Do you know for sure my friend,
that if you died today, you would go to Heaven? If you ask most people
this question, they simply aren't sure. Most people I have witnessed to over
the years "thought" they were going to heaven, but they were not
sure. How sad! How tragic! Billions of people throughout the world do NOT have
the blessed assurance of salvation.
Oh, listen to me friend! You can
KNOW beyond the shadow of any doubt that you are a Child of God. 1st John 5:13
states, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God." What a privilege it always is for
me to share with people the wondrous truth of God's Word, that you may KNOW
that you have eternal life. God loves people!!! God wants you to be His Child.
He will not force you to be saved, you alone must make that decision for
Christ. NOTE: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible.
It is very easy to be saved―Simply
BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, Oh sinner!
You must know that you are a
“sinner” to be saved. Otherwise, why would you need a Saviour? We are all
sinners. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God.” 1st John 1:8-10 teaches that anyone who denies being a SINNER is a liar
and the truth is not in them (they are not saved).
The purpose of God's law is stated
in Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world
may become guilty before God.” Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
God's law is a measuring stick, by which when men compare themselves, they fall
short of the glory of God, which is total moral perfection. No human being,
except the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever lived a perfect life. ALL MANKIND ARE
SINNERS. We are sinners by nature and by choice. Everyone commits sin!
Thus, we need a Saviour, someone
else to pay our debt of sin. God in His unconditional love sent His only
begotten Son into the world, to be rejected, beaten, mocked and spit upon,
crucified upon a cross FOR OUR SINS! Jesus was buried and then bodily raised up
three days later. The Holy Bible in 1st Corinthians 15: -14 defines “THE
GOSPEL”
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep
in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that
he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
With this precious passage of
Scripture in view, it ought to be obvious how unbiblical and inaccurate many of
the religious teachings that we hear these days are concerning salvation! It is
common nowadays on religious radio to hear such inaccurate statements
concerning salvation as: “Ask Jesus into your heart,” or “Invite Jesus into
your life,” or “Declare 'Jesus is Lord' to be saved,” or “Turn from sin,” or
“Follow Jesus Christ,” or “Make Jesus the Lord of your life” to become God's
child, etc NONE of these constitute THE GOSPEL!!!
Judas followed Christ, being one of
His very hand-picked apostles. Yet, Judas went to Hell in unbelief. The unsaved
Pharisees were the respected religious leaders of Israel. Religion cannot get a
person into Heaven. In Acts 10:1-2, a centurion (commander over 100 soldiers)
named Cornelius was religious but unsaved—he was a devout man who feared God,
prayed always, and gave alms to the poor, but he was lost and on his way to the
Lake of Fire. Please don't miss that important truth! All around the world, churches
are filled with good people who love God and love their neighbour, praying to
God and giving to the poor; yet they have never been born-again by the Holy
Spirit of God. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the
Christian life without ever being born-again.
We learn that Cornelius got saved
later in Acts chapter 10, praise the Lord!
Acts 10:39-40 and 43-44, “And we
are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom [Jesus] they slew and hanged on a tree [the cross]: Him God
raised up the third day, and shewed him openly ... To him give all the prophets
witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on
all them which heard the word.”
When a person believes the Gospel
(or receives the Gospel as full-payment for their sins), i.e., believing on the
Lord Jesus Christ Who died on the cross for their sins and resurrected three
days later, THEY ARE SAVED!!! The Bible calls this, “THE HEARING OF FAITH.” The
apostle Paul wrote a letter of concern to the church at Galatia. Paul said he
only wanted to know ONE THING, that is, how did they get the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit (i.e., How did they get saved?):
Galatians 3:2, “This only would I
learn of you, Received ye the Spirit [Holy Spirit] by the works of the law, or
by the hearing of faith?”
In other words, when you hear the
Gospel preached, if you BELIEVE what you hear, you are saved. To be “saved”
means to be “born-again” into God's heavenly family. Jesus warned everyone in
John 3:3 that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Have you been born anew friend, by the Holy Spirit of God, by faith in the
Gospel?
