What Christians Want To Know

Bible Verses And an Outline For a Funeral or Memorial Service

Jack Wellman — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:30:45 +0000

There are some powerful Bible verses that give hope for those who have died in the faith, so may these be of good use for giving others hope in Christ and His resurrection power.

A Mixed Audience

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

There are some powerful Bible verses that give hope for those who have died in the faith, so may these be of good use for giving others hope in Christ and His resurrection power. To begin with, every minister must preach the gospel at a funeral or memorial service. There is no exception. Even if the funeral is for an unbeliever, the gospel of repentance and faith must be included in the service. To fail to do so is to fail God and lose an opportunity to share Christ. Every funeral service has a mixture of saved and lost people, so we can encourage and give hope for the believers but warn the unbelievers of God’s judgment on all who reject faith in Christ in the hopes that they might repent.

Raised From the Dead

We have to be honest to all the audience…the saved and the lost and tell them, that everyone has “an appointment for men to die” after which comes the judgment of God (Heb 9:27). There is not only a time to be born, but a time to be born (Eccl 3:2). When Jesus went to raise Lazarus from the dead, He told Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-26).

Jesus said that God is “not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him” (Luke 20:38), and is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matt 22:32). Even though they had died, Jesus speaks as if they are still living, and they are! That was only a physical death because Jesus said “though he die, yet shall he live” and whoever “believes in me shall never die.”

Hope for the Hurting

Paul writes that “we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13). That is the hope of the Christian. It isn’t good bye but see you later (Rev 22). But…if you have never been brought to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ…it is goodbye…and it is forever

Paul knew that the moment he died he’d be with the Lord so Paul wrote “Yes we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8), and writing “we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). I think like most believers, he was “torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Phil 1:23).

Finishing the Race

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…”

When a believer is laid in the ground, it is not burial ground but resurrection ground. We grieve and mourn over a cocoon when the butterfly has flown. Now we know that our beloved one who passed away can truly say:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4:6-8).

Psalm 116:15 says a lot about what God thinks of thier passing: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” They may be gone but they are not forgotten. They may be missing on the earth but they are not missing in heaven.

The Resurrection

Job 14:14-15 gives us an answer to the question, “If a man (or woman) dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.” Job seemed to understand that if he died, he would be renewed or resurrected for certain and he would also see the Lord. God “would call, and [Job] would answer…,” so Job knew that the Lord longed “for the work of [His] hands” which means that God longs for us to be fully present with Him.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:1: “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” This body is decaying daily and passing away but God is building us “a house not made with hands” but an “eternal [one] in the heavens.” Our bodies might be destroyed but our heavenly body will never be.

For now, we “weep with those who weep” but rejoice that Jack has made it into heaven and now, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more hospitals, no more death…

The End of Death

The Apostle John wrote, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:1-5). God promises that those who have repented and trusted in Christ “will see his face” (Rev 22:4).

Concluding Message

Maybe we’re a little like the Apostle Paul who said, “I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed” (Phil 1:23), but for us who yet live, it is still needful for us to be here or the Lord would have called us home too.

If you’re still drawing breath, God still has a purpose for you. If you never have trusted in Jesus, He says to you and to ally today, even if you die, you can live again and receive eternal life, so “Do you believe this” (John 11:26c)? Remember, God is the God of the living, not the dead, so it’s not goodbye for those who believe but “See you later.” For those who do not believe, it is goodbye forever, so I pray you put your trust in the Lord today and some tomorrow you can see them again, and… it will be the greatest family reunion anyone’s ever seen.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 6 Christian Funeral Prayers and Scriptures

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

8 Ways God Can Use You Today

Jack Wellman — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:14 +0000

God can use any of us, but consider these 8 ways that God may use you for His glory.

Encourage Someone

God can use any of us, but consider these 8 ways that God may use you for His glory. First of all, I notice that smiling is as contagious as yawning. So is encouraging someone. Paul wrote that we should “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess 5:11) and not tear each other down. They say it takes ten positive words to build someone up that’s been discouraged by one bad word. Why not build someone up today…up is where heaven is anyway and that’s where we are headed, right?

Give to Someone

Have you given someone something today? You can, if it’s still early. It doesn’t have to be money. You can give of yourself. You can hold the door open for someone. You can pick something up off the floor or ground that they drop. You can smile at them and shake their hand or give them a hug. Give yourself away. The interesting thing is the more of yourself that you give away, the more you actually receive in blessings. Paul reminds us to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Visit Someone

I had a friend come into town recently that I hadn’t seen for a long time. It was refreshing to catch up on things but you can also pick up the phone and call someone today, email someone, send an unexpected “Thinking of You” card. Whatever you do, try to go out of your way and visit or talk to someone today that you normally don’t see or talk too. Make it a special, “no-occasion” thing. Paul tells us to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil 2:3).

