God's Way of Saving You

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." ⏤Luke 3:8

In Jesus' day, the religious leaders relied more on their family line than on their faith for their spiritual standing and relationship with God. That's why many of John the Baptist's hearers were shocked when he said that being Abraham's descendants was not enough to be acceptable with God. The relationship with God is not handed down from parents to children. Everyone has to establish a relationship with God through faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9). Don't rely on someone else for your salvation. Put your faith in Jesus, and ask Him to give you the grace to exercise your faith by acting on it on daily basis (not weekly).

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

Have you ever asked your self, "How did I become a Christian?" The verses above will give you a beautiful answer⏤it is as close as your own heart and mouth. People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not. If you believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, you will be saved⏤you'll become a Christian who possessed the life of God which is eternal (John 3:16; John 5:24).

Act now before it will be too late. Your life is just like a vapor that appears for little a time and then vanishes away. Death is just like a thief, you will not know exactly when it will come.

*Repent and believe and be saved; and eventually, you will be worshipping and serving the living God wholeheartedly.

*A change. The change is always evidenced in three elements.

     (a) The intellectual element, a change of mind. 

     (b) The emotional element, a change of heart. 

     (c) The volitional element, a change of will.

I Am The Way, The Truth, The Life

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." 

-John 14:6

"I am the way." Christ spans the distance between God and the sinner. Man would fain manufacture a ladder of his own, and... climb up to God. But that is impossible. That is the way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12). It is Satan who would keep the exercised sinner on his self-imposed journey to God.
What faith needs to lay hold of is the glorious truth that Christ has come all the way down to sinners. The sinner could not come to God, but God in the person of His Son has come out to sinners. He is the Way, the Way to Heaven, the Way to eternal blessedness.

"I am the truth." Christ is the full and final revelation of God. Adam believed the Devil's lie, and ever since then man has been groping amid ignorance and error. "The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19). "Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18).

A thousand systems has the mind devised... "There is none that understandeth" (Romans 3:11)... Truth is not to be found in a system of philosophy, but in a Person, Christ is "the truth;" He reveals God and exposes man. In Him are hid "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). What tremendous folly to ignore Him! ...with all your learning have you bowed before Him who is the Truth?"

"I am the life." Christ is the Emancipator from death. The whole Bible bears solemn witness to the fact that the natural man is spiritually lifeless. He walks according to the course of this world; he has no love for the things of God. The fear of God is not upon him, nor has he any concern for His glory. Self is the center and circumference of his existence.

He is alive to the things of the world, but he is dead to heavenly things. The one who is out of Christ exists, but he has not spiritual life... The one who believes in Christ has passed out of death unto life (John 5:24). "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life" (John 3:36). Then turn to Him who is the Life.

"I am the way." Without Christ men are Cains, wanderers. "They are all gone out of the way" (Romans 3:12). Christ is not merely a Guide who came to show men the path in which they ought to walk: He is Himself the Way to the Father. "I am the truth." Without Christ men are under the power of the Devil, the father of lies. Christ is not merely a Teacher who came to reveal to men a doctrine regarding God: He is Himself the Truth about God.

"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." "I am the life." Without Christ men are dead in trespasses and sins. Christ is not merely a Physician. . . "I am come," said He, "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

"No man comes unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Christ is the only way to God. It is utterly impossible to win God's favor by any efforts of our own.

- By A. W. Pink (1 April 1886 – 15 July 1952) 

What Is God's Purpose In Grace?

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared... according to his mercy he saved us. (Titus 3:4-5).

That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13).

That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7).

Being justified freely by his grace; through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24).

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. (Romans 5:2).

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32).

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved; in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:6-7).

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16).

How complete, how all-inclusive! Grace saves, justifies, builds up, makes accepted, redeems, forgives, bestows an inheritance, gives standing before God, provides a throne of grace to which we may come boldly for mercy and help; it teaches us how to live and gives us a blessed hope!

It remains to note that these diverse principles cannot be intermingled.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6).

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5; see also Galatians 3:16-18; 4:21-31).

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:31).

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words: which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall he stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake). But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the  heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:18-24).

