My Favorite Fruit is...

Hey:) First I want to thank you for actually clicking and viewing this page! Secondly, I hope that you enjoy what I write—and if not, that is, if your views are entirely the opposite, feel free to comment, I love discussions over this stuff:]

So. I was going through my reading of Romans (Today was Romans 10:1-21) when I came across this: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13. Immediately this reminded me of Matthew 7:21, which reads "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Now I know that the Bible never fully contradicts itself, but it seems here that it does when it speaks of people calling on the name of the Lord to be saved. What is interesting here is that, although it seems that the Bible is stating opposite points, it is actually discussing the same exact topic with the same side (For God never changes—Malachi 3:6 and 2 Timothy 2:13).

First lets look at Matthew 7:21, or rather Matthew 7:15-23:

True and False Prophets

    ¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

    ²¹ “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. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’



The point being made here is that people who wish to follow Christ should beware of false prophets and should question if they are truly following the correct God. I advise every person who calls themselves “Christian” to do the same. Test and question what you believe to see if it is true—and I’ll get into that another time ;)

So, what is interesting is that Romans 10:13-17 builds off of the pervious passage. It reads:

¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

I can see that a preacher would use this in his or her sermon to strongly encourage the continuing of what Christians are supposed to do; to go out and preach the good news (Mark 16:15). But at this time I will take a different approach.

Notice that in verse 16 it reads “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.” So this shows that even if some people (even God’s chosen people as the Israelites were known for) hear the news, and even call upon the Lord (vs. 13), their hearts are still hardened and they do not ultimately believe. Continuing on, verse 17 includes my main argument when it says, “the message is heard through the word of Christ”. Taking this small piece and adding it to the known factor that other people out there are like “wolves in sheep’s clothing” it is important to conclude that what message that you are hearing, whether it claims to be about the actual Christ or not, is true or false. Now many here would refer to James 1:5, which reads that “if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him”. Although it is wise for man to ask God for help, we as humans must not open our hearts to any spirit that answers. We must be sure, then, that when we do receive an answer, that we can test its fruits accordingly (1 John 4:1-3) without finding hidden deceit. And furthermore, many who reply with James 1:5 take it out of context. James is writing to those who already believe (James verse 3 states “the testing of your faith”, which here has already been established) and who are lacking wisdom and perseverance, not in lacking the Gospel in its entirety as many use the verse for.

We must be sure that what Lord we are calling to is the correct one, after we have heard from whatever message is claiming to be true (the Bible is a good start), and that our hearts are fully committed to letting Him take control of our lives. Yes, everyone who calls on the correct name of the Lord will be saved, if only they “deny themselves” (Mark 8:34-35) and follow.
Oh. And I love fruit, especially pears:]