Thank Someone

I believe that one of the greatest sins the Christian can commit is a sin of omission. It is the failure to give thanks to God but also to others. On occasions, I just tell my wife, “Thank you for….” and then just start listing the many things that she does. Paul said “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Phil 1:3). I like to borrow Paul’s line and tell people, “You know, I thank God for you for being my wife, daughter, son, friend, etc.” My beloved wife is always saying “Thank you” and sending cards of thanks. Her heart bends toward being thankful. Even a “Thank you” note makes a great and lasting impression. It costs so little, but does so much.

Open to Correction

I have told the congregation that if I miss a Scripture or I was wrong about something in the message, please tell me. I would rather be corrected than be incorrect, especially behind the pulpit! The only parts of my sermons that are perfect are where I read out of the Bible. My part? Not so much. If I close my ears to all criticism, I might fail to learn something because the person who is criticizing me might be right and I’ll lose an opportunity to learn something about myself and grow. There is such a thing as constructive criticism, but if we fail to listen to anybody, then people will feel that it’s useless to try and help us because we’ve cut them off by our own refusal to listen. That is purely pride! And it is sin, and I’ve done it!

Grace and Humility

Jack Coleman on African Missionary Trip

When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the gospel (Phil 1:12-13), there were some who used that imprisonment as a way of criticizing him, but they were trying to discredit him, so it certainly wasn’t constructive criticism. In fact, they were doing it for their own gain (Phil 1:17). Even so, Paul still managed to rejoice over the situation (Phil 1:18). And Jesus sees nothing wrong with criticizing someone if it is for their own good, like if they are in sin and the criticism leads them to repentance (Matt 18:15-20; Luke 17:3), but if someone has an issue with you, don’t quickly discount it. With grace and humility, see if they may be right and thank them for them trying to point out something we might have been doing wrong. Myself? I appreciate knowing when I’m wrong.

Love Your Enemies

Jesus told us that we might be criticized, and worse, “be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Matt 10:22). They “will hate you because of me” (Luke 21:17), so we can’t always take it personally. They may criticize us for being “holier than thou” because we’re not running with them in sin or drinking at the office party. They might feel convicted of their own sinful lifestyle because of your obedience to God. Just think about the fact that we were once like them; “sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who have sex with men, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers or swindlers” (1 Cor 6:9b-10).

We must not forget that we were once as they are now (1 Cor 6:11). If not for the Spirit’s changing us into new creations or creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), we’d still be where they are now. That’s the reason we must show compassion for them, pray for them, love them and consider that we were once as they are now. Jesus reminds us in Luke 6:27-28 to “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” We are never more like God when we love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who abuse us. That’s the same love with which He loved us, loving ungodly, wicked enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10).

“…Love your enemies..”

Compassion for the Hurting

Have you ever considered that those who criticize you might be hurting? When someone snaps back at you, don’t respond in anger but in compassion. Remember, if they’re not a follower of Christ, they don’t have God’s Spirit to help them through this life like we have. Maybe they see the joy you have and are envious of that. They want that same joy but if they haven’t made peace with God (Rom 5:1), then pray for them to be saved. They have no Helper so they cannot have and know true peace with God. If we think about people who lash out at us and at others, keep in mind they may be hurting, going through a divorce, facing serious health issues, or something we don’t even know about. Jesus knew all about receiving criticism. When others criticize us, stop and think of what their life might be like. May God use you and I to bring comfort to others with the same comfort that God has given us when we needed it (2 Cor 1:4).

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: What Does God Say About Serving Others?

The Many Different and Easy Ways You Can Share the Gospel

Jack Wellman — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:30:44 +0000

Sharing the gospel has never been easy, but Jesus has given the Church the imperative command to go and make disciples, so here are a few ways you can do that.

What Can You Say?

Sharing the gospel has never been easy, but Jesus has given the Church the imperative comnand to go into all the world and make disciples, so here are a few ways that can help you can do that. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of showing someone you care. Listen to people. Give them your full eye contact. Ask them:

Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?
To you, who is Jesus?
Do you think there is a heaven or a hell?
If you died tonight, where do you think you would go?
By the way, if what you believe is not true, would you want to know?
Ask someone where they go to church.
Invite them to your church.
Ask questions about their church (if they have one, if not, share Christ).
Mention God in casual conversation.
Mention prayer in casual conversation.
Mention a favorite Bible verse in casual conversation.
Invite someone to a home Bible study.
Walk up to a stranger and ask if they’d like you to pray for them.

Clearly, none of these are easy…but at least it gives you a few starting points. Even the worst job of witnessing is better than not witnessing at all. We must love our neighbors and we do that by warning them of the coming wrath of God…so terrible that we’d never wish that on anyone (Rev 20:12-15).

What Can You Pray?

Pray for our enemies, do good to those who do us harm, and love those who hate us. That’s what Jesus taught and that’s what we ought to do. Remember God made the first move in our lives (Eph 2:1-5), loving us first before we ever loved Him (1 John 4:19). This means we must make the first move, remembering that at one time, God considered us ungodly, wicked enemies of His (Rom 5:6-10). Have the same compassion that Jesus did for the coming judgment of Jerusalem. We must weep over those who are perishing as our Lord did. Pray…and pray some more…never giving up on anyone. I prayed for my cousin for 22 years! Yes, that long. But never give up on praying for prodigals in the family, co-workers, extended family, cousins, uncles, and so forth. Write their name down and stick to praying every day for them. Pray for their eternal soul. Witness to them so obviously that they will know the gospel well, even if they do go to hell. Don’t give up…pray, pray and pray some more.

