So I was thinking on these things: Sin is so horrendous that God Himself had to die to free us from it. He made a way for us at an enormous cost to himself. Yet we are told, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” People will be going to hell while saying, "Lord, Lord", thinking they are saved, when they are not. I pray I am not one of them.
We are told, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." It specifies those who are in Christ. We are also told to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. So how do you know if you are in Christ Jesus? What are we told are characteristics of those who will be saved?
Jesus said, "My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
The Greek verb there, follow, ἀκολουθέω is in the present tense. The present tense in Greek, unlike English, is a continuing action.
From the Ezra Project, Greek Tenses Explained "In English, we know that the present tense describes something happening right now. It informs us of the time when an action takes place. In Greek, however, the present tense primarily tells us the type of action. The Greek present tense indicates continued action, something that happens continually or repeatedly, or something that is in the process of happening."
That one should follow Jesus and keep on following Him makes sense from the rest of the Bible. The Israelites followed God through the desert. They needed to keep following him, not just stop, or go somewhere else, or return to Egypt.
In 2 Peter we are told, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
These are people who escaped but returned to the vomit. They fell away. They were born again, but lost their salvation. Now they are in a worse situation than if they'd never been saved.
“I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die."
Again, the word believes πιστεύω is in the present tense, meaning an ongoing action in the present.
The definition speaks of placing one's confidence in a thing, in this case, this would be placing confidence in Jesus. It also speaks of fidelity, as in remaining faithful. In marriage you would be expected to remain faithful to your spouse. If we are to be the bride of Christ, we'd have to likewise remain faithful.
So how does one avoid falling away, or returning to your vomit? I searched out characteristics of followers of Jesus, who remain in Him.
Characteristics so far:
* They listen to Jesus (Matt 17:5)
* They follow Jesus (and keep following Him) (Matthew 4:19)
* Jesus' words abide in them. (John 15:7)
* They do whatever Jesus commands them. (John 15:4)
* They are not of the world, but hated by the world. (John 15:19)
* They have the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2)
* They obey the Son. (1 John 5:2)
* They confess their sins. (1 John 1:9)
* They keep His commandments. (John 14:15)
* They walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6)
* They love God with all their heart, soul and mind. (Matt 22:37)
* They love their neighbors and one another. (Matt 22:39)
* They do not love the world and its lusts.
* They are poor in spirit. (Matt 5:3)
* They mourn. (Matt 5:4)
* They are gentle. (Matt 5:5)
* They hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Matt 5:6)
* They are merciful. (Matt 5:7) (Luke 6:36)
* They are pure in heart. (Matt 5:8)
* They are peacemakers. (Matt 5:9)
* They are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. (Matt 5:10)
* They are the salt of the earth. (Matt 5:13)
* They are the light of the world. (Matt 5:14)
* People see their good works so they glorify God. (Matt 5:16)
* They keep and teach His commandments. (Matt 5:19)
* Their righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. (Matt 5:20)
* They give to the poor in secret. (Matt 6:1-4)
* They pray in secret. (Matt 6:5-6)
* They forgive other people their offenses. (Matt 6:14-15) (Matt 18:21-35)
* They fast in secret. (Matt 6:16-17)
* They don't store up treasures on earth. (Matt 6:19-20)
* They store up their treasure in heaven. (Matt 6:20-21)
* They serve God rather than wealth. (Matt 6:24)
* They do not worry about their life, food, drink, clothing. (Matt 6:25-34)
* They do not judge. (Matt 7:1-5)
* They do not give what is holy to dogs, or pearls to swine. (Matt 7:6)
* They ask the Father for what they need. (Matt 7:7-11)
* They treat people the way they want to be treated. (Matt 7:12)
* They are among the few who enter in through the narrow gate. (Matt 7:13-14)
* They know false prophets by their fruits. (Matt 7:15-20)
* They do the will of the Father. (Matt 7:21-23 Matt 12:50)
* They hear Jesus' words and act on them. (Matt 7:24-27)
* They plead for the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers. (Matt 9:37-38)
* They have authority to cast out demons and heal every disease. (Matt 10:1)*? (Was this just to the 12 Apostles?)
