRIST JESUS my LORD -- my Savior, my Friend, my Good Shepherd -- GOD of my life. HE goes before me in ALL things -- even death... and grants me VICTORY over death with His promise of BODILY Resurrection. For as HE Himself defeated the grave, SO HE GIVES LIFE! in the Heavenlies to those who BELIEVE (trust in JESUS' sinLESS Life, His atoning BLOOD shed on the Cross, His Resurrection from the Dead) and willingly OBEY and FOLLOW Him, even to the uttermost parts of the earth.

My very real DELIGHT is IN JESUS, the Person who is GOD. HE is the ultimate Husband -- NEVER disappointing, ALL-ways Faithful and True. My TRUE joy is IN CHRIST -- there is NO thing, NO person, who can fulfill ALL my needs and desires. Oh, reader, DELIGHT also IN The LORD JESUS, and HE will make your heart OVERflow with DELIGHT as you delight in HIS delights.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together!