What Can You Do?

First of all, find some theologically sound Bible tracts. I recommend “Jesus Paid it All” from mwtb.org. They are so inexpensive yet biblical and high quality gloss finish tracts. Now, here’s a list of places you can leave your Bible tracts at:

Rest stops on counters and toilet stalls.
At restaurant tables (with a tip).
In every public restroom, laundromat, and waiting room you’re ever in.
You can hand out Biblical pamphlets or tracts any and everywhere you can as often as you can and to as many people as you can.
Try inserting them into library books you return, on vending machines, windshields. Include them with bill payments, in Christmas cards, or leave them on public bulletin boards.
Put them in pockets of used clothing you donate, leave in dressing rooms of clothing stores.
Leave them in airport lounges, clubs, bars and bus terminals.
Leave in cafeterias at work and in public.
Leave them on the seats of buses, cabs and airplanes.
Distribute free Bibles at a garage sale, lemonade stand, or at a local community event.
Go door to door handing out Bible tracts (Sadly, very, very few people do this today).

What Life Can You Live?

Here’s what you can do to draw people to Christ as God calls or draws them.

Listen before speaking.
Listen to people’s issues.
Tell them what the Scriptural solutions to their problems might be.
Admit we don’t have all the answer and have it “all together.”
Evangelism flows best when it flows through relationships.
Find the people closest to you and be very honest and open about your desire to see them saved.
Volunteer at a hospital.
Volunteer at a food bank.
Engage strangers in conversation.
Invite someone to a Bible study.
Offer a Bible study at a local nursing/rest home.
Bring food to a neighbor in need and offer to pray with them.
Offer to pray with someone and/or for someone.
Study the Gospel yourself.
Share why you became a Christian.
Pray for opportunities.
Pray for helpers.
Listen for openings in conversations.
Build relationships.
Text someone a few Bible verses or an invite to services.
Refuse to gossip. If asked, explain why.
Live the life of a Christian. People will be amazed.

Conclusion

I do pray that more people would evangelize. They miss out on such joy that takes place afterward. But for now, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What Do I Say to People When I Share the Gospel?

Why Christians Can Have Peace, Even During World Wars

Jack Wellman — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:30:50 +0000

There is little peace in the world today and mostly continuous wars, so why can Christians have peace about all this?

Why Wars?

IS NUCLEAR WAR COMING?

There is little peace in the world today and mostly continuous wars, so why can Christians have peace about all this, especially with all the destruction and chaos going on? If you look at the news, you already know that war seems to be mankind’s favorite pastime. James nails the reason for wars, between people and between nations, by asking, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you” (James 4:1)? James says this is because, like most of humanity, “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2). Nations covet other nations land for their mineral rights, timber, oil reserves, water reservoirs, or just about anything you can imagine. The world will never know peace until the King of Peace comes to reign. Mankind has shown that, just as in Noah’s day, every imagination was to do evil and was continually practiced (Gen 6:5, 11-12; Matt 27:38-39). How then can believers have peace in a world that knows no peace (Isaiah 48:22)?

God’s Sovereignty

Clearly, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22), however Jesus promises every believer that “you will find rest for your souls” by coming to Him (Matt 11:29c), no matter what the burden is (Matt 11:28-30). Whether there’s anxiety on the inside or worry about the world, Jesus desires that we take His yoke, and when we do, we find it easier to carry on. Trusting in Christ means we trust in God’s sovereignty and that means no matter what happens, God is still in charge and is never caught by surprise. We should understand that everything in the world and in our lives is allowed for our best (Rom 8:28). God has a history of using the evil of men for good (Gen 50:20; John 3:16), so even though it looks like total chaos out there, God is in complete control and not a fly moves unless God approves. Everything that comes to pass, passes through the nail-pierced hands of Jesus Christ, stamped with His approval. Otherwise, it would not happen. We must believe that or we’ll never have peace in a world chocked full of wars.

World Wars Foretold

The fact that there are world wars and regional conflicts (wars!) should not surprise us as our Lord said that the time of His coming would be preceded by worldwide tribulations. Our Lord said, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matt 24:6), so it’s a sign of Jesus’ return, but not the sign of it. Of course, there have been wars all through these two thousand years since Christ’s warning of the end times. And Jesus warned that “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:10). Even though these predictions, being part of the Olivet Discourse, referred to the coming judgment and fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, there seems to be a duality to this because similar things are happening today, just as they were before Jerusalem’s destruction. The Jews had totally rejected Jesus Christ, murdered Christians, been rebelling against the Roman authorities, and even had assassinations of certain Roman authorities. Finally, in 68 AD, the Emperor had seen enough and ordered Jerusalem’s surrender (nearly 2 year siege). The fall of the city (70 AD) marked the effective conclusion of a four-year campaign against the Jewish insurgency in Judaea. The Jews rejected Christ and they were judged for it with the final fall and utter destruction of Jerusalem. God will judge all nations who reject Him, but He often uses other nations to wield the sword to carry out His fierce anger against other evil nations (Rom 13:1-5).