* They are sheep in the midst of wolves. (Matt 10:16)*?
* They are wary as serpents, innocent as doves. (Matt 10:16)*?
* They do not worry about what they will say when handed over to the courts. (Matt 10:17-20)*?
* They will be hated by all for Jesus' name. (Matt 10:22)*?
* They endure to the end. (Matt 10:22) (Matt 24:13)
* They become like Jesus. (Matt 10:24-25)*?
* They do not fear. (Matt 10:26, 31) many verses
* They proclaim what Jesus whispers to them from the housetops. (Matt 10:27)
* They don't fear men who can kill them, but rather fear God who can send them to hell. (Matt 10:28)
* They confess Jesus before people. (Matt 10:32-33)
* They do not love even family more than Jesus. (Matt 10:37-39)
* They do not take offense at Jesus. (Matt 11:6)
* They take Jesus' yoke upon them and learn from Him. (Matt 11:28-30)
* They bring out of their treasure good things. (Matt 12:35)
* They are justified by their words. (Matt 12:37)
* They hear the word and understand it and bear fruit. (Matt 13:1-23)(Mark 4:1-20)
* They will shine forth like the sun. (Matt 13:43)
* They are like the head of a household who brings out of his treasure new things and old. (Matt 13:52)
* They have faith and do not doubt. (Matt 14:31)
* They keep the commandments of God rather than traditions of men. (Matt 15:1-9)
* They discern the signs of the times. (Matt 16:1-4)
* They have the keys of heaven, binding and loosing in heaven and earth. (Matt 16:18-19)*?
* They set their minds on God's purposes, rather than men's. (Matt 16:23)
* They deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. (Matt 16:24)
* They lose their lives for Jesus' sake. (Matt 16:25)
* They will be repaid according to their deeds. (Matt 16:27)
* They will move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed. (Matt 17:20)
* They change and become like children, who humble themselves. (Matt 18:3-4) (Matt 23:12)
* They cut off hand or foot or pluck out eyes if they cause sin leading to hell. (Matt 18:8-9)
* They are servants. (Matt 20:26-27)(Matt 23:11)
* They pray, believing they will receive. (Matt 21:21-22)
* They follow the way of righteousness. (Matt 21:32)
* They pay to Jesus the fruit in its proper season. (Matt 21:33-45)
* They are among the few who come to the wedding feast when called, wearing the proper attire. (Matt 21:1-14)
* They call each other 'brother' and 'sister'. (Matt 23:8)
* They only call the Father in heaven 'father'. (Matt 23:9)
* They only call Jesus 'Leader'. (Matt 23:10)
* They only call God/Jesus their teacher. (Matt 23:8)
* They are not mislead. (Matt 24:4)
* They are not alarmed. (Matt 24:6)
* They are found doing their master's will when He returns. (Matt 24:46)
* They took extra oil in the lamps. (Matt 25:1-13)
* They were faithful with and caused an increase in the talents given them. (Matt 25:14-30)
* They are His sheep. (Matt 25:33)
* They give food, drink, comfort to the least of His creations. (Matt 25:34-40)
* They make disciples of all the nations. (Matt 25:19)
* They baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt 25:19)
* They teach them to follow all that Jesus commanded. (Matt 25:20)
* They are fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
* They repent and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
* They do the will of God. (Mark 3:35)
* They let their light shine for all to see. (Mark 4:21-22)
* They are at peace with one another. (Mark 9:50)
* They have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)
* They are alert and watching for the return of the Son of Man. (Mark 13:33-37)
* They will cast out demons, speak with new tongues, pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17)
* They don't live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4) (Luke 4:4)
* They worship God and serve Him only. (Luke 4:8)
* They don't test the Lord their God. (Luke 4:12)
* They love their enemies. (Luke 6:27)
* They do good to those who hate them. (Luke 6:27)
* They bless those who curse them. (Luke 6:28)
