Feeling differently out of church

Published 12:50 pm Thursday, September 28, 2023

Have you ever wondered or even despaired at the fact that you feel very differently at home as you do in church? This bothers many people and makes some of them even question their salvation. It should not. and that is because no one is truly good. God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.” At church we all feel closer to God and even repentant of things we know we should not have done. But at home, familiarity sets in and we become our old selves again.

However, we need never worry about our salvation if we truly believe in Jesus Christ and have trusted Him as our Lord and Savior. Many want Him as Savior, but do not want Him directing their lives. True children of God (Christians), however, want Christ to be their Lord, if for no other reason than to demonstrate their love and gratitude to God for saving them.

Feelings, however, can never be trusted. That is why being saved requires no particular feelings. In fact, feelings have nothing to do with the saving process. Neither does anything we can possibly do. No one can earn or buy his salvation. It is God’s gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear in stating, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace is defined as unmerited favor. It is from God to all who put their trust in Christ Jesus. God provides His grace to us because He loves each person, even unbelievers. All are invited to “take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

There are many people who are quite mistaken about their salvation. Some are depending on their church membership to save them. Others think they have, in effect, inherited their salvation because of godly parents. But someone has put it very aptly by saying, “God has no grandchildren.” Each one must come on his own by way of the cross of Calvary. Those who truly believe in and trust their souls to Christ will be saved. One must believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and died to save him from all his sins. These are all assured of heaven. Nothing can ever change the status of a child of God (a Christian).

The Gospel of Christ is the very good news that Jesus Christ is God and died as a man on the cross of Calvary to save all who believe in Him. That is more than good news; that is wonderful news, because it means that every sin—past, present, and even future—are washed away by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

There is an enormous caveat, however. and that is that this life, on earth, is the only opportunity to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. and even more frightening is the fact that physical death ends all opportunity to be saved and qualify for heaven. So, I always urge people not to put off the single most important decision anyone ever makes in life. I urge doing this without delay because no one has any idea when his death will occur.