The Peace of God

The world knows no peace (Isaiah 48:22), but we who have trusted in Christ know that “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). If we have peace with God, we don’t have to worry about the world. What is over our head is under His feet on His throne. Only those who have made peace with God can be at peace with God and only those who are at peace with God can know the peace of God. That peace is beyond human comprehension. In fact, the Apostle Paul said, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). To guard means to protect and to preserve, so that’s what the peace of God does. Jesus promises all who believe that, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm on the sea, He is with all who believe, now and forever…until the end of time (which, by the way, has no end!).

Conclusion

God is not up in heaven thinking, “What am I going to do now?” like humans do because He already knows the future. There is simply no need to waste time and energy worrying about the state of the world and all the wars going on….you do need to be concerned about, not the world, but God’s judgment if you have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ (Dan 12:1-3; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12-15). If not, be very afraid because He can destroy both body and soul for eternity (Matt 10:27-28). That’s why I always pray for those that read these articles, that they have put their trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Why World War Three and the Threat of Wars Should Not Worry Christians

3 Easy Steps to Casting All Anxieties Away

Jack Wellman — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:30:51 +0000

T here is so much to worry about in this world and in our lives, so how can we have peace and rid ourselves of all our troubles and anxieties?

Step One

To start with, you cannot cast your troubles onto Christ if you don’t trust in Christ, so unless you come to Christ, having repented and put your trust in Him (Mark 1:15), you cannot be saved or come to Him. You are stuck with your own heavy laden, burdens. Only after believing in the Son of God is there no more condemnation (Rom 8:1) The only reason there is no more condemnation is because “we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). So step one in casting all your anxieties away is to trust in Christ. This is why He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). You must come to Him first, confessing your sins, repenting and trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross. That is the only way to find true rest. You and I were heavy laden and under unbearable labors before salvation, but we learned that only Jesus Christ can give us true rest. When we trust in Him, we can come to Him, and as the Apostle Peter says we should be “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7).

Step Two

When animals plowed fields in the ancient days, they either used plow horses, mules or, the best of them all, oxen. These beasts of burden were meant…they were created to carry heavy loads and burdens that their owners couldn’t. When they were yoked together, they found they could do even more work than one alone. Why? Because a burden shared is halved. That is, the burden is split in half or shared…and it makes it easier for both of the ox. This makes sense in light of Jesus statement for us to “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:29). Rest comes after the load is unloaded upon God’s broad shoulders. Hey, nothing is too heavy for God, is it? We are to take His yoke upon us and not some other human device that is supposed to make our lives easier. These could be alcohol, drugs, over-indulging, shopping, working, etc. So step two is to take His yoke upon us…depend on God to take over when things happen that we can’t control. That takes some learning…so we must learn from Him, take our burdens to Jesus, and then and only then will you “find rest for your souls.”

A yoke is an implement that is used to harness animals together to pull a load or a plow.

Step Three

Once you learn to come to Him and are able to rest, that is, resting because He’s sharing the load with you with His yoke, and you are resting in Christ’s finished works (1 Cor 15:1-5), then we can learn, as Jesus said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:30). You don’t know what something feels like till you wear it, and Jesus’ yoke lightens everything! To be yoked to something means to share the load and to walk in step with one another. Mules and oxen don’t plow together because it’s too hard on them and they are less productive…but when oxen are yoked together, they can get more done because two are better than one (Eccl 4:9-12). They are sharing the load.

Come to Christ

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6.35

Feel weary and heavy laden? Then come to Christ. “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). He fills not only the spiritual thirst but the hunger too, and we shall never hunger or thirst again for He is totally sufficient for us. Have we strayed like sheep from the Lord? Then the Good Shepherd beckons us, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm116:7). You can’t be any more burdened than the Apostle Paul was who said “there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:28), but even Paul knew that when he was weak, the Lord would show Himself strong.

Summary

Why would Paul boast about His weakness and his inability to go on at times, where he even despaired of life (2 Cor 1:8)? It was to boast of the power of God Who uses weak, broken, clay vessels (that’s us!), so that He alone receives the glory. God didn’t tell Paul to grow his faith first in order to make it on his own, but rather, God would use Paul’s weakness to show how strong God was. This is why God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9). Who wouldn’t want “the power of Christ” to “rest upon” them!?

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: 7 Bible Great Verses for Your Times of Trouble

5 Things That Lead to an Active and Effective Prayer Life

Jack Wellman — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:30:18 +0000

W hat five things can you do to activate your prayer life?