Hebrews 4:2 says that the Jews in
the Wilderness heard Moses preach the Gospel Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the
gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit
them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” When a person hears
the Gospel and believes it, they are saved. It is that easy and simple to be
saved. Please notice that there is no mention in Acts 10:39-44 or Galatians 3:2
or Hebrews 4:2 about turning from sins or praying a prayer or getting water
baptized or speaking in tongues or making Jesus Lord of your life to be saved.
Clearly, many modern churches and
religious teachers have strayed woefully from the Gospel as taught in the Holy
Scriptures!!! This is why, Biblically, many people will be woefully horrified
in eternity when they are denied entrance through the pearly gates of Heaven.
Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And
he said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
Beware Of False Prophets
Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The preceding passage of Scripture
is one of the most disturbing, intriguing and scary truths in the Holy Bible.
These were religious people. They preached in Jesus' precious name. They did
many wonderful works in Jesus' name. They even cast out devils in Jesus' name.
These were very sincere people! They were churchgoers! They followed Jesus as
their Lord, continually calling Him “Lord, Lord.” Yet, something went horribly
WRONG! How could they be unsaved and rejected on Judgment Day as workers of
iniquity? Oh, please don't miss this truth my friend. These religious folks
spent their lives doing good works and preaching in Jesus' name, but the Lord
calls them “WORKERS OF INIQUITY”!
All across America and the world,
there are religious groups and religious workers whom God considers EVILDOERS!
How can that be? How could preaching in Jesus' name be evil? Wow! What is going
on here? The Bible tells us the simple answer, and it is something that Satan
has been using to blind people for millenniums, to prevent them from being
saved. Matthew 7:21 tells us, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven.” These religious workers in Matthew 7:22-23, who preached
in Jesus' name were evil because they didn't BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. John 6:40
plainly tells us what is “THE WILL OF THE FATHER” concerning salvation. John
6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up
at the last day.” Oh friend, there is a fine line between faith and
foolishness.
These wicked false prophets were
living the Christian life, but had never been born-again. Judas lived as a
Christian, but was not saved. They were going about to “ESTABLISH THEIR OWN
RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Salvation results when a person
submits them self to God's imputed righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
Literally, “to impute” means that God transfers our sins to Christ, and
transfers Christ's righteousness to us. Multitudes of sincerely ignorant
religious people spend their lives living the Christian life, telling other
people to “Invite Jesus into their life” and “Say 'Jesus is Lord' to be saved”;
but they have never experienced the miraculous saving-power of THE GOSPEL.
The Apostle Paul warned us in 2nd
Corinthians 11:4 that false prophets would come, preaching “another Jesus” and
“another Gospel” and “another spirit.” Nearly all false religions today deny or
diminish Jesus' deity, i.e., the Biblical truth that Jesus came to this earth
as the Godhead incarnate (in the flesh). Jesus is Almighty God! Jehovah's
Witnesses teach that Jesus was Michael the archangel incarnate, and not God
almighty. If that is what you believe, you are not saved.
There is nothing you need to give
up to be saved except unbelief! Though some people would like to make you think
you have to stop sinning to be saved, it is simply not true. If this were the
case, we would all burn in Hellfire, because even the best Christians still
commit sin. Jesus doesn't forgive sin, He paid for it on the cross, and that's
how He forgave everyone. That's why eternal life is offered as a “free gift” to
anyone who wants it (Romans 5:15, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10). The moment that we
believe, we are saved. You don't need to “Ask Jesus to save you,” because God
has already promised to “SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21). We are
saved by BELIEVING, not by praying, asking, surrendering, following,
confessing, committing, or saying “Jesus is Lord.”
Mark 1:15, “...repent ye, and
believe the gospel.” Carefully notice that Mark 1:15 speaks of repentance
(i.e., a change of mind) to “believe the Gospel,” not “turning from sins” to
believe the Gospel. John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” Hence,
repentance is seeing my need as a sinner, acknowledging that I am as guilty a
sinner as God hath declared me to be in His holy Word.
