58 - Stephen – “ Are you saying that everybody who is going to heaven, needs to be a disciple of Christ? ”
“Michael, are you saying that everybody who is saved or who is going to heaven, needs to be a disciple of Christ? How did the thief on the cross get saved? You keep talking about obedience and it sounds to me like you think you and only a few other people are going to make it to heaven? I believe the number of people who sincerely believe in Jesus on the earth, let’s say half of the two billion who profess to believe in Him, which is about 1 billion, is only 14% of the 7 billion, on the planet. Isn’t that a few?
And how do you reconcile your teaching on obedience and the way being so narrow, with babies who died, young children who believe, or the thief on the cross? You speak of false teachers and recognizing a tree by its fruit. I think of men like Robert Tilton or Peter Popoff as false teachers, but I don’t think of guys like John McArthur, Mark Driscoll, Tony Evans, Robert Morris, or Joel Osteen, those kind of guys, I don’t think that they’re false teachers. You speak of bearing fruit, but I see a lot of fruit in Joel Osteen’s life.
I believe 100% that because I believe in Jesus, I am going to heaven. I believe there are three levels of heaven and so maybe some who aren’t taking God as serious as you and I, won’t make it to the third heaven but they will still be saved. Do you believe Judas Iscariot is in hell? God used him. Haven’t all of us betrayed Christ in some way? If Judas believed that Christ is Lord and Savior, but he just betrayed him for the silver that he got, then I believe that Judas is in heaven.
Period, man, I’m telling you right now, if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and you confess with your mouth you’re saved, okay, just like the dude on the cross.
Okay, regarding being a disciple. Being a disciple is different than being saved. You know, you said that Christ said that if you want to be my disciple, then you must, you know, lose everything and follow me. Yes, I agree with that. Not everybody who is saved is a disciple. Some people are called to be Christ’s disciple and some aren’t, so I separate the two.
Like I’ve really fallen in love with him because I got that deep revelation of who he is and I’ve spent time with him, which builds that love for him, okay? Most people don’t do that, but they’re still saved if they believe in their heart, and they confess what their mouth at Jesus is Lord.
They’re just not Christ’s disciple, but they’re still saved.
So think about that.”
The Narrow Path: Are You Truly Walking with Jesus?
Are you as confident in your salvation as Stephen was in today’s recording? Do you believe that simply confessing Jesus as Lord guarantees your place in heaven, like the thief on the cross? Today, let's confront a difficult truth found in Scripture: many who call themselves Christians are walking a path of deception.
Several testimonies from individuals who experienced near-death experiences reveal a shocking reality. They stood before Jesus, only to hear the devastating words, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23). These were not atheists or agnostics, but people who had been involved in ministry, spoken in tongues, and even performed good works. Yet, their faith was deemed “dead.” Howard Pittman, in his testimony, recounts God saying, "You didn't do those works for me. You did them for the false god of SELF." Their deception screams of the importance of examining our faith, now before it’s too late!
Jesus himself warned us about this deception. In Mark 10:24, He declares, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!" These words are not meant to discourage us, but to awaken us to the reality that true faith demands more than mere profession. It requires a striving, a constant battle against sin, and unwavering obedience to His commands. Matthew 7:14 paints a stark picture: "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
This narrow road is not paved with good intentions or religious activity. It is a path of utter holiness and complete surrender to the Lordship of Christ over you life. It involves denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him, even when it's difficult (Luke 9:23).
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Examine your faith. Are you truly striving for holiness? Are you obedient to Christ’s teachings? Are you walking the narrow path, or have you been deceived by a counterfeit gospel? As Jan Bischoff, another near-death experiencer, warns, "Hell is real, and most Christians have believed a bunch of lies." Today, choose to walk in truth, embrace the hard and narrow road of discipleship, and ensure that when you stand before Jesus, He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23, NIV84)
