"A. Admit
B. Believe
C. Call Upon the Lord"
If someone does not first admit their sinfulness they cannot become born again. The last two things cannot happen, believe and calling on the Lord, when there is no confession of sin.
Many people who claim to be Christians act as though they think they are special, exuding an attitude of superiority while demeaning and mocking others who do not think as they do, demonstrates that they have never been broken over their sinfulness.
These same people tend to exact revenge upon those who might question their attitudes and behavior, to help them see the need for repentance. They are harder to reach than a non-believer because they have such an elevated view of their own importance and specialness.
I once heard a Bible school graduate proclaim that his sins were not as bad as the sins of others. I know his sins, they were worse in many ways than others before they became born again.
If someone cannot admit how sinful they were before they were a Christian, could never have been broken over their sinful nature, they merely decided to join the Christian church believing that joining this club that makes them appear better would be their salvation, or perhaps they felt they would live a better life if they made the decision to stop their sin. One who comes to the church in this way, cannot be born again. They remain living in their own flesh attributing their better deeds to their own effort, therefore they deserve praise for their life, as though it is all up to them.
Believing in Christ does not mean we know in our mind, it means we know He paid the price for our sin and want Him to save us from our sins and from hell. This is when Christ will come to dwell in us and do the work of cleansing throughout our lives.
There are many people who come to Christ believing they deserve praise from God rather than them praising God for His mercy. These people think they have done God a favor deciding to accept Him. I have witnessed the mentality in many that believe once they have allowed God in their life they now become His commander, He must do everything they want. They stick their thumbs in their suspenders and strut around as though God owes them something.
Sadly, these people have little reverence for God or others, they are superior to God as well as superior to everyone else too. How we treat others is an indicator of our view of God.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…"
When we are humble, knowing how depraved we were when Christ saved us, there can be no sense of superiority toward anyone. To demonstrate superiority is a very strong clue that we have not become humbled toward God. Therefore it is also a clue that we never were born again.
Another clue that someone engaged in a superficial salvation based on their own decision to do better in life, is that they have no tolerance for instruction or correction from those who may know their violations of the Word, or those they perceive to be lesser than they.
We encounter this all the time, those who have been "ordained" by man, walk in a deep pride because of their level of education, as though education administered by man has greater weight than the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a humble believer.
A grandiose mentality of superiority is a sure sign of a deep spiritual problem. These people make rules and exude expectations that God never did, while claiming someone is less spiritual because they do not follow their rules.
Satan has infiltrated the church with his minions to bring arrogance, confusion and division among the brethren. There is no better way to frustrate and divide believers than to make them think they are better than others while others are not worthy of respect.
The truly born again believers will seek out scripture to find the truth when challenged. They will not see every challenge as hatred or an attempt to rule over them, but will receive the message gratefully and resolve it through prayer and scripture study.
A rebellious pretender will fight, argue and turn others against their target, the one who has challenged them. They will lie against anyone who will not allow them to control them, turning others who will listen against the one who brings truth.
If these pretenders cannot make you mind, they will attempt to convince your spouse or children to reject you, so that you are left without allies. When we discover this is happening, we must get those people away from us and our spouse, they have the potential to destroy the believer who desires only to walk closely with God.
Satan has his devils everywhere, in every gathering now, if he cannot control us, he will convince others to come against us, and for no reason at all except that we will not accept his lies.
The warning is clear, allow no one in your life or the life of your spouse, who is working to turn your spouse against you. It doesn't matter if they are successful or not, it only matters that they wish to cause turmoil and hate in your life. Get away from them.
2 Timothy 3
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