9.1 What bothers me is that there are so many hypocrites in the church.
- It is important to remember that there is a difference between real and nominal Christians, between those who only say they are Christians and those who show by their lives that they are true believers in Christ. There are hypocrites in politics, athletics and entertainment but that doesn’t stop people from voting or watching them. There is counterfeit money but that doesn’t cause anyone to refuse to have money.
- People only counterfeit what is real and valuable. We do not try to excuse hypocrisy, but don’t use it as an excuse for not being saved. Whatever people may do God is always true. God does not ask you to believe in Christians; He asks you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you become a Christian, be sure that you show the world what a genuine Christian should be.
9.2 I hesitate because I believe that all the church wants is your money.
Sometimes this is used as an excuse for not becoming a Christian but it is not a valid one. While it is true that certain churches, radio, and TV programs have become money-making rackets, that is not an accurate representation of the true Christian faith around the world. God doesn’t want your money; He wants your full and confiding trust (9a).
9.3 If I get saved, do I have to turn my back on the faith I was brought up in?
- If that faith denies that Christ is God, or teaches salvation by works, or practices idolatry, or denies that the Bible is the Word of God, then yes and you will want to leave it, even if it causes conflict in your family. However God has also guaranteed His presence to be with you and will help you through the difficulties. Hebrews c13v5 says “for He (the Lord – v6) has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
- Conversion often alienates relatives against the new believer. However, that should not discourage you. Experience proves that when a new convert lives a consistent life before his family, they can also be led to the Lord or at least can become less hostile and more accepting. Through any possible times of persecution the Lord stays with believers (9b). He knows their limits and gives His daily strengthening and wisdom (9c) and He will reward them in heaven for doing His will (9d&e). The rewards far outweigh the cost of trusting in the Lord Jesus (9f). The believer’s responsibility is to obey the Lord and leave the consequences to Him. He always rewards obedience (9g).
9.4 I’m afraid I will have to give up too much if I become a Christian. The cost is too high.
When you die you will have to give up everything you have and hold dear anyway. Have you also really considered the everlasting cost and consequences of not trusting in Christ as your Saviour?
9.5 I feel that I should trust Christ, and yet I am afraid to do it. Can you tell me what the trouble is?
It could be one of several things:
- Pride.
- That you are ashamed of Jesus Christ but do consider what He has done for you and what you could have through trusting in Him.
- That you want your pleasures or sins rather than trusting in Jesus Christ.
- Your love for some person who is an unbeliever but God can look after that situation.
- People pressure coming from the fear of their reaction. Yet by not trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ you are therefore not letting God help you in the circumstances that you now fear.
9.6 If I get saved, do I have to be baptized?
If you are truly converted, you should want to be baptized. Although baptism is not necessary for salvation (9h), it is necessary for obedience. As the Lord Jesus commanded it, it is very important (9i). It is one of the first ways you can make a confession of your faith to the world. If a person stubbornly refuses to be baptized, this refusal casts doubt on the reality of their conversion experience. Professing Christians who die unbaptized will be unbaptized for all eternity.
Bible References:
9a Acts c16v31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, …”
9b Hebrews c13v5 “Let your conversation (meaning way of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
9c 2 Corinthians c12v9 “And He (the Lord Jesus – v8) said unto me, My grace (the Lord’s daily strengthening) is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
9d 2 Corinthians c5v10 “For we (believers in Christ – v7) must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.”
9e 1 Corinthians c3v12 “Now if any man (believers in Christ – v9) build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
9f Romans c8v18 “For I (the apostle Paul – c1v1) reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
9g 1 Samuel c2v30b “… for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
9h While Jesus Christ was on the cross we read in John’s Gospel c19v30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (i.e. died).” The judgement for our sins that He had taken upon Himself to save us from it, was completed. If we have to be baptized to be saved then that is something additional that we have to do to be saved. Therefore was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, either speaking in ignorance or did not mean what He said on the cross?
9i Matthew c28v19 the Lord Jesus said, “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”