To be a Christian is not merely to take a mental attitude toward the facts of theology. If we can get someone to come around to our point of view concerning the Lord Jesus Christ we feel the individual has become a Christian; that he or she has been born again and therefore will go to Heaven when he or she dies.

We indeed have made a proselyte. Whether or not the individual ever becomes a true Christian has not been decided as yet.

The Christian salvation is not in theology. The Christian salvation is in abiding in Christ.

To abide in Christ is to meet Him every morning and to look to Him in every decision during the day. Christ must become all in all to us. He will if we cease not to cultivate His Presence, His will, His peace, His victory in every circumstance!

Going to church, reading the Bible, praying, giving, serving, are all necessary. But keep in mind they are scaffolding. They are means to an end. The end is Christ being formed in us.

When we keep abiding in Christ we begin to bear fruit. This means we have a change of character. The fruit of righteous behavior, of holiness of thought, speech, and word, of obedience to God, begins to be practiced throughout our personality.

The fruit is the image of the character of Christ. When we bear that fruit other people are affected. Christ is born in them. Their personality begins to be transformed. As we are willing to die in the Lord much fruit comes forth in us and in other people. Then we are bearing the fruit God is looking for.

As we bear fruit God, after deriving benefit for a while, prunes away much of it just as in any orchard. This is a perplexing experience for us but is necessary if we are to increase in the image of Christ.

This does not mean God prunes away the image of Christ in us but parts of our personality and actions that heretofore had been acceptable. An outstanding minister in Europe recently went through a devastating personal experience and has come back stronger and more insightful than ever. He wrote a book about his experience called "God Can Do It Without Me," or something to this effect.

The only limit to what we can become in Christ is how much pruning we will accept. If we don't get off the bus the result can be awesome!

If after having "accepted" Christ we do not begin to be transformed we are in clear, scriptural danger of being removed from the Vine.

Who is the Vine? Christ. What does it mean to be cut out of the Vine? It means we do not share in the Life of Christ.

Will I go to Heaven if I am cut out of the Vine? I don't know. Do you want to go to Heaven to be with the angels and have no part in Christ?

The point is, the issue is not Heaven it is sharing the Life of Christ.

If you accept Christ and then do not become a new righteous creature as measured by your personality and behavior you will be cut out of the Vine.

Are you saying we are saved by works? I am saying that good works are the only reliable evidence of salvation and the purpose of salvation and indeed are salvation.

We are saved from sin not from Hell.

Ask yourself: Do I want to be where there is no sin or where there is no fire?

Your answer will reveal the reality of your salvation.