There are two kinds of people that profess to be Christian who concern me: Those without truth.  And those without grace.  Because they have not the love of God.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching.  My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.”

–John 14:23

The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

–1 John 2:4-6

Those without truth are often called “carnal Christians.”  The church tells them they’ve prayed the prayer, assures them of their ticket to Heaven.  But the Bible says those who practice the things they practice will not inherit eternal life.  The Bible says we must walk as Jesus did.  The Bible connects true belief with obedience.

Yet these are not the only professing Christians that concern me.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”

–Luke 11:42

“. . . but I know you.  I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.  I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not accept Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”

–John 5:42-43

Those without grace are often called righteous, good, seen as different from the world, set apart and holy.  They are often pillars of the community, pastors of churches, and leaders of ministries.  They may tithe regularly, give abundantly to the poor, say all the right things, for all appearances look exactly how you’d expect a Christian to look; but the Bible says that without love all their deeds are as nothing.  They question, judge, correct, reject and crucify those whom God Loves.  They rejected and crucified Jesus.

And I fear they will not inherit eternal life.

Furthermore, I fear for those who follow them, because they cannot follow Jesus and another.  I fear for those who walk with them, because Jesus does not walk with them.  I fear for those who try to appease them that they might work alongside them, because Jesus sought no peace through compromise with them, only peace through victory, and after they mocked peace and praises, they crucified Him.  I fear when those who rejected Him, accept us, for I wonder what then lies in store for us both on this earth and in eternity.

If we walked as Jesus did, fully abided in His Love, what would change?  Would they hate us, too?  Would the persecutions and trials Jesus promised His followers be ours as much as His early disciples?  What separates us from those without grace and those without truth?  Or does anything at all?

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