Fellowship with God

One thing about an active prayer life is that you stay in fellowship with God. For those who have repented and put their trust in Christ, they already have a relationship as His child (1 John 3:10; Gal 3:26). When we abide in daily prayer with God, we connect with Him in an intimate way that is closer than that of best friends. There is joy in knowing that God hears our prayers and that He is interested in having an intimate relationship with us, so the first thing you can do, is make every day, a day for prayer. Anytime is a good time to pray.

Cleansed by God

In 1st John 1:9 it says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” so when we confess our sins to God we have the assurance that He will cleanse us from all of our sins and we will remain in a right standing before God and our relationship will be close. To confess means that we agree with God about our sins. Since God already knows about our sins anyway, why not confess them and have a clean conscience? There’s something refreshing in knowing that when we’re forgiven, we’re made whiter than snow in the sight of God (Psalm 51:7; 2 Cor 5:21), the second thing you must do is confess all known (and even unknown) sins.

Effectual Prayer

The third thing we can do comes from James who writes, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16b), and I have seen direct results to my prayers and have heard dozens and dozens of testimonies of answered prayers that changed lives. What’s the common factor? They were living righteously before God. They had confessed their sins (step two). No, we’re not perfect, as that’s not possible, but living a holy life as much as humanly possible, and then with God’s own strength through our weakness, walking in the Spirit, then our prayers have more power. Why not tap into the very power of God and pray earnestly for what is on your heart; a lost family member, a grieving widow, etc. Life changes when we pray to God and it is not that we change God’s mind but that God’s mind changes us. He uses our prayers as a means to reach His ends.

Godly Wisdom

The fourth thing we can do again comes from James. This time James tells us that we ought to pray for godly wisdom and we all need it. James writes “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). Solomon prayed for wisdom “And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (1 Kings 3:11-12). Why would God refuse your prayer to have more of His wisdom…the wisdom that comes from above, not below (James 3:17).

Laborers for the Harvest

The final and fifth thing you can do is to understand that we are told to pray. I know and you know that prayer works. Jesus said “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt 9:37-38). Clearly God would answer that prayer and I’ve seen that answered before my eyes. It seems there are few if any laborers in the church of today, but that didn’t keep me from praying. I prayed for other laborers to enter into the harvest and witness to those I’ve already shared Christ with. There are few laborers but there is such a great harvest, so pray for God to send forth more laborers and He will.

Next [below], there are three ways to see more power in your prayer life and results. How can I say that? Because when we pray according to God’s will, He’s for that and He’s more likely to answer that prayer.

3 Ways to Tap the Power of Prayer

According to His Will

When you find God’s will, you will find exactly what you need to pray for. It’s not rocket science. God’s will is found in His Word, the Bible. When you read the Bible, you can know at least some of God’s will, like it’s His desire that others be saved. The Apostle Paul wrote that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), so if you are praying for this too, then you are praying according to God’s will (Matt 6:10). That’s good. He’s more than willing to answer that prayer, so when you pray for God to save someone, you can tap God’s potent power knowing that it’s God’s will and God will hear and answer those prayers. That doesn’t mean everyone who we pray for will be saved, but we know God desires us to witness to those who are lost so that they might be saved. If you pray according to God’s will, you can unleash God’s power and God can answer your prayers by means of you praying them!

Praying in Faith

Any reading of the Bible proves that men and women in ancient times had great faith and God was well pleased with them (Heb 11:6). For them, God’s power was unleashed in response to their faith because they knew of His ability to answer it. This is not a “name it and claim it” faith where we ourselves command things to be done, but this is a prayer that trusts God and His answer, even if it’s no and even if it’s a different answer from what we prayed for. Have faith in God answering our prayers for what is for our ultimate best (Rom 8:28).

For His Glory

Jesus told us to pray in His name so that His name would be glorified. The Father is always seeking to glorify Jesus Christ’s name, so when we pray, pray in Jesus’ name and that His name will be glorified. There is one important point though; we must be abiding in Christ because, as Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Our prayers are affected by our abiding or not abiding in Him (and His Word, the Bible). Of course, praying in Jesus’ name, so that His name will be glorified, must be according to the will of God. It must also be a prayer that was prayed in faith, but either way, Jesus’ name will be glorified because it was in His name that we prayed.

Conclusion

There are other ways that we can tap God’s power through prayer and also other ways to improve our prayer life. At least we now know that our prayers should be in alignment with God’s will; we should be praying with believing faith; and we must be seeking to glorify Jesus’ name in our prayers, because nothing else matters but the glory of God (Psalm 115:1). God is willing to hear our prayers and wants to answer them to not only change our lives but to change the lives of those around us…only if we would ask (James 4:2). God wants to change our lives and have us see the results of an active prayer life. It is up to us, but are we willing to seek Him daily in prayer and in His Word?

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Prayer: 20 Important Scripture Quotes

How to Keep Your Church From Becoming an Apostate Church

Jack Wellman — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:30:04 +0000

H ow can you help keep your church from becoming an apostate church?

