*A Christian in Name Only

Charles Spurgeon said, “To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other.”

The old Negro spiritual says, “Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin there.” I remember my kind and gracious pastor, whose ministry I was converted under, who lived up unto his nineties, making a startling statement, over fifty years ago, from the pulpit. He said he believed, judging his people from the scriptures alone that half the church was lost. I wonder what he’d think today?

Jesus taught His followers that at the judgement day, many who professed to believe in His Lordship, and did many wonderful things in His name, will be told, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Again, quoting that great Prince of Preachers, “Bearing the name Christian is not the same as possessing the nature of a Christian.

Going to church doesn’t any more make one a Christian than going into a garage makes you a car.