False Assurance, Phony Conviction and Counterfeit Faith
By Mike DeSario

"Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourself! Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified."  2Cor13:5

"Bring froth fruit worthy of your repentance!"  Matt3:8

"But godly sorrow produces repentance not to be regretted. The sorrow of the world produces death. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what Fear, what vehement dire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you PROVED yourselves to be clear in this matter." 2Cor7:10,11

Do you really think you're saved in Christ when you won't diligently read God's Word, hate sin in your live and the lives of others and do everything within your power to save people from the corrupting influence of sin? Who are you trying to kid? Yourself or others in your church in the small boat. Produce ONE shred of evidence that your supposed 'Conversion' to Christ is real. Bring forth a single attribute of genuine spiritual Fruit. Show me that you Fear God, have Zeal to do His Work and Joy that you have been set free from sin. Examine yourself and tell me that the Light of His Divine love is shining forth in your life, your flesh has been crucified and you have now possess the Mind of Christ! 

"He delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love."  Col1:13

"You are Set Free from sin!"  Rom6:22   "Sin shall not have dominion over you!" Rom6:14 

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ live in me!" Gal2:20 

"The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace!" Gal5:22 

"Let this mind be you in which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil2:5 

Most people today are under the impression they are 'Christians' because they once had a moment of true faith and received Christ into their hearts. They try to live a moral life, do good works, attend church and associate with other 'like-minded' people. Their Gospel consist of 'no body's perfect, just forgiven', a weekly church service, some shallow Bible study, tithing ten percent and showing up for the parties. What the Scriptures have to say about genuine Christianity can't be taken too seriously because that was for another time. 
Today we do our best, believe and relax. Christ did everything for us already so nothing I do can effect the final outcome of my salvation. 

But NOTHING could be further from the Truth! The Scriptures Demand that you Obey, Bare Fruit, and remain steadfast to the end.  If you fail to do these things you will inevitably shipwreck your faith and fall away to eternal ruin. 

"Having faith and a good conscience which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck" 1Tim1:19

"He who loves Me Keeps My Commandants." John14:15  

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered and burned." John15:6

"Through whom we have received grace and apostleship for Obedience to the faith!" Rom1:5 

"By this Gospel you are saved IF you hold fast that word which I preached!" 1Cor15:2 

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die." Rom8:13 

You have been duped by the false teachers. Obedience is NOT optional! When Christ said if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out, or your hand, cut it off, He meant exactly what he said. Trifling with sin will destroy you spiritually. (Matt5:28)  There is no such thing as 'Carnal' Christianity. The preachers want you to believe there is to keep you coming to church and contributing to their ministries. If they preached what the Bible REALLY says MOST of you would be GONE WITH WIND! 

"For to be carnally minded is death." Rom 8:6

"If you live according to the flesh you will die." Rom8:13 

"Let no one deceive you with empty words because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. " Eph5:6

"Do not be deceived God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows that he will also reap." Gal 6:7 
" Whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness." Rom6:16 

Most people think salvation comes in 'degrees'. That you can put away some sins now and the rest later when it's more convenient. This is another lie of the devil. James says, "You believe God is one, you do well, so the devils believe and shutter!" (James2:19)  What is he saying? He is saying that true saving faith cannot be had by merely 'knowing' about God, for even the devils know. You must bring forth evidence that you know Him not only 'that He is', but that He can deliver you from the corrupting influence of sin and set you on the path of Righteousness! Thus false assurance is given almost on a daily bases to professing Christians in the churches because they are being told not to worry about the sin in their lives, that Grace will cover it, no one is perfect and it's 'normal' to live in bondage to your lusts. 

"I told you before that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!" Gal5:21

"IF we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin." Heb10:26

"They profess to know God, but in works Deny Him!" Titus1:16

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil!" 1Jh3:8

"But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds my be clearly seen, that they are done in God." John3:21

"We have been given exceeding great and precious promises that through these you may be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust!" 2Pet1:4

Today it's 'feel good' religion, don't hurt their feelings! Give them instant assurance. God is love, judgment is out of the question. Build up their self esteem, don't let them feel bad about their sins. All is forgiven in Christ, no need to worry. Sit back and relax. Thus the Real Gospel is LOST in a maze of false teaching. The Narrow Gate and Difficult path do not apply. That men are commanded: "Strive to enter by the Narrow gate!" is never mentioned. Thus people are believing in vain. 

"God will render to each one according to his deeds. Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." Rom2:6-8 

"For it is appointed to man once to die and after that the Judgment." Heb9:27

"Strive to enter by the Narrow Gate for many I say will try and not be able." Luke13:24

"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold fast to that Word I preached unless you have believed in vain!" 1Cor15:2

"No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God!" Luke9:62

Many mistake conviction for conversion and are easily lead astray by the false teachers. The Gospel hucksters use great swelling words of emptiness and promise young converts liberty, while they themselves are slaves to corruption! Because the new converts WILL NOT diligently study the Word of God and seek out the truth, they are being drawn into this false 'religious' system and deceived. They will accept ANYTHING the savage wolves tell them! "All things are permissible to me, but not all are profitable." they quote. "If you're addicted to pornography, drink, sex or drugs, it's NOT good for you, but it WON'T effect the outcome of your salvation. Even if you go as far as to commit suicide, you WON'T lose your salvation. Your sin is ALREADY forgiven in Christ. Therefore nothing you do matters."  This they teach and MORE! On radio, in books, from pulpits, daily around the clock, Worldwide! The Grace of God is License to sin. Thus the churches are FILLED with lukewarm, lustful, do-nothing converts, hardened to the truth and speeding toward eternity on a mouth full of lies. 

