Deceiving His Own Soul.

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
I REMEMBER once speaking to a man I who professed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet it was evident to me that, notwithstanding his moral habits, he did not know Him. It turned out that he had been accustomed to attend chapel regularly, to hear sermons, and receive them as true, taking for granted all that the preacher said, but never getting beyond the man he listened to, never once receiving the word as "NOT the word of man, but as it is in truth THE WORE) OF GOD, which effectually worketh in them that believe" (1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)). 1TH 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Well do I recall his astonishment and alarm when the distinction and the danger were pointed out to him. He confessed at once, that for years he had been deceiving his own soul. "I thought," said he," I was a Christian, but I now see that I have never heard the VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD. I see it is possible to hear sermons, and even to receive, them in a certain sort of way, yet not to hear Christ, nor receive Grace would not let him perish in this delusion; he was saved; but his religious history is a warning to all who, like him, may be resting on the minister and his sermons, instead of CHRIST AND HIS WORD. "He that heareth MY WORD, and believeth on Him that sent Ale, hath everlasting life" (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). JOH 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)