Sermon Notes on UNCHANGED by Dr. Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church
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Unchanged

The worst kind of counterfeiting of all is Counterfeiting Christianity.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14

60% of Americans believe there is a Hell and 4% believe they are going there.
78% of Americans believe in Heaven and they believe they are going there when they die.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-20

Here’s the thing that ought to wrench our hearts… verse 21… you gotta sit down for this one. This is terrible. Look at it. The Bible says,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 7:21

Tell me this? Who is going to heaven? Does that scare you? Look at the text. It is not those who claim to know God, it is those who do the will of my Father, Jesus says.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:22-23

The acid test of real Christianity is the fruit. It’s the behavior. It’s what they do. The deception goes like this. He who does what is right is righteous. Here is the deception. You can be righteous before God and not be right. I can be right before God and not live for God. That’s the deception.

Here’s what people say:

“I’m not really into God and I’m not really doing all the things I should do, but… I know God’s not going to send me to Hell because I’m a pretty good person. I do more good than bad.”

“I’m not a Jesus freak, and I don’t take it to an extreme but… I believe.”

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. – John 3:7-10

If you are a Christian your behavior in life will change. No ifs ands or buts. No exceptions.