Any changes of attitude and
behavior in a person's life results from the transforming power of the Holy
Spirit Who indwells every believer from the time of salvation. Albeit, this is
entirely a matter of DISCIPLESHIP and not SALVATION. “Therefore, if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new.” The change is NOT a prerequisite to be saved; but comes
through the power of the Holy Spirit once a person is in Christ (i.e., saved).
Does a person have to give up their
sins to be saved? The answer is "No." Although even one sin can
keep a person out of Heaven (James 2:10), there is only one sin that can
prevent a person from being SAVED, and that is the sin of UNBELIEF. For we read
in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved." This is a promise from God.
Many false prophets today are
teaching a damnable heresy called “Lordship Salvation.” If you're not a guilty
sinner bound for Hellfire, then you wouldn't need a Saviour. Does a person have
to clean up one's life of sin to be saved? The answer is emphatically “No.” For
if this were true, it would amount to a works-based salvation. Ephesians 2:8,9
plainly tell us... “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should
boast." Again, we read in Romans 4:5... “But to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.” Our eternal salvation is based upon our faith in Christ's work
of redemption to forgive our sins, and not upon anything we can do to merit
salvation. No one can merit (i.e., earn) salvation, for it is the FREE GIFT of
God (Romans 5:15; 6:23), paid for by Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19)
Christ wants to clean up our life
through the power of His Holy Spirit. It takes time for the Holy Spirit to work
in a person's heart (and everybody is different). Please understand that it is
the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not your own strength, that empowers you to
overcome sinful addictions and temptation in life. It is Jesus Christ Who lives
the Christian life through me (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:9).
If you don't see yourself as a
dirty rotten sinner, then you truly don't realize just how sinful you are (1st
John 1:8,10). We are all wicked sinners, deserving of Hellfire (Romans
3:10,19-23). This is why Christ needed to die upon the cross, and shed His own
precious blood, for our many sins. We simply cannot do anything to redeem
ourselves. Salvation is of God friend, not of yourself. No church or
organization can assure you of Heaven. No priest can forgive your sins. Being
water baptized will just get you wet. Religion cannot save you in the least.
It's the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ or Hell forever.
Important Fundamental Christian
Doctrine
Here are some
important Biblical truths to know
We are all GUILTY sinners (Romans
3:10,23; Isaiah 64:6).
We deserve to pay for our sins in
the fires of Hell (Psalm 7:11, 9:17; Romans 6:23,
Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8;
James 2:10; Jude 1:7; 2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9).
Jesus shed His precious blood,
dying on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and rose again 3 days later
(Romans 5:8; John 3:16,17; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4)
It is Jesus' precious blood that
cleanses our sins away (Ephesians 1:7, 2:13; Colossians 1:14,20; Hebrews 9:22,
10:19; 1 Peter 1:18&19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5
Jesus is God Almighty (John
1:1-3,14; John 10:33; Revelation 1:8, 19:13―The GODHEAD incarnate (Colossians
2:9; 1st Timothy 3:16)
Jesus never sinned, He was perfect
(2nd Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15,16)
Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah
7:14; Matthew 1:23)
The Godhead exists as three persons
in one; namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
(Colossians 2:2, 9; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:29; 2nd John 1:3;
Matthew 3:16-17; 1st Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture references only to King James
Bible
Jesus rose bodily from the dead and
was seen of many witnesses (1st Corinthians 15:6)
It is Jesus' literal liquid blood
that washes our sins away (Hebrews 9:12, 24; 12:24; 1st John 1:7; Revelation
1:5)
We are saved by the hearing of
faith, not works (Galatians 3:2; 1st Corinthians 1:21)
There are many “false” Christs in
the world today (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). 1st John 4:1 warns...
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test with the Bible] the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world."
Jesus is God Almighty . . .
“I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is
to come, the Almighty.” —Revelation 1:8
“And they said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” —Acts 16:31
John 10:33 says, “The Jews answered
him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because
that thou, being a man, Makest Thyself God.”
