Check this out. God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Think about that for a moment. That means destruction is in the future of Christians who do not know whatever it is that they should know. Imagine that.
Let’s say that you know a Christian who is unaware of Luke 13:22-28, John 8 35-37, Ephesians 4:20-24, and Hebrews 10:26. How can you tell? You can tell because wisdom is proven by her actions. For example, anyone can say that they are a Christian, but few know that it means that we “follow Jesus Christ” (disciples, Acts 11:26), and all who follow Jesus Christ, come out of darkness (John 8:12, 1 John 2:8-11). Therefore, the evidence that you are following Christ is not that you are in church every time the doors are open, or that you give, or that you sing in the choir, or even preach, but the evidence is that you no longer walk in darkness.
Just by knowing that little bit of information, a person who has been content with going through the motions (playing Christian) will in the least have a moment of clarity and an opportunity to repent of the past. In that way, the truth will set them free from continuing in sin (John 8:31-38, Romans 1:28-32). Knowledge can bring about change. On the other hand, if they reject that knowledge, it is the same as hardening their heart (refusing to change). In such cases, the Word sown will be taken (Matthew 13:18-21) and their understanding will again be darkened (Ephesians 4:17-19).
Some might be thinking that we are all children of God in accordance with 1 John 3:1-2, and rightly so. However, destruction awaits those who do not fulfill that “hope” in accordance with 1 John 3:3. There are people who minister for the money and fame that will actually show you 1 John 3:1-2 without even the slightest mention of the rest of 1 John chapter 3. Read the verses below and know why deceivers only use the first two verses in telling you what you want to hear.
1 John 3:1-11
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. NKJV
Verse 3 above identifies verses 1 and 2 as “a hope,” which is very much in line with Romans 8:24 and Romans 13:11. Notice also that everyone with this hope living on the inside of them purifies themselves. In order to purify ourselves in this way we would have to follow the instructions (obey the teaching) in keeping with 1 Peter 1:22-25, which describes it as obeying the truth and becoming born again through the Word. Check it before you speak please. Also notice how verses 3 through 10 of 1 John 3 above, totally change the whole meaning of the passage. It takes it from “everybody” being a child of God to identifying those who are sons of the devil. Knowledge of those scriptures can bring about change.
Now you know why you will never hear verses 3 thru 10 above on any Christian program in the USA today. Since there are many more people among those who seek to enter the Kingdom of God that will not be able to enter it than those who do not avoid verses like these (Luke 13:22-28), there is a greater earthly reward for not preaching the Word; more money! The love of money is the root of that evil. Wisdom is proven by her actions.
It’s kind of like a majority rule sort of thing. Most Christians who seek to enter the Kingdom of God will not be able to enter it because they never come to know Jesus Christ in accordance with what is written (Luke 13:22-28). They will hear “away from Me, I never knew you,” also found in Matthew 7:21-23. If you do not think that could be you someday then tell me how can we come to know Jesus and then check your answer against 1 John 2:3 or Ephesians 4:20-24 below.
Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. NKJV
Your conduct shows whether or not you have come to know Jesus Christ according to the verses above. Does that match your answer? If not then ignorance (lack of knowledge) could have caused you to experience destruction. It doesn’t matter where you came from or what you used to do. What matters is how you are living now that you are saved. Do you still live like the world around you? Like I said, repent of the past as you grow in knowledge. Put off your old self, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man. That is how we “learn Christ.”
So, as I was saying above, some Christians live as if they are unaware of Luke 13:22-28, John 8:35-37, Ephesians 4:20-24, and Hebrews 10:26. How can you tell? You can tell because if they knew those verses, they would live differently, and the truth would set them free from sin. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant.
