Both Feet

Okay, if you are reading this and you have a Bible handy, open it to John 3:16 and put your finger on the passage. Is your finger on the passage? Now, let me tell you the problem with Christianity in America; many would say it is because Christians have one foot in the world and one foot in the church, but the truth is that most Christians have both feet in the world and one finger on John 3:16. The attitude is: I can live however I want because I know John 3:16. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in the doctrines of grace; I believe in Justification by faith (alone), but I'm afraid many people hold onto an antinomian "cheap grace" that diminishes the Biblical gospel. I've done funerals for people who lived like hell, never went to church a day after they turned 13, but everybody says,"praise God they got saved at camp when they were 12". They might be sorely mistaken. When speaking of false prophets, Jesus said, "you shall know them by their fruits...even so every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Mathew 7:16a-17). I think we can apply Jesus' words not only to prophets but to self proclaimed Christians as well. Bonhoeffer said, "when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die", and "no one can say they are saved by grace alone unless they have left all to follow Christ". These quotes put the proper perspective upon the importance of trusting Christ with everything not just with one finger. We need to get our feet out of the world and put our whole selves into Christ and His gospel. " But the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God".(1 Cor. 1:18). Just as you can't take the bloodied cross out of the gospel, you can't take godly sorrow, repentance and good works away from faith for without them you don't have a true gospel nor a true faith.
(PS I can't take all the credit for the "finger on John 3:16" illustration- my lovely and godly wife came up with that)