"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Rom. 13:11, 12). In Eph. 5:14 we read, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." The context in both these passages shows that Christians are asleep spiritually when they need to be active and alive, working for Jesus Christ. However many other people need to also wake up to things they have not considered. 1. People need to wake up to the fact that everything taught in religion is not right. There are many religious racketeers in the world today. They are handing a gullible public a bill of religious goods that will not save the soul. They might soothe their consciences but they will not save. Paul said the gospel is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes (Rom. 1:16). He also said that though he or an angel from heaven preached any other gospel they would be accursed (Gal. 1:8). We need to realize that just because a preacher read something from his Bible does not mean that he has rightly divided it, nor that he has given the true interpretation of that same scripture. We all need to be as the Bereans and check up on what is being taught by searching the scriptures to see if the things people are telling us are so. (Acts 17:11,12). 2. People need to wake up to the facts that unless they believe, repent, confess faith in Christ and are baptized to be saved - those same folks are lost. Jesus said we must believe and be baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16). Now what if people do not believe and be baptized? They are still lost. Jesus also said that either we repent or perish (Lk. 13:3). Unless you repent then you are lost. Jesus also told us to confess Him and he will confess us. (Mat. 10:32) Confession is made to salvation (Rom. 10:10). Without it there is no salvation. Acts 22:16 says baptism washes away sins. Without it we are still in sin. Please wake up and do these things so you will be saved. 3. People need to wake up to the fact that if they are not in the Lord's church they are lost. We are reconciled to God in the one body (Eph. 2:16). Christ is the savior of the body (Eph. 5:23). We must be in the church for our names to be written in heaven (Heb. 12:23). Those not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:15). The Lord's church is the one He built (Mat. 16:18). The Lord's church is restored by following the Bible instructions as to what it takes to be a congregation of the same. Unless we restore the Lord's church in teaching, faith, worship and practice we cannot be saved. It's time to wake up to these things before it is too late. 4. It is time to wake up to the fact that if we do not worship God regularly that we are lost. Jesus said, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve." (Mat. 4:10). When we are saved the Lord adds us to the church (Acts 2:47). Then we are to continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. (Acts 2:42). The Lord's supper was partaken of by congregations on the first day of the week (Acts. 20:7). Then it is stated: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:25). Heb. 10:26 says that if we sin willfully there is no more sacrifice for sin but a certain looking for of judgment which shall devour the adversary. It is a fearful thing to forsake the assembly. We will be lost over it. 5. We need to wake up to the fact that unless we fall out of love with the world that we are going to spend eternity with the god of this world -who is the devil. He is the prince of the power of the air that works in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:1-3). Walking according to the course of this world makes one spiritually dead. Then when judgment day comes the Lord will say, "depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Mat. 25:41). People can't be drunk with alcohol, stoned on drugs, kicking up the heels dancing, petting, committing adultery, killing, brawling, cursing, or engaging in other worldly practices without being lost. They do not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). WAKE UP -GET RIGHT!!
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