An Apostate

How can you help keep your church from becoming an apostate church? First of all, who or what is an apostate? The word Apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, meaning “a total desertion of, or departure from, one’s faith, principles, or party.” [1] An apostate is someone who’s inside God’s covenantal community, and is part of the visible Church, and someone whose professed faith in Christ, and to the naked eye, seems to be a believer. They probably even partake of the Lord’s Supper and is a member of that congregation, and then later, they consciously and intentionally repudiate their belief in Christ and make it some sort of “Jesus + something = Salvation.” They may leave their present church and join another false one, even following a false leader. Note that every other religion is about doing something…do this, plus do that, or don’t do this, or don’t do that, so cults and false religions are thus: do, do, do, but with Christ, it’s done! We are saved, not by works (Eph 2:8-9) but to do works (Eph 2:10). If we add anything to grace, it is no longer grace, and if no longer by grace alone, it is no longer salvation by faith in Christ alone. That faith alone saves.

Apostate Churches

An apostate church is a religious body that formally professed Christian faith but subsequently departed from core biblical doctrines and authority, often characterized by embracing heresy, worldliness, and moral compromise. As a predicted end-times phenomenon, it represents a “falling away” from true doctrine to support human-centered or false worship. We are warned that Satan can appear as an angel of light. Even though he is a sinister minister, false ministers can have eloquent speech, persuasive sayings and great charisma, yet they speak half-truths, which are whole lies. The god of the world is Satan and he has blinded the minds of those who do not believe (2 Cor 4:3-4), so he has his own ministers, and today, Satan has his own churches and even some denominations.

… even the Devil can appear to be a preacher of righteousness …

No Inheritance

Clearly, churches that teach that homosexuality and marriage to same sex couples are not God’s churches. Jesus is not the Head of a church that disobeys the Word of God. Jesus will not condone or support any church that teaches anything contrary to Scripture and tries to rationalize their heresies by saying, “Well, they love one another.” Yes, but a bank robber loves money, but stealing is still a crime. Jesus said if you love Him, you will keep His word (John 14:15-31). God’s Word warns us against such things as “envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21). So how can churches approve of women pastors or homosexual pastors marrying same-sex couples when God says “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God?” The Apostle Paul said “of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph 5:5). How much more so than to allow such lifestyles in the church, even condoning the immorality, in a church which Jesus wants to present as a holy Bridegroom. This is why my wife and I are so very blessed to be able to be a part of the local Body of Christ that we are in, here in Kansas.

Contending for the Faith

“…those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”

Contending for the original teachings of Jesus Christ was enough to change Jude’s mind about what he was going to write about. Jude intended “to write to you about our common salvation [but] I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). Why was it necessary? It was because “certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). Notice that they “crept in” and most were unaware. Don’t let this happen to your church or to you either. This is why we are told “to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Rom 16:17). Avoid them and their teachings.

Last Days Deception

It was so bad, even in Paul’s day, that he warned Timothy that “the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Tim 4:1). Notice the source…demons! The mark of these false teachers is, once again, Jesus plus something, like they might “forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Tim 4:3). In other words, they condemn (i.e., our diet) what God has not forbid. That’s the mark of a cult and of apostasy. Paul was well acquainted with people forsaking the truth and departing from the faith (2 Tim 4:10). A. W. Tozer wrote, “So skilled is error at imitating truth, that the two are constantly being mistaken for each another. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel.” [2] Charles Spurgeon said it well when he said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

Summary

The best way to avoid falling into an apostate church or having your church falling into apostasy is to know the Word of God, backward, forward, and upside down! Know it well enough and you’ll smell a lie a half mile away. Being forewarned is being forearmed. GotQuestions.org notes three distinct marks of an apostate: [3]

Apostates are subtle in their approach.
Apostates are ungodly in their actions.
Apostates are heretical in their theology.

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: How to Avoid Liberal or Apostate Seminaries, Pastors and Churches

1. The Century Dictionary, vol. I, p. 265)
2. That Incredible Christian, Bailey, A., ed., Moody, 2008, ch. 14, p. 53).
3. Got Questions.org “What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?” https://www.gotquestions.org/apostasy.html (Accessed, Feb 20, 2026).

How You Can Stop Lusting in Your Heart

Jack Wellman — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:30:52 +0000

The Word of God has power and we need that power in order to resist temptation so here’s how to defeat it where you meet it.

Covenantal Eyes

During the many times that I’ve tried to help men overcome their battle with pornography, I included having them memorize Scripture. The psalmist wrote, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). It’s as if the psalmist is saying, “I memorized Scripture so that I might not sin against You God.” I think that’s the context, so someone who’s battling with lust must realize that Scripture has power (Isaiah 55:11; Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18)…the power to change lives, to sanctify lives, leading to more godly lives. Jesus prayed for the Father to “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17), so God’s Word sanctifies but it also convicts. If we neglect the Word of God, we’ll not receive the power of God, and we need that power to overcome the temptations of the flesh, and we must strive to overcome lust.