It is not, then a question of dividing what God spoke from Sinai into moral law and ceremonial law—the believer does not come to that mount at all.

As sound old Bunyan says:

"The believer is now, by faith in the Lord Jesus, shrouded under so perfect and blessed a righteousness, that this thundering law of Mount Sinai cannot find the least fault or diminution therein. This is called the righteousness of God without the law."

(Should this meet the eye of an unbeliever, he is affectionately exhorted to accept the true sentence of that holy and just law which he has violated: "For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22-23), and find perfect and eternal salvation through believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth that Christ who is "the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:4, 8,9).

by Dr. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield from the book Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Salvation By Grace

Righteousness Is Essential
One thing is evident-righteousness is essential. But what must be the nature and quality of that righteousness, and how and whence is it to be obtained? Shall it be home-made, or shall it be of God and from above? Shall I go about to establish my own, or shall I subject myself to God's? Shall salvation be of works, or by faith? Is Christ to be a Substitute for the sinner, or will the sinner be a substitute for the Saviour? Shall the altar smell of sacrifice, God-appointed and God-provided, or will we prefer to deck it with flowers that wither and with fruits that shrivel, howsoever fair they seem at first? Is personal goodness, or is God's grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ, to bring us to the world where all is well? The one is a ladder that we ourselves set up, and painfully ascend; the other is an elevator which God provides, into which, indeed, we pass by penitential faith, but with which the lifting power is God's alone. Salvation by works is the choice of the Pharisee, salvation by Grace is the hope of the Publican.

One or other nor can these two principles be combined. They are totally distinct; nay, more, they are at variance the one with the other. A blend of the two is impossible. "If it is by grace, it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace" (Romans 11:6). One cannot merit mercy. This field must not be sown with mingled seed. The ox of mercy and the ass of merit must not be yoked together; indeed, they cannot be; they are too unequal. No linsey-woolsey garment can we weave of works and grace. As Hart quaintly puts it:

"Everything we do we sin in, 

Chosen Jews 

 Must not use 

Woollen mixt with linen."

So the choice must be made between these two ways to heaven. The great question still is, "How can man be just with God ?" and it appears that he must either himself be essentially and perfectly holy, or he must, by some means, acquire a justness which will bear the scrutiny of Omniscience, and pass muster in the High Court of Heaven.

How You Can Have The Assurance Of Salvation

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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. ~1John 5:11-13

There is a gift that I would like to present to every Christian. It cannot be packed in excelsior, wrapped in brightly colored paper, tied with polychrome ribbon, or sealed with good wishes. It cannot be purchased with silver or gold. It is more valuable than all the treasures of this world. All the gold in all the nations of the world could not suffice as a down payment. It is not a material gift of this secular world but a real gift of the spiritual realm. It is intangible, but it is of inestimable and intrinsic value. Many who are rich would pay a handsome sum to possess it. Multitudes strive for it but find it just out of reach. As we face a future filled  with fear and foreboding, it might appear as a will-o’-the-wisp. It is desperately and devoutly desired but seldom attained.

The world lists this gift as peace of mind, as a feeling of security that all is well for the future. Psychology defines it as a well-integrated personality freed from frustration. Scripture is more specific. The Bible sets forth this gift as a knowledge, a certainty, and an assurance concerning one’s personal relationship to God. Simply stated, it is the assurance regarding one’s salvation.

Can we know experientially that we are saved and that we are the children of God? For years, my soul was tossed on the troubled sea of uncertainty and insecurity. Finally, there dawned upon my darkened mind the light of Philippians 1:6 –

Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform [perfect] it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Eternal Life

Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from salvation.

If you are not saved forever, you are not saved.

Those who think they are saved now but could lose their salvation later, have one of two problems: (1) either they are trusting to some degree in their works to save them, or (2) they do not understand that by trusting Christ as their Saviour, their destiny is in God's hands. Perhaps they have had little or no Bible teaching and do not realize that God has determined that all who believe will go to heaven when they die.