Jesus Himself claimed to be God in
the flesh. Every false religion attack Christ's deity by trying to diminish or
distort who Jesus is. Jehovah's Witness and Mormons deny Jesus' deity.
Catholics elevate Mary to the same level as Jesus, teaching that she was
sinless from birth, and never saw death; yet Romans 3:10 proclaims that Mary
was a dirty rotten sinner―There is NONE righteous, no not one.
Dead Works Cannot Save!!
Do not ADD good deeds, merit,
baptism or church membership to your faith, or else it is no faith at all.
WARNING!!! Trust Jesus Christ
alone for what He did to pay for your sins on the cross, and His resurrection,
or you will not be saved!
Do not rely upon your church.
Do not trust the Seven Sacraments. Do not trust in Mother Mary. Do not trust
the Catholic priest or Lutheran minister because they CANNOT do anything to
save you! They surely have NO power to forgive your sins. They desperately need
forgiveness themselves. Only God can forgive sin, and Jesus is Almighty
God.
"For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord Shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
This is a PROMISE from God. If you
will simply call (i.e., TRUST) upon the name of the Lord Jesus, you WILL be
saved. How much “faith” do we need to be saved? JUST ENOUGH faith to “call.”
Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Christ shed His sinless blood for you
and me. Jesus was buried and bodily rose up three days later for your
justification and mine. Friend, do you realize your GUILT of sin? Do you see
your condemned state and justly deserved penalty of hellfire? We read in Romans
3:19, “Now we know that what things soever THE LAW saith, it saith to them who
are under THE LAW: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become GUILTY before God.” The Greek word for “guilty” here means, “to lose
one's case in court.”
The Word of God testifies against
us that we have sinned (Romans 3:23). To realize one's guilt of sin means that
we understand we are guilty sinners, who have lost our case in God's court
so-to-speak, and are found “guilty,” deserving of the death penalty in
Hellfire... "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). We all deserve to be
cast into the Lake of Fire, but thanks be to God for the LITERAL precious
sin-cleansing blood of Jesus that takes our sins away forever.
Is it improper to pray to be saved,
or to lead someone in a sinner's prayer? Clearly the Word of God states that
BELIEVING on Jesus is all that is required to have our sins forgiven (John
3:16); however, we see in the account of the publican who went up to the temple
to pray (Luke 18:13), and again with the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42), that
it is certainly acceptable for one to pray a sinner's prayer for salvation. It
is important to realize that prayer cannot save anyone (Matthew 7:22,23). A
sinner's prayer should be the outward manifestation of faith that already
exists in one's heart, for salvation is of the HEART... “For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness...” (Romans 10:10). This is why we read in Isaiah
65:24... “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and
while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Before the thief on the cross ever
opened his mouth, he already had faith in the Lord or else he wouldn't have
asked Jesus to remember him.
Salvation is of the heart, not the
mouth. Many professed Christians today are running around leading people in
prayer to “invite Jesus into their heart.” This is not Scriptural. The Bible
teaches us simply to BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. The only requirement is that you admit
you are a sinner. Inviting Jesus into one's heart, or making a commitment to
God, is not salvation.
There are many folks today, who
profess the name of Jesus, who have no remorse whatsoever over their
fornication, cruelty, homosexuality, abortion, or worldly living. Something is
wrong. Although a person does not have to forsake their sins to be saved, a
genuine born-again Christian will experience the conviction of the indwelling
Holy Spirit (Hebrews 12:8). If you can sin, and win, you're not in! That is, if
you can commit sin without any Holy Spirit conviction in your soul, you have
never been born-again. Hebrews 12:6-8 teaches that God chastises His children
when they sin.
James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say,
Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I
will shew thee my faith by my works.” James was speaking about being justified
in the eyes of men. In Romans 4:5, the Apostle Paul spoke of being justified in
the eyes of God when he said... “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on
him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” We
see the sharp contrast here between being justified in the eyes of God by faith
alone, verses being justified in the eyes of men by works. God can see the
faith in our heart, but men cannot, so they look at our works.
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