The only individual who will hear Christ say Well done is he or she who has done well. (This is obvious, but religion often makes us blind to the obvious.) How has he done well? By forsaking his life, taking up his cross, and following the Lord Jesus Christ in faithful discipleship. Only this type of person will hear Well done from the Lord Jesus.

If we lose our life in the world for Christ's sake and the Gospel's we will save it in the Day of Christ. If we save our life in the world we will lose it in the Day of Christ. We may be redeemed as by fire but we will be without the inheritance and rulership promised to the sons of God.

". . . I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

Every person who receives Christ is given the authority to be a child of God. Being given the authority to be a child of God, and actually becoming a son of God, are two different matters.

According to Revelation 21:7 (above) it is those who overcome the world who are the sons of God.

The issue of overcoming has to do with worship. Many "Christians" are worldly. God is not their god. They are children of this world. Their god is the wealth and pleasures of the world.

Often "Christians" repeatedly commit sins of the flesh. They do not repent of them and forsake them; in fact, they justify their sinning. God is not their god, Satan is their god. They are "believers" in Christ in name but they actually are children of the devil.

Many name the name of Christ but are self-willed. They are religious, but in truth they are seeking their own glory. God is not truly their god. They are their own god. They love themselves and serve themselves. The Pharisees of Israel are our example of the depths to which religious pride and self-love can carry us.

Then there are the victorious saints—those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

They are not of this world and the world hates them.

When they sin they confess their sin and receive forgiveness and cleansing from God. They put the sin to death by the power of the Spirit of God. They do not commit it again. They worship God alone. (All sin is worship of the devil—Luke 4:7; I John 3:8.)

The victorious saints are not self-seeking. The love of Christ is in them. They are servants of God, not of themselves. They are ready to be poor or rich, hidden or famous, quiet or intensely active. The cross can be glimpsed in their personality. The Glory of Christ shines through them.

God alone is their God, and they are His sons.

They have been created by God's Spirit and are led by God's Spirit in all that they do. They are the sons of God and God's Spirit abides in them.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

To be continued.