The first group, those who think leading a poor Christian life will result in a loss of their salvation, actually need to have the plan of salvation made clear to them. Somewhere they have not fully understood that Christ's death paid for ALL their sin, that their works have NOTHING to do with their salvation, and that only their FAITH IN CHRIST will save them. You would answer their questions just as you would almost any lost person's; it is a clear - cut problem of "grace and works." You just stay with the gospel until they see the light.

An illustration that has clarified the issue for many with this problem deals with the definition of the word "Saviour." What is a Saviour? Suppose you are drowning. There you are out in the middle of the ocean. Suppose someone were to throw you a book, Three Easy Lessons on How to Swim. Would he be a Saviour? No! Perhaps he could be called an "educator."

Now suppose a man got out of his boat, jumped in along side you, and demonstrated various swimming strokes showing you just how you ought to do it. Would he be a Saviour? Of course not. He would merely be an "example."

All right, what if he took you into his boat, dried you off, fed you, took you ten miles from shore - and then threw you out again into the ocean? Would he be a Saviour? By all means, no! He would be as a "deceiver," a "probation officer,'' one who starts a heroic act and then quits right in the middle. He certainly would not be a Saviour!

A Saviour is one who takes you safely all the way to shore! When God says He gives you eternal life and that He will never cast you out or lose you, He means it because He is the true Saviour! If you do not trust Christ to take you all the way to heaven, then you have not trusted Him as your Saviour. Let's examine Christ's own promise in John 6:37, "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." He says those who come to Him will not be cast out for any reason.

To bring home this truth, use an illustration from family life. What kind of a parent would you be if, when your child was disobedient, you kicked him out and said, "Go to hell, I'm through with you!" Rather, the proper parent says, "Come on in!" and the parent has ways and means to deal with the disobedient child.

God never casts out His children! God has other ways and means to deal with them (Hebrews 12:5-8). 

Some would say, "All right, God won't cast me out, but I could get out of my own will and choice." The Lord anticipated such doubts and answers them clearly in John 6:39, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." It is God's will that no saved person would ever become lost. He says He will "lose nothing,'' and you are at least something! You could never be saved and lost again. God saves you forever. This is HIS will!

In witnessing you should use only as many verses as are necessary for the person to see the truth. (Too many verses will confuse the person.) On this point of not losing salvation, you will usually find that John 6:37 and 6:39 are sufficient. They are certainly clear.

At times you might sense that certain cases require additional verses, and the Scriptures abound with clear teaching. Study the passages thoroughly so you will know which verses will best answer the need of the person.

I Peter 1:4, 5, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Notice who is keeping our salvation . . . God Himself, by His own almighty power! And He is reserving place in heaven for us.

Salvation & Rewards

The New Testament Scriptures contain a doctrine of salvation for sinners who are lost and a doctrine of rewards for the faithful services of those who are saved. And it is of great importance to the right understanding of the Word that the student should clearly make the distinction between these. What that distinction is may be seen by carefully noting the following contrasts.

SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (John 4:10).

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isa. 55:1).

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

"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" (Eph. 2:8-9).

But in contrast with the freeness of salvation, note that those works that are pleasing to God shall be rewarded.

WORKS PLEASING TO GOD SHALL BE REWARDED

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42).

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness" (2Tim. 4:7-8).

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12).

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1Cor. 9:24-25).

"And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities" (Luk. 19:17).

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which Is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall he made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1Cor. 3:11-15).

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Not receive life-the suffering saints in Smyrna had life, eternal life, and were suffering for righteousness' sake-but a crown of life they should receive.

Crowns are symbols of rewards, of distinctions earned. It may be remarked that four crowns are mentioned: that of joy, or rejoicing, the reward of ministry (Php. 4:1; 1Thes. 2:19); of righteousness, the reward of faithfulness in testimony (2Tim. 4:8); of life, the reward of faithfulness under trial (Jam. 1:12; Rev. 2:10); of glory, the reward of faithfulness under suffering (1Pet. 5:4; Heb. 2:9).

SALVATION IS A PRESENT POSSESSION

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47).

"Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace" (2Tim. 1:9).

"And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (Luk. 7:50).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3:5).

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1John 5:11).

But these rewards are to be given at a future time.

