why many professed Christians do not get

WHY MANY PROFESSED CHRISTIANS DO NOT GET CLOSER TO GOD

It is so astounding to witness that there are many professed Christians, in our time, that are very active in their affiliated groups that do not get closer to God. They are busy going to conferences or seminars telling them how to be a success in their home, business, and social life but they fail to get closer to God, which is the most important part of Christian life. Do you know why? It is because they spend more time to their ambition of how to be successful in life, rather than to know God by studying His word.

(Hosea 4:6) says-"MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being my Priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children". " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge "- The background of their sin was a lack of knowledge of the word of God. If you are a professed Christian, the minute you get away from the word of God, you are doomed to failure in the Christian life. This book makes it crystal clear that we do not live the Christian life by little gimmicks and methods but a personal knowledge of the word of God. " Because you rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being my priest". GOD INTENDED THAT THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL BE PRIESTS UNTO HIM. In the millennium they will all be priests in the new earth, their dueling place. ( see Rev. 5:10 and 20:6) ;While we, the adopted children of God will be priests in the universe and our dueling place will be in the new heaven with Christ.

But at this time, God says- " I will also reject you from being my priests" - meaning - you are not even going to have priests. " Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children ". God says to the people of this nation, I will forget you , because you have forgotten me. Therefore, God hands down His decision that He is going to judge them.

Here, it is crystal clear that TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD AND LIVE IT - IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IN ORDER TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND GET CLOSER TO GOD. But the question is- how many professed Christian who do not even read the Bible after professing that they are born again Christian?. Many of them depend on the sermon of the Pastor. They are in good hands if the Pastor is telling the word of God with correct interpretations. But unfortunately, with my 26 years of experience listening to different supposed Christians sermons, I found out that there are many sermons that are liberal in theology ,and the person who is just starting to know the word of God is getting confused.

Now-a- days, there are many different Christian denominations. Some of them are not even Christians by standard, but some people are hooked to join them because of their enticing advertisement. They do not know the word of God, so their followers never learned the word of God also. By not knowing the word of God, they doomed to failure, because of lack of knowledge.

Those who are liberal in theology , they usually intended to twist the interpretation of the Bible to suit their taste. Many times the interpretation sounds correct to the new Christian's ear , but in reality, it was changed to suit the Preacher's anticipating sense. I believe that , in these days, there are many professed Christian who do not know the word of God, that is why God would say to them also, as He said to Hosea, "MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

If you are a professed Christian and do not know the word of God , it is now time for you to start reading the Bible if you want to get closer to God. It is God's desire for you to know Him, love Him, and obey Him if you are a true Christian. The Bible says- " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation ; the old has gone, the new has come". (2 cor.5:17) "The old has gone" (Aorist tense-indicating decisive or definitive change that took place at regeneration); " The new has come" ( Perfect tense- indicating abiding results of the new life in Christ). The grace of God not only justified but also makes a new creation, which results in a change of life style.

Now, how do we know that a professed Christian is really saved or not ? (Matt. 7:16) says- " By their fruit you will recognize them". We are to recognize them by their fruit. During conversion, a true born again Christian will RECEIVE THE GIFT OF FAITH FROM GOD AND THIS FAITH MUST GROW AS HE WALK WITH GOD. (Ep.2:8-9) says- "For by grace you have been saved through FAITH ; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD; not a result of works so that no one may boast ". Any living thins must grow or it will die. If a tree does not grow it will die. If a baby does not grow he will die. So if a professed Christian does not grow in the word of God , he will also die,

If the professed Christian lives the word of God , he will be a living witness and example to other Christians, He will live a joyful life because he will follow Jesus in his walk of life. He will be called a child of God or adopted child of God through faith in Christ. When Paul was talking to Galatians, he said in ( GaL.3:26) : " You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus". Then in(Gal.4:6-7) says-" Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son ; And since you are a son, God made you also an heir". Then in ( Ep. 1:4-5) says-" For He choose us in Him before the creation of the world to be Holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ , in accordance with His pleasure and will.

THE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHEST POSITION IN THE WORLD, SECOND ONLY TO CHRIST. There are called children of God. The Israelites were called by God His people (Hosea 4:6) , They were also called children of Israel (Ex. 9:4) . They were never called the children of God. The children of God are the believers who will judge the world. Because of our union with Crist, we will be associated with Him in this judgment during the millennium. We will also judge angels (1 Cor.6:3): (2 Pe.2:4,9) :( Jude.6). We will be judges and Priests forever because of our union with Christ.

The true believers in Christ will not only receive the highest position among the creatures of God, They also become the closes people to God, because they are the only new creations that will live forever in new heaven with Christ.

My dear friend, if you are a professed Christian and you feel you are not sure of yourself to be with Christ in new heaven forever, then start praying with your bended knees, ask God to help you know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32) . When you are set free from darkness to light or from lie to truth then you will see - that is how you get closer to God, because you will abide with Him forever in new heaven.

Written by Osmundo S. Sabado

Edited by Orman L. Sabado