QT 4/11/2022 Matt 24:45-51, Fooling ourselves into thinking we are saved

Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV) — 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

NOTE: We cannot save ourselves by works. That is abundantly clear in other passages. This passage refers to the rewards a believer (who is saved by faith in Christ) receives for how they lived their life on earth. Now, to my mind, a saved person who gives his life completely to service in the kingdom, recognizes how much his salvation was worth. The individual who is saved but continues to live a life for himself, does not realize how much his salvation cost the savior. But in this passage, God makes it clear that there is a reward for those who serve faithfully. Additionally, a person who is "saved" but does not live like it may be fooling themselves with religiosity. If they are saved, there is little reward. But, they may not realize that they are not truly saved by faith. They said all the right words. They had an emotional experience. But the Holy Spirit never entered their life and changed it (because they never truly believed), and so on that day when Jesus returns or judges, they are judged as an unbeliever or unsaved person despite their belief (mistaken) that they were saved. Which is why -- salvation should never be about "fire insurance."

 

PONDER:

1. Am I truly saved or just religious?
2. Am I going through the motions of church-ianity, or have I truly made Christ my Lord?

 

PRAYER: Father, open the eyes of the religious to see real truth. Help them to know whether they have fooled themselves or whether they are truly your children, before it is too late.