"For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lust of the flesh, those who have barely escaped from those who live in error! While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves to corruption." 2Pet2:18-19 

"Meditate on these things, GIVE yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be known by all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you!" 1Tim4:15-16 

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." 2Tim2:15

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God!" 1Cor6:9

"Let no one deceive you with empty words because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." Eph5:6 

"Beware brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, But exhort one another daily while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." Heb3:12-14 

The churches will never have true revival until the issue of sin is dealt with form the leadership down to the pews. As long as those who teach condone sin in any form and tolerate false doctrines, the Spirit will be quenched. The truth must be brought to bare on the minds and hearts of everyone present and as it shines forth, men must be diligently searched out so their deeds will be exposed. People cannot be permitted to accept a phony salvation prayer when they HAVE NOT broken up the fallow ground in their hearts and thoroughly repented of everything they know to be wrong. The churches are committing nothing short of 'spiritual abortion' by giving these potential converts false assurance while the Spirit of God is still convicting them of sin.  Persons anxious about the state of their souls should be probed with the truth as with a sharp knife to uncover any 'lingering' remnants of sin still lurking below the surface. Leading them too quickly to an alter or assuring them that all is well could seal their fate for eternity! While the Spirit is probing, encourage them to make a CLEAN SWEEP of sin out of their lives and throw themselves on the Mercy of Christ.  Otherwise they may slip into spiritual delusion and never recover. Self deception can be very deadly and as the years go by the heart hardens like stone. Don't miss the ONE opportunity they may have to experience TRUE CONVERSION. 

"For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the Light that his deeds may be clearly seen that they are done in God." John3:20-21 

"Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!" Matt3:10 

"Sow for yourselves righteousness. Reap in mercy, Break up the fallow ground. For it is time to seek the Lord. Till He comes and rains righteousness on you." Hosea10:12 

"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit & of joints & marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb4:12 

"Be DOERS of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James1:22 

"You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked." 2Pet3:17 

The possibility of counterfeit faith is clearly defined in Jesus' own words when He said that NOT everyone who cries Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matt7:20-21)  It doesn't matter what some well dressed preacher tells you or how sincere he sounds in his teaching. He can talk about 'believing' on Christ and 'accepting' Jesus as your personal savior all day long. But if he is NOT telling you to "Make every effort to enter threw the Narrow Gate!" and warning you to "Forsake sins of the flesh because they will ruin your soul!"  He is not preaching the Gospel of Christ. If it sound too easy and NOTHING is required on your part, FLEE for your live! It is 'another gospel' Paul warned us about and under the control of another 'spirit'. The Genuine Gospel of Christ is the Call to Discipleship. Nothing about it is optional. The preachers who explain the hard saying away are LYING. They may be self deceived and full of good intentions, but THEY ARE LYING! They are the wolves in sheep's clothing Jesus warned us about. (Matt7:15-16) They are the 'perverse' men Paul spoke of, (Acts20:30) and the 'false teachers' Peter exposed, (2Pet2:1-2)  "You SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS!" Jesus said.  They have abandon the "Doctrine which is according to godliness! They are destitute of the truth!" (1Tim6:3) They 'tickle' men's ears with fables and vain babblings. (2Tim4:1-5) And MANY follow their 'sensual' ways into destruction. Because of whom the way of Truth is blasphemed. (2Pet2:2-3) DO NOT be partakers of their evil ways. (2John7-10) 

Come to Christ, take His Yoke upon you, for it is easy and light. Faith working by love Purifies the heart and has Victory over the world. No one can serve two masters. You can't love the world and follow Christ at the same time. He demands TOTAL commitment. In comparison you must Love Him more than anyone or anything on earth. Taking up your cross is NOT putting up some inconvenience in your life, like a bad relationship with your in-laws, the Cross represents self-denial and death to self-life. When Jesus said "Take up your cross and Follow Me!" He was demanding that you die to your selfish ambitions and LIVE for His Glory. Many times in the Gospels Jesus said "You are not fit for the kingdom," after uttering some 'hard' saying and many of the people following Him turned away. (John6:60-66) The rich young man was one such person who after hearing that his 'religion' wouldn't suffice, and he must forsake ALL that he possessed, went away sad. (Matt19:16-22)  He failed to understand that the one working Dynamic of true saving Faith is Obedience to Christ. The LAW of faith, Paul called it. (Rom2:27) 

The scripture says, "Abraham believed God!" & "Abraham OBEYED God!" (Rom4:4, Heb11:8) The two are inseparable in scripture. Again, the preachers are LYING to you! You can 'believe' to NO EFFECT, as the demons, who believe and tremble. (James2:19) The ONLY genuine Evidence that true saving faith has taken place in your heart is whether or not you CONTINUE in OBEDIENCE to Christ. (1John5:13)  Otherwise one of two things has happened: You have 'believed' for a while and in time of testing fallen away. (Luke13:8) OR: Your faith is counterfeit because you have NOTHING to back it up. (James1:22, 2:17 Titus1:16) Either way your eternal outlook is not bright. 

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abided forever." 1Pet1:22

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in the present age. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem for Himself His own special people zealous for good works." Titus2:11-14 

"That having been justified by His grace we MIGHT become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus3:7 

"Put on the New man which was created according to God in righteousness and True Holiness." Eph4:24 

"Therefore having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God!" 2Cor7:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do NOT walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit!" Rom8:1