The reality is that many who claim to be "Christian" have never been born again, this is why we see them walking away, nothing changes in their actions or attitudes and they even fight to defend their sin. We experience in our country a "psudo-Christianity" based on cultural standards, we are seeing even this diminish as the culture becomes more and more rebellious while being rewarded for their rebellion.
Matthew 7:21-23 is quite clear on this matter of "false conversion."
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
God says we shall know them by their fruit or lack of fruit:
Matthew 7:17 "…16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…"
What is this fruit we are suppose to see? It's not works, it is clearly evident, that the fruit are character qualities, the very nature of God, although imperfect in our flesh, perfect in the Holy Spirit that lives in us.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
When we see an arrogance demonstrating a superiority to others on a sustained level continually, it is quite likely that the person we are watching is not born again.
No one who has been delivered from their sinful nature will be deeply prideful, they know from whence they came. Even though they no longer feel shame because they have been forgiven, they are deeply aware of the depth at which Christ went to save us and are grateful, leaving no room for superiority or self aggrandizement.
2 Timothy 3:2-3 "1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,…"
Self righteous people love to negate and mock those they feel superior to, they cannot see their own flaws and become enraged when anyone attempts to show them. Spiritual and emotional growth is not possible in those who elevate themselves. It is only serious discipline that may bring them to the end of themselves, causing them to seek Christ when their own strength is no longer working for them.
Those who will not submit to God no matter how much misery their own life has brought, are the ones who end up in the fires of hell. They are the ones who will be gnashing their teeth in anger as they are thrown into the fires. Such arrogance doesn't save them, it doesn't do anything for them, but they will do it anyway because the stubbornness is so great they will rage at the Holy God that made them and Who can destroy them, simply to "feel" powerful, even though they have no power, I call this irrational.
How do we spell......foolishness and arrogance! It gets them nothing, even worse it gets them hell, but they will remain as they are, even knowing their demise is in progress.
The only hope for these rebellious types is to pray that the Lord bring about circumstances that help them see themselves in truth. The only way we can repent is if we can admit what we are and that we are hopeless without Christ.
Often in our culture the idols are not statues but the idol of self is prominent for the discerning to be able to see. And even more than that, God sees it all, even if people do not.
1 Corinthians 8:5-7 "…5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.…"
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