Jerry C. Brewer
Since the fall of man in Eden, there has never been a time in the history of the world when the majority of people were God-fearing. Jesus said there will be more people lost than will be saved (Mat. 7:13-14). However, this is not God’s fault. Peter said that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Nor is it the desire of Christ that anyone should be lost (Heb. 2:9). It follows, then, that the reason so many will be eternally lost is the fault of man himself. Why is that?
Many people do not think they are lost. They give lip service to righteousness, but deep down they believe in universal salvation. They think they are just too good to be lost and the man who believes that will make no effort to get to safety.
Many folks are trusting in salvation by “faith only.” They think that just because they believe Jesus is the Son of God, they are saved. Their faith, apart from works, is dead (Jam. 2:24). Noah’s salvation came about because his faith was obedient (Heb. 11:7; cf. Gen. 6:22).
One cannot be saved apart from an obedient faith. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Christ is the author of salvation “unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:8-9).
The love of sin will keep multitudes from heaven. Jesus said men love darkness more than light (John 3:19), and Paul said men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Tim. 3:1-5). He who would be saved must shun the things of the world (1 John 2:15-17).
Many are lost because they are trusting in moral goodness to save them. If morality alone can save, men could be saved apart from the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7), and then man does not even need a Savior (Mat. 1:21). There was moral goodness in the world before Christ came, while He was here, and after He ascended back to heaven. If morality could save, He was foolish to die for our sins.
Many are lost because they are trusting in the doctrines of men. Jesus said that to do so renders one’s worship vain, and thus his service to God (15:8-9). Men trust more in reciting a so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” than in obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ and those who teach such nonsense are sending men to eternal torment.
Many are lost because of their own biases. They have loved and believed religious lies for so long that they have closed their eyes to the Truth and are self-deceived (2 The. 1:10- 12). In that condition, they are prejudiced against the Truth and those who preach it. Although more people will be lost than saved, you do not have to be among that number.
God has revealed the plan of salvation in His Word and if we follow that, He will save us. He says men must believe in Him and in Jesus Christ (Heb. 11:6; John 8:24), repent of their sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38), confess Christ before men (Mat. 10:32; Acts 8:37), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
The decision is yours.