Adultery in the Heart

Jesus said “that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:48), and that’s the last thing we should want to do. Here is one of the most powerful Bible verses there are in the Bible about fighting lust. We find in in Job 31:1 where Job says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” What this may mean is that when Job (or when we) see someone who is beautiful and we’re tempted to lust in our hearts, we should look away. When you make a covenant to look away when you see lustful images on the Internet, on TV, or in public, “look away!” Don’t hesitate. If it’s me, I change the channel, close the browser, or anything that I can do to stop it at the “eye-gate.”

A web filter is a great way to screen out potential Internet websites that contain pornography.

God’s Will

There is no great mystery in trying to find God’s will for your life. Scripture plainly tells us that “this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (1 Thess 4:3-4). God’s will is not some hidden thing where we must search high and low to find it. Clearly, it is God’s will that we abstain from sexual immorality, and that means where it starts…in the mind! Remember Job’s covenant with his eyes? The Apostle Paul has something that agrees with that as he writes, “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22). For me, I have installed a “G” filter on my Internet browser so I can rest assured that no revealing images will suddenly appear.

Memorizing Scripture

If we can remember Scripture, we can remember to look away or run when we’re tempted to lust in our hearts. Of course, that’s easier said than done because “all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). That’s why we have to “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5). This is why Paul again reminds us to “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (1 Cor 6:18). It should be a disgusting thought to know that having sexually immoral relationships, is like being “joined to a prostitute [and] becomes one body with her” or him (1 Cor 6:16).

Plucking out the Eye

Jesus once used hyperbole or an extreme exaggeration about getting rid of something sinful lusts in our lives. He said that “if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire” (Matt 18:9). Jesus is saying we must take extreme measures to rid ourselves of sin, and if it’s sexual immorality, then it will likely take extreme measures. You might have to get rid of the Internet or put a password protected filter on the computer that only your accountability partner has. Keep in touch with someone who is trying to help you and pray for you to overcome lust in your life. Maybe it takes getting rid of the Internet (plucking out the eye stuff) or getting rid of the smart phone and getting a flip phone. I don’t know what that looks like for you or what works best for you, but I do know that you and I are “as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Pet 2:11).

Lust and Death

Proverbs 6:25-26 is exactly right in saying, “Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.” God wired us to have sexual desires, but to have these desires in a godly relationship which is found in marriage. We are responsible since “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). What do we do then? Memorize certain Scriptures that have to deal with your issue of lust. It might be lusting after someone, or lusting after something, but either way, Scripture is where your real source of power. Combine that with daily prayer time, and you’ll be better equipped to resist the devil, flee temptation, and covenant to not look upon a man or woman with lust in our heart.

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Lust: 17 Helpful Passages

How Does God in Heaven Provide for Orphans and Widows on Earth?

Jack Wellman — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:30:39 +0000

Orphans and widows are especially important to God, so how does God who is in heaven provide for orphans and widows here on earth?

Widows

How many of the residents in a nursing home are orphans and widows? Almost all of them!

Orphans and widows are especially important to God, so how does God who is in heaven provide for orphans and widows here on earth? A widow is a woman whose husband has died and has not remarried while an orphan is a child where both parents have died or a (minor) child whose mother is still living but their father is not. These two groups are identified as being the most vulnerable because in many cases, they are unable to provide for their own needs. Thankfully, God is highly concerned about the fate of orphans and widows, saying through Jeremiah the Prophet, “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me” (Jer 49:11). Since they are that important to God, they should be that important to us too. Often though, they are a bit invisible and fall between the cracks and people may not even know they have needs. But God does, and so should we, the church.

Orphans

The scribes and the Pharisees were not honoring their parents, and yet still claimed to be “holy,” but Jesus rebuked them, telling them that they are those, “who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” (Mark 12:40). How have they devoured the widow’s houses? By not providing for the needs of the poor (widows and orphans) as God’s Law prescribed (Ex 22:22; Deut 14:29, etc.). They were the “experts” in the Law, and yet they ignored it (broke His Law). God has not changed from the time Moses brought the Law to the people down from Mount Sinai. Even though we can’t see Him, God is still “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5), but are we? We do know that God will not hold those guiltless who are charged with caring for their elderly parents or the widows and orphans in the church.

The Church

The church can (indeed, should) fill in where the state or social services do not meet the needs of a widow. The reason the church is called the Body of Christ is because Jesus is the Head and He directs the body to do good works for God’s glory (Eph 2:10; James 1:27). We are Jesus’ hands, feet, voice and His eyes on earth while He directs His body’s movements from heaven. Sometimes I’m asked about “Your church” but I tell them, it’s not my church but Jesus’ church, and that’s good news because He is the one building it. If it were “my” church, then the gates of hell would prevail against it, but thankfully, Jesus said “I will build My church” (Matt 16:18) and not even death can stop it. He does not say, “Pastor Jack, you and I are going to build My church,” for that would be an epic fail. I’m glad Jesus is building it because it will never fail, but if it’s something you and I are building, then it’s no more than sinking sand! It’s not our church….we are the church, and God is pleased to use the church as a means to build it, but Jesus alone is the Master Builder. We are His laborers, but Jesus is actually building the church…one soul at a time.