* They pray for those who abuse them. (Luke 6:28)
* They turn the other cheek. (Luke 6:29)
* They give their tunic also to those who take their cloak. (Luke 6:29)
* They give to whomever asks of them. (Luke 6:30)
* They do not demand back what has been taken from them. (Luke 6:30)
* They do not condemn. (Luke 6:37)
* They pardon. (Luke 6:37)
* They take the log out of their own eye before helping others take the speck out of their eye. (Luke 6:42)
* They build their house on the rock Jesus. (Luke 6:48-49)
* They love much because they were forgiven much. (Luke 7:44-47)
* They are saved by faith. (Luke 7:50)(Eph 2:8)
* They are not ashamed of Jesus. (Luke 9:26)
* They proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:60)
* They don't look back after putting their hand to the plow. (Luke 9:62)
* They have authority of all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19)
* They rejoice that their names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
* They pray with importunity. (Luke 11:5-8)
* They strive to enter through the narrow door. (Luke 13:24)
* They take the lowest place, when given a choice. (Luke 14:1-11)
* They give to those who cannot repay them. (Luke 14:12-14)
* They hate father, mother, sisters, brothers, wife, children, their own life. (Luke 14:26)
* They count the cost. (Luke 14:28-30)
* They give up all their own possessions. (Luke 14:33)
* They return if they have gone prodigal. (Luke 15:11-32)
* They are faithful first in little. (Luke 16:1-13)
* They rebuke their brother if he sins and forgive him if he repents. (Luke 17:3-4)
* They pray at all times and are not discouraged. (Luke 18:1-8)
* They leave house, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:29)
* They give praise to God. (Luke 18:43)
* They recognize the time of their visitation. (Luke 19:43-44)
* They are not weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness or the worries of life when the Lord returns. (Luke 21:34-36)
* They share wine and break bread in remembrance of Jesus. (Luke 22:14-22)
* They receive Jesus, and are born of God. (John 1:12-13)
* They are born again. (John 3:3)
* They are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5)
* They believe in Jesus (John 3:15-18)
* They love the light. (John 3:19)
* They practice truth and come to the light. (John 3:21)
* They drink the water Jesus gives to them. (John 4:13-14)
* They worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:23)
* They honor the Son. (John 5:23)
* They hear Jesus' word and believe the Father. (John 5:24)
* They work for food that leads to eternal life. (John 6:27)
* They eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood. (John 6:53)
* They remain in Jesus and Jesus in them. (John 6:56)
* They seek the glory of God. (John 7:16-18)
* They don't judge by outward appearance, but by righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
* They continue in His word. (John 8:31)
* They know the truth, and the truth sets them free. (John 8:32)
* They are no longer slaves to sin. (John 8:34)
* They hear the words of God. (John 8:47)
* They follow Jesus' word. (John 8:51)
* They carry out the works of the Father. (John 9:4)
* They enter the sheep fold by the door. (John 10:1)
* They are sheep following the shepherd. (John 10:4)
* They know Jesus' voice. (John 10:4)
* The sheep will never be snatched from Jesus' hand. (John 10:28)
* They allow Jesus to wash them. (John 13:8)
* They wash each other's feet. (John 13:14)
* They ask for what they need in Jesus' name. (John 14:14)
* They are a branch in Jesus' vine. (John 15:2)
* That branch bears much fruit. (John 15:5)
* They are pruned by God so they can produce more fruit. (John 15:2)
* They keep Jesus' commandments to remain in His love. (John 15:10)
* They testify about Jesus. (John 15:27)
* They are being sanctified in the truth of the word. (John 17:19)
* When they do all the above, they say ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ (Luke 17:10)
