Don’t forget about the “silent” sins
God wants you to do things for his Kingdom.
He wants you to spread the gospel, feed the hungry, hold others accountable, etc. These are commands, but it’s just as important for you to keep your heart clean and righteous. Many people out there perform great works—they perform the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 and they do as Jesus commanded in Matthew 10:8, and think that’s what makes them Christians. Because they feel good about all the good they’re doing for the Kingdom, they think that good feeling shows that they are saved. But some of them may very well be on their way to hell because they don’t know the Lord and they don’t know what it means to truly love the Lord. Loving God is keeping his commands (1 John 5:3), and while he does command his people to go out and make disciples of all nations, he also commands us to embody the fruits of the Spirit. According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I’ve watched quite a few testimonies, and whether you believe in them or not, the number one sin I’ve heard people go to hell for is unforgiveness. There are some people who will simply not forgive others. They declare that they refuse to forgive, which is unfortunate because the Lord has forgiven us of so much; therefore, he expects us to do the same. But you have other people who don’t even realize they harbor a spirit of unforgiveness. This spirit comes out through feelings of bitterness, resentment, anger, and offense toward other people. Unfortunately, preaching against harboring these feelings isn’t common enough in our churches, even though the majority of Christians struggle with these silent sins.
Ultimately, your salvation comes down to the state of your heart. You can confess with your mouth that you love the Lord, but if you have not been transformed by the renewing of your mind, as Paul says in Romans 12:2, it will be much harder to keep the Lord’s commands. This isn’t about doing good works or not committing certain sins, but it’s about WHY you want to keep the Lord’s commands. Is it because you value him so much in your life as your savior, comforter, Father, and God? Is it because you fear him and you’re in amazement of him, so you want to serve him with all your heart and with your entire life? In the end, it’s not just doing good things for others, but the goal is to aspire for holiness in every aspect of your life, including the aspects that others don’t see.