True Religion

Those who are believers in Christ have a religion that comes straight from heaven, and it is a calling to be holy as God is holy. We are called to be set-apart from the world and to bring others to Christ, so that’s what James means when He says believers are “to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27b). The stain James speaks of is the stain of sin, but that stain is regularly cleansed by confessing our sins and the forgiveness of God (1 John 1:8-10), but the first part of being “religious” or true religion as God sees it, is “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27a). When James mentions affliction he means some sort of privation, hunger, need for shelter or clothing, living in or near the poverty level, and intense lonliness. Sometimes, it’s all of these. Widows and widowers crave company and desire to share their lives with someone, and yet the vast majority in care homes have no one to visit them…ever! Now that’s affliction. God expects the church to provide for her own members…her own widows and orphans where possible. Being religious is not sounding holy, memorizing Scripture, attending every Sunday school or singing in the church choir…but pure religion is faith with feet on it; providing for people’s needs, and when they do that, they are doing what God wants done. God is doing this through them. That’s how God Who is in heaven gets things done or earth! It is through the church!

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: What Does the Bible Say About Orphans and Widows?

The Dangers of Having a “Dead Faith” Without Knowing It

Jack Wellman — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:30:21 +0000

Y ou probably know people who profess Christ but don’t act like Christ, so here is the eternal danger of having a faith that is dead, and not even knowing it.

Fruit Inspection

Every Christian should be bearing fruit of the Spirit…

You probably know people who profess Christ but don’t act like Christ, so here is the eternal danger of having a faith that is dead, and not even knowing it. James writes that if there are no works, then that faith is not going to save them because it’s not genuine faith. James asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him” (James 2:14)? Clearly the answer is no! Saving faith always produces fruit (John 15:1-10). Jesus said you would know them by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20). We certainly can’t produce any fruit on our own apart from Christ, for without Him, we’d be fruitless and bound for the burn pile (John 15:5). The only fruit humans can produce apart from Christ is bad fruit, llike anger, lust, rage, hate, and adulteries. Jesus is clear that the “Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Bearing fruit (love, peace, joy, kindness, longsuffering, etc.) proves to ourselves and to others that we are truly Jesus’ disciples. Many, and I mean many, think they are saved, but those same “many” (not a few) will face eternal judgment and the shock of their lives (Dan 12:1-3; Matt 7:21-23; Rev 20:12-15).

Human Fruit

The Apostle Paul gives us a great description of the only fruit humans are capable of producing on their own, and it’s not pretty because “the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19-21). If a person has more fruits like these, then they have deceived themselves into thinking they are saved, but clearly, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21). Regardless of what a person claims (“I’m a believer”), their fruit reveals their root.

Godly Fruit

Now the huge difference is that humans naturally produce their own fruit and it’s all carnal or fleshly, but only the Holy Spirit can produce godly fruit through Jesus Christ. That’s because it’s a supernatural fruit; a supernatural work of God because this fruit comes as a direct result of God, not us. Paul shows us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). Which fruit does a person’s life display the most of? Then that’s the “alpha male” or the dominant works. If of the Spirit, that person shows by their works (their life of obedience) that they are truly saved, but even those who say they believe but bear no godly fruit are no better than the demons. James would tell them, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19)! Intellectual belief with no obedience (works) will never save them. Jesus tells us over and over, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31b).

Warn Them

There should be no “fruitless” Christians. That is not possible because the Bible says we will absolutely produce fruit (Gal 5:22-23). This is so because “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Every believer will produce fruit or they’re simply not a believer at all. Jesus said if they had any works, it was to be seen of men, and they may have thought their works would save them, but we know works can’t save us (Eph 2:8-9). Works cannot save…but the saved do works. We were not saved by works but for works (Eph 2:10). Listen to the most fearful warning Jesus ever gave about false converts. Our Lord said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21). If He’s not your Lord overall, He’s not your Lord at all! By “doing” and not saying, we show we are His.

At the final judgment, Jesus said that “many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name” (Matt 7:22)? Notice there are “many” who are saying this, so it appears that the majority will claim to know Christ. There will be many, and not the few. We know many are called but only a few are chosen (Matt 22:14). Finally and tragically, Jesus says “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:23). People often say, “I know Christ,” but the most important question you will ever ask is, “Does Christ know you? And know you by name” (John 15:1-10)?

Summary

Can you see why we have to wake up those who are deceived and still dead in their sins (Eph 2:1-5) and still think they’re going to heaven? They profess faith but don’t possess faith. If they professed faith they would produce works of faith and they would not still be lying, stealing, gossiping, never attending church or attending to the Lord’s Supper (both imperatively commanded). They have no works of the Holy Spirit, thus showing they are not God’s children but children of the Devil. You cannot be saved and have no fruits or good works, otherwise what you think you have faith in, will not save you. It’s not faith in our faith, but faith in Jesus Christ which always produces obedience (good works). Otherwise, their profession of faith is a faith that cannot save them from the wrath of God after death (Heb 9:27) or at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:12-15).

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: Why Can’t I Get to Heaven Through Good Works?