Bubba's goin' to Hell
...but why?
| Bubba has been in church
every time the doors were open since he was
two weeks old. But Bubba's goin' to Hell. When Bubba was 13 years old
he heard a scary sermon and walked the aisle and shook the preacher's
hand. The preacher sent him to a side room where brother deacon took
him through the "Roman's Road." He asked Bubba if he would repeat a
prayer and Bubba sincerely repeated every word. That evening, Bubba was
baptized and all the little old ladies came forward and shook his hand.
Poor Bubba, He's goin to Hell. Bubba was a always a pretty good kid. He never attended any of the “wild” parties. He never used to drink much, only a beer every now and then with “the boys.” But he was in church every time the doors were open. He was so faithful that the preacher gave him his very own Sunday School class when he was just 17, which he has taught faithfully for the last twenty years. That is, until Brother Jones’ class won the Pizza party contest. Bubba knew that his class was really the best, but brother Jones was a bigger giver. Now Bubba spends his weekends out on the lake. He ain’t got much use for religion these days, after all He can worship God in nature. He drinks a little more frequently but He tells himself “I ain’t no drunk..hic.., after all Jesus turned water into wine..hic..” Some folks from the church came around last week to invite Bubba to the 50th anniversary homecoming service. You should’ve seen the looks on those poor ladies face as Bubba cussed them a blue streak. Poor Bubba, after all those years of faithful service, He’s goin straight to Hell....But Why? Some would argue that Bubba is really NOT going to hell but is really still saved. After all, we all know he “received Jesus” when he was thirteen. Others would say that Bubba just didn’t hold out to the end, that he fell from grace or lost his salvation. They would say, “Surely Bubba was saved, after all he was a baptized church member in good standing for all those years. But he just couldn’t hold on.” Of course we could all offer our opinions as to why Bubba is going to hell, but at best they would be just that: opinions. To find the truth, we must look into the Scriptures and see what Jesus would say to Bubba. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them. 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. Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:20-23).
Clearly, as anyone can see, Bubba does not have the fruits of a Christian. And he is certainly not doing the will of the Father. But I can hear Bubba say as he stands before Jesus, “But Lord, Lord, I walked the aisle when I was thirteen; I attended Church faithfully for 37 years. I even taught a Sunday school class and led many others to pray the same prayer I prayed when I was thirteen.” Now listen carefully as Jesus answers him: “I never knew you.” I NEVER knew you! I NEVER knew you!! The Lord’s answer is very important. Notice Jesus did not say: “Even though you were born again, you did not hold out so you can’t come in.” or “Sorry, you fell from grace.” Not even “You didn’t do your part.” He said I never knew you. Why did Bubba go to Hell? Because he was never born again. Some are wailing now, “What do you mean never born again!! He believed in Jesus!” So does the Devil! (James 2:19) So did Simon the Sorcerer, but Peter said he was still in the bond of iniquity. (Acts 8:13-23) There was a key ingredient missing from Simon and Bubba’s “salvation.” We find it in Peter’s response to Simon: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness,
and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee. (Acts 8:22).
That one little word: REPENT! It is such a dirty word to most people today. They would rather hear about love, grace joy and so on; but not REPENT! But what does it mean to repent? Repentance is simply acknowledging our sin of breaking God’s Law and then turning from that sin to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But aren’t we saved by faith? Of course we are! But notice in the following Scriptures what always precedes saving faith: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark
1:15).
For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him
not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye
had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
(Matthew 21:32).
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21). But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (Acts 26:20). In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Tim 2:25). Is it clear yet? Repentance ALWAYS comes first! the Pharisees could not believe John because they would not repent! Paul said they must repent to acknowledge the truth. Any faith which is not grounded in repentance is a dead faith! This is precisely what James 2:17 is talking about: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Does this mean that works play a part in our salvation? Absolutely NOT! It simply means that REAL FAITH will produce works! You can even see this truth in the very passage which tells us we are not saved by works: For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians
2:8-9).
Most People stop right there and never read verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.
In case some of you are still squirming and whining; “But Bubba received Jesus!” Let me ask you: Which Jesus? For if he that cometh preacheth another
Jesus, whom we have not
preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received,
or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with
him. (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Bubba received a “false jesus.” Instead of the Jesus of the Bible who hates sin and requires to be the LORD of our lives, Bubba received a soft good-ol-boy jesus who “loves everyone and has a wonderful plan for our lives”. The carnal church at Corinth couldn’t bear the Jesus Paul preached so Paul said maybe they would bear another one. This “other jesus” is by far more popular in the church today. There is even a church in our city with a sign that says “God’s not mad at you no matter what!” I’ve got news for Bubba and all his kind: Jesus is God and He hates some people! The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:
thou hatest all workers of iniquity. (Psalm 5:5).
I’ll bet you have never heard many sermons on that text! Notice who God hates? Remember the verse we began with: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. (Matthew 7:23). Notice the stark contrast to the saved: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me: And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s
hand. (John 10:27-29).
There is the wonderful promise of eternal security to the saved! Are you one of His sheep? If you are, then He knows you. He can not say He never did. Everyone who is born again by repentance and faith in the real Jesus has eternal life, not temporary life- ETERNAL! THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH! How do you know if you are one of His sheep? “they follow me!” Do you follow Christ? I mean the real one in the Bible? Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves...(2 Corinthians 13:5).
Is your salvation based on some “repeat-after-me” prayer? Did you “believe” without ever repenting? Did you accept Jesus as your saviour without ever submitting to Him as your LORD? If so, you are going to Hell with Bubba. Please don’t be a Bubba. Realize that you have broken God’s Law: Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever used “OH God” or “Jesus Christ” as an exclamation? Have you ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you (even something small)? Have you ever disobeyed your parents, hated anyone, looked with lust at the opposite sex or coveted something? If so then you have broken most of the Ten Commandments. It only takes one to be guilty: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
The penalty has already
been set:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
Does it concern you that you will one day stand guilty before a Holy God? The good news is you don’t have to. But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Because God does love mankind, He showed His love by giving His only begotten Son to pay the penalty for your sins. Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again for YOU! Will you this moment repent and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from the wrath of God? He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him. (John 3:36).
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) Banner of the Cross Baptist Church PO Box 36 Gurley AL 35748 256-776-0202 www.lastdaystruth.com |