Those who truly know Jesus Christ as Lord gladly commit their all to Him. They do not do so to some religious acts, but to their personal Saviour. Paul knew our Lord and was sure that He was able to keep or guard what had been entrusted to him until the day of judgment, the Eschaton. His assurance was reasonable and deliberate. He was sure of the ability of Jesus to keep all souls committed to Him who belong to Him. Afterall, Jesus is God and, therefore, omnipotent to save. 

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (NASB)

The churchianity that most of us  grew up with is confused with genuine Christianity by many people. It is actually a set of beliefs or values  laid out in our minds’ decision grid. It becomes a value system in the heart that reckons salvation to be based on religious acts such as saying a certain prayer in a certain order while holding to a certain frame of mind. When doubt comes, and it always does, we are told to look back on “that day” when we said that prayer. Some even go so far as to say that they doubt if a person is really a Christian if they cannot remember the exact moment when they prayed that prayer.

I remember in my days as a new believer reading passages such as Matthew 16:24-26 (see below) and having a huge problem reconciling the churchianity view that my salvation was based on my decision with what our Lord said here.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26 (NASB)

Then I would read Acts and the rest of the New Testament and become even more confused. The Christianity that was presented there bore little resemblance to what we were teaching and living. My brethren, this did not really go away for me. Even though I did grow spiritually over time, my walk, my spirituality, my maturity was just a shadow of the Christianity of the Bible. It was a poor imitation. That is not to say that I did not have a few high points, but those were preceded and followed by mostly a fleshly struggle.

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