Jesus said, "Many will say to Me on Judgment day, 'Lord, Lord...'" "...And then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'" ~(Matthew 7:22-23)

Did you know that something like 62% of Americans claim to have a "relationship with Jesus Christ." These people go peacefully into death, believing they are safely on their way to Heaven; but Jesus says "many" of them will be shocked and horrified on Judgment Day. How can you be sure you're not one of them?

Jesus told a story about two men who prayed; one was a religious man and the other wasn't. The religious man saw himself as a good person. He stood up and prayed out loud about himself, "God, I thank you that I'm not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers..." But the other man knew he wasn't a good person at all. He was humbled in his heart before God. He stood at a distance, without even the courage to look up. He beat on his chest in extreme remorse for his sin, saying, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus said, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted," (Luke 18:10-14).

Which are you like? Do you see yourself as a good person, or are you humble of heart? No one else can do this for you, but the Bible urges you to "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves," (2 Corinthians 13:5). Do that now: Have you ever lied (even once) or stolen (regardless of value)? If you said yes, you've admitted that you're a lying thief. If you hate someone, the Bible says you are a murderer (1 John 3:15). Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart," (Matthew 5:28). But even if the only wrong thing you'd ever done was tell lies, God's justice demands that, "all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire," (Revelation 21:8b).

So if God gives you justice on Judgment Day, you will be guilty, and end up in Hell. However, even though God is filled with wrath against you for your sin, He is also merciful, and made a way for you to be forgiven. God sent His sinless Son Jesus to willingly suffer and die on the cross, then He rose from the dead and defeated death. But it may surprise you to learn that just believing these facts won't get you to Heaven. In fact, the Bible tells us that even the demons "believe," (James 2:19). So what do you need to do?

Luke 13:5 - Jesus said, "...unless you repent, you will perish..."

Have you repented? Before you say "yes" too quickly... many people think that "repent" means to feel sorry for doing bad things and ask God to forgive them. But that's not true. Of course you should feel sorry--cut to the heart with guilt for your sins--but there's a difference between feeling sorry, and repenting.

The Bible tells us, "your sorrow led you to repentance," (2 Corinthians 7:9a). Sorrow is a feeling, but repentance is an action, "repentance from acts," (Hebrews 6:1). The Bible tells us that you "should repent and turn to God, and prove [your] repentance by [your] deeds," (Acts 26:20b).

How can you tell when someone has really repented? The Bible tells us the person will, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance," (Matthew 3:8). So examine yourself critically. What actions have you repented of? What "fruit" of repentance have you produced? According to the Bible's definition, have you really repented? The bottom line is that Jesus says unless you repent you will perish.1

John 3:3 - Jesus said, "...no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again..."

What does it mean to be "born again?" All of us share this in common: we were all born physically--an event we celebrate every year on our birthday. But being born physically doesn't make us God's children. No, for that we must be born again; and that doesn't happen until we place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus," (Galatians 3:26).

This kind of "faith" goes beyond mere mental acknowledgement of facts. Placing your faith in Jesus to save you from Hell must be done as fervently as you would grasp onto a rope thrown to you as you were falling off a cliff. When you place your faith like this in Jesus, you are re-born, spiritually speaking, as a child of God (John 1:12-13).

How can you tell when someone has really been born again? The Bible tells us the person will urgently desire to get rid of anything in their life that's sinful or displeasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:7, 1 John 3:9), they will obey Christ's commands (John 14:15, 1 John 2:3), and they will pray to God for the boldness to speak to others about Christ (Acts 4:29). The Bible says, "...if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment," (1 Corinthians 11:31). So judge yourself now, before you have to face God on Judgment Day. Have you genuinely been born again? The bottom line is that Jesus says you won't be able to see the kingdom of God unless you've been born again.

Don't be like the religious man in Jesus' story. Humble yourself before God today. Truly repent. Place your faith in Jesus Christ, and be born again. Take time now to "...make your calling and election sure..." (2 Peter 1:10). Don't wait another minute... this breath may be the last one God grants you.

For more information, please listen to a free message online called "True and False Conversion" www.examineyourself.com.

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1. Does this mean that real Christians never sin? Of course not. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," (1 John 1:8). But there is a clear distinction between living in sin and stumbling into sin. For clarity on this, read Romans 7:7-8:9.