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HEAVEN BOUND CHRISTIANS

    In the times when the word Christian was first used, it was used by non-Christian people in identifying those who followed Jesus and did as he had told them to do.  Today the word is used by anyone who has the knowledge of Jesus and wants what he came to give whether they are doing the things he commanded or not.  Calling oneself a Christian does not make it so.  It takes doing the things commanded by Christ, hence Christ-ian. Three out of four who hear the Gospel and receive it, do not make it into the kingdom according to the parable of the sower.

BEING CALLED AND CHOSEN ISN’T AN ETERNAL LIFE GUARANTEE
    Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
    God never changes his mind about a gift or a calling, but being called does not guarantee being chosen. 
    Mt 22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
    Being chosen does not guarantee eternal salvation either.
    Jn 6:70 Jesus answered them, have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
    Those who are with the Lord are also faithful.  Judas was not seeking God, but was following for the
benefits.  He wasn’t faithful to God, though God was faithful to him till the end.
    Rev 17:14 they that are with him [are] called, and chosen and faithful.
    Being faithful involves doing the things Jesus commanded when it isn't easy.  This faithfulness is seen through trials.

WE ARE ALL TRIED
    The trial is God’s way of shaking those things that can be shaken.  The things that remain are faithful.  The unfaithful will fall away while they are still servants and never receive the adoption of sons into the family of God.  Being in the house neither means that we are servants nor sons, but our heart determines which we are.  God even told Abraham, after his willingness to execute his only son, “Now I know thou lovest me”.  The only way to pass the trial by fire is to trust in God and have faith that he will bring us through it.  He might even take us out of it; but if he doesn’t, continue to have faith in him while in it.  The trial either strengthens our faith or reveals we have none.

    Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:
    1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
                though it be tried with fire,
    1Cor 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
                 yet so as by fire.
    Heb 12:26-27  Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven, signifying the
                removing of those things that are shaken.

            Why would our faith be tried if we could not lose it?  What is shaken if it isn’t our faith?  Because the crown of life comes to those who love the lord, and the lord knew Abraham loved Him after the trial of his faith, what would have happened if Abraham’s faith was not strong enough to slay his son?  Works gain us reward but faith gains us salvation.  If our works are burned, we have no reward.  What if our faith is burned in the fiery trial?  How can we have no faith and still be saved if it is faith that gains us salvation?

THE FIERY TRIAL 
    1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
    1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye
    1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed
    1Pe 4:17 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed
    1Pe 4:17 if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
    1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing

A PARABLE OF A LACK OF FAITH
        Mt 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart
    One has to be taught about the things of God before they can understand them.  If one does not seek, it will not happen.
    Mt 13:20-21 he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended
    Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
    Mt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved
    Mt 13:22 he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful
        2Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables

    Gal 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again  to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?   Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.
    1Tim 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan
    If these were on the wide path to destruction, they couldn’t turn aside after Satan, they would already be there.

    2Pe 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them
    2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
    These knew the way of righteousness, and that can only happen if one believes in it.  If they didn't believe, then they still wouldn't know the way of righteousness.  Bottom line, these were believers but only got to common salvation.

IN THE HOUSE BUT LOST
   (see House of God)

THOSE WHO DEPART
    2Pe 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them
    2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire
    2Thes 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
    1Pe 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
    These two verses concern those who know the gospel, not those who don’t.  It speaks of those who are in the house, not those who are outside it.  These believe in the gospel or they couldn’t be disobedient to it.  If they didn’t believe in it, they couldn’t be disobedient to it.  These are the disobedient children.
    Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
    Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
    Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience
    These are not the children of the devil because they wouldn’t be disobedient if that was the case.  They would be obeying their father, the devil.  Eph 5:8 lets us know who is being spoken to.  It is believers, the light of the world.  Yet in verse 7 they are warned not to be partakers with the children of disobedience.  Why?  Because, according to verse 5, those who follow their ways have no inheritance in the kingdom of God.  If they are partakers of their lifestyle, then they will be partakers of their end, receiving the wrath of God.  Now if they receive the wrath of God, they are not saved because the eternally saved have no sin to receive wrath for.  Verse 6 says that any man who says that this will not happen to them speaks with vain words.  Even though they are believers, if they live such a lifestyle, they are doomed.  The truly saved receive rebuke and chastisement, but not wrath for we are not appointed unto wrath. 
    Rom 1:8 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
    Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath
    Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
    Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?