The Demise Of The Word "If"

THE DEMISE OF THE WORD "IF"

Well, I really don't mean for it to die from your vocabulary completely, but I do mean for it to die from how one speaks of their salvation. What I mean is, when one has faith enough that they believe in Jesus as their Savior, they no longer use the word "if" as they used to when they did not realize their salvation in Christ Jesus. I hear people now who go to church, but have no relationship with Jesus, and they say, "I hope He will let me into heaven if I was good enough all my life". Or you might hear someone say, "If He will let me into heaven...". These are statements of one lacking faith! Another common line I've heard is, "If I go to heaven..." This is where a new Christian must understand that there is no "if" when they realize their salvation in Christ Jesus. Let me use some Scripture to illustrate further...

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." - Heb. 11:5-6. One of the pillars of a house built on Jesus is faith. You have to truly believe He exists and that He rewards. He rewards your belief in Him with salvation! If you didn't believe He rewards for belief in Him, why would you obey Him, and if you don't obey Him, He will reward you with the consequences! See how Enoch believed and had so much faith, that God translated him into heaven without tasting death? If we could do the same as he did, how wonderful, but it is not written exactly what he did to warrant the reward of translation.

Now the people in an unsaved status may wonder why someone would be a Christian, and why put faith in Him. Many people go to church, and even some of them, while they're at home, don't show much, if any, faith. Let me direct you to John 3:16 - 18; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Many recognize the John 3:16, but neglect to add the warning that follows the announcement of love. Many will give you the "sugar", but will not make you aware of the "vinegar". You can choose to have faith in Jesus, or not, but if you choose wrong, expect the consequence.

Now you would think that with this being said, that all people with one accord would jump on believing in Jesus, and all would eliminate the "if" from their concept of the potential of going to heaven; after all, we have the promise of John 3:16, and more good news of emancipated living, or owning grace, in Rom. 8:1 - 11; " There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." Unfortunately, this is not so that everyone jump. Why?

Jesus told this parable that explains why: "And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, 'Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.'" (Matt. 13:3-9). But this is a parable, so many who read this will not understand it without the explanation, which Jesus also gave: "'Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 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. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is 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. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.'" (Matt. 13:18-23).

Jesus explained it so well why so many people have the word "if" in their vocabulary concerning the concept of going to heaven! Eliminate all of the examples except for the last that Jesus gave in His solution to the parable, and you will have eliminated the "if"! When anyone who has not truly accepted Christ as their Savior hears the word, Satan comes and immediately removes what they heard from them, and they come out of their church and act as worldly as they usually do until they go to church again, as they do it like a chore or a conditioned ritual or just to appease all family who are watching to see if they are carrying out family tradition, as it were.

Then there are those who would turn on the Lord in the face of persecution or tribulation, and this will really be tested during the short reign of the antiChrist. I once edified a Christian who was witnessing at his apartment complex, and I reminded him of that which Jesus said; "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matt. 5:10 -12). I told him that for a twofold purpose. Not just for his edification, but also so that he not be "offended" and become silent of witnessing. I sensed he was young in his Christian walk, and I thought it would be letting down Christ in not coming to this young man's edification.

The last are those who let worldly riches stick Satan's thumbs in their eyes. These are they whose wealth become their god, and as God is supplanted, they become not only unfruitful, but adulterers, gone a-whoring after the god mammon. If one knows not about mammon, see Matt. 6:24; "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Okay, this still doesn't tell the everyday person what mammon is; it is wealth! I would think many not understand the concept of adultery concerning God, so let me show you an example in Jer. 9:2 - 3; "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD." As His church is His bride, so Christ experiences adultery from those who leave Him for another god of the world, such as mammon.

And now let us come full circle, and return to the concept of removing the word "if" from the vocabulary of those who have not come to realize Christ as their Savior. Perhaps this message may be of use to a witness who wants to convince one or more to come to Christ and give Him the victory in their lives, to espouse Him who gives eternal life, and come to remove the word "if" from the concept of going to heaven.