Some folks don’t want to be identified as Christians so
they call themselves after some man or some doctrine. These show an
unholy
disrespect for Christ and his title. Some, however, refer to themselves
as
Christians when they haven’t met the biblical criterion for
the name. For
instance: One may be religious and not be a Christian. There are many
religious
people. In fact, one seldom meets a person who is not religious in some
way,
even if that religion is atheism. One may be a good moral person and
not be a
Christian. Cornelius is a good example, as was the rich young ruler who
inquired of Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. One may
believe
the Gospel and not be a Christian. Agrippa is a case in point. One may
even be
baptized, according to some religion’s definition of the
word, and not be
saved. If one is not baptized for the right reason, the one given in
the
Scriptures, he is still in a lost condition. One may offer worship to
the Lord
and not be a Christian. Jesus stated on this point: “These
people draw near to
Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is
far from
Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments
of men”
(Matthew 15:8-9). Last of all, one may have his name on some church
roll, but
not have his name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. How can
we be sure? Jesus
Christ is the author of salvation to all who obey him (Hebrews 5:9).
Have you
obeyed Him?
Dry
Hole Drilling
By Ernest S. Underwood
Not long after I was discharged from the U.S. Army in
1954, I moved to New Mexico
to work in the oil fields. Although I wasn’t involved in the
drilling process,
I became acquainted with some of the terminology of that phase of the
industry.
After every means available to them to ascertain if oil
was present in a certain area, they would bring in the big rigs. For
several
weeks they would drill—4,000, 5,000, 8,000 feet down. Then
they would discover
that they had been “dry hole” drilling—no
oil there.
Isn’t this much like men today who want to find
satisfaction of the soul, satisfaction that comes only from being saved
by the
blood of Christ? They “drill” in the area of
men’s writing, feelings, opinions
and doctrines only to learn that they are “dry
hole” drilling.
The Word of God still says that the Gospel, and one’s
obedience to it, is the only way to salvation of the soul (Romans 1:16;
Matthew 7:21).
Is this where you are drilling?