REWARDS ARE BESTOWED IN THE FUTURE

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matt. 16:27).

"For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luk. 14:14).

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12).

"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1Pet. 5:4).

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day" (2Tim. 4:8).

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them" (Matt. 25:19).

God's purpose in promising to reward with heavenly and eternal honors the faithful service of His saints is to win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures, to sustain them in the fires of persecution, and to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues. "Finally, let us heed the warning" (Rev. 3:11). (See Dan. 12:3; Matt. 5:11-12; Matt. 10:41-42; Luk. 12:35-37; Luk. 14:12; Luk. 14:14; John 4:35-36; Col. 3:22-24; 2Tim. 4:8; Heb. 6:10; Heb. 11:8-10; Heb. 11:24-27; Heb. 12:2-3.)

from the book by C.I. Scofield titled Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth

Originally copyrighted in 1896, then again 1907, this work is now in the public domain.

When Did You Become A Christian?―Think About It!

When people are asked why they think they will go to Heaven someday, a multitude of answers are given. All these reasons fit in one of two categories: WORKS and GRACE.

According to the Bible, there is only ONE WAY to Heaven. The Bible proclaims that you can "know that you have eternal life" (1John 5:13).

KNOW THAT GRACE IS FREE GIFT

"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" (Eph. 2:8-9).

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

There are many things that people are trusting in to get themselves to Heaven:

• Religious Works (baptism, church membership, communion, etc.)
• Social Works (loving others, helping others, etc. )

While  all of these things  have their place, the Bible does not teach they will get a person to Heaven. One cannot earn Heaven. Heaven is given as a gift. Salvation is by grace alone. Grace is getting something we do not deserve.

KNOW THAT YOU DESERVE JUDGMENT

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (Jas. 2:10).

The Bible teaches that all have sinned and that no body is born on their way to Heaven. All are born on their way to Hell and eternal judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). You would not go through cancer treatment unless you knew that you had cancer. Similarly, a person does not seek a Savior until they realize their lost spiritual condition. No one can measure up to a holy God. God must punish sin so we are hopelessly lost without His grace. We are all born "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1).

KNOW WHAT GOD DID FOR YOU

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

God chose to punish His Son on the cross rather than punish you. God is love and does not want anyone to go to Hell (2Pet. 3:9). However, He is also just and must deal with your sin problem. He did that on Calvary's cross. That's love! That's grace!

KNOW THAT JESUS PAID IT ALL

"For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2Cor. 5:21).

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14).

Jesus became sin for you. He died in your place. As the perfect God/Man, He completely satisfied God's righteous demands to punish sin. When Jesus cried "It is finish" on the cross, He had finished and completed the work of salvation. His gift of eternal life is now ready for your response.

KNOW THAT YOU MUST RECEIVE HIS GIFT

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

Faith isn't mere head-knowledge. Faith is...

• Believing something is true
• Being persuaded that it is true for you
• Placing your confidence in it

According to the Bible, you must place your confidence in Jesus, by faith, and ask Him to be your personal Savior from sin. Have you been saved the Bible way? You can pray right now and receive God's gift of eternal life and pass from death into life.

• Repent of your sins―Agree with God about your lost condition.
• Believe―Place your confidence in what Jesus did for you on the cross.
• Pray―Ask Jesus to save you. He will and will begin a new life in you.

Did you believe on Him―that is, did you receive Him and trust Him alone for salvation? Then He says you have eternal life!

GET GROWING!

• Read your Bible and obey it (start with the Gospel of John).
• Pray―talk to God everyday. He is your friend and wants you to be close.
• Attend Sunday School and Church―not all churches believe and/or preach the whole Bible. Go to one that does.
• Be baptize―there are no baptized infants in the Bible. Baptism does not save. After salvation, you should publicly profess your faith in Jesus Christ by being immersed in water baptism.

From a tract published by: Publish or Perish Printing Ministry, 13340 Rene Street, Gulfport, MS 39503 USA

One Way To Heaven

If you were to die tonight, do you know absolutely, without a single doubt that you will go to Heaven when you leave this earth? The only way any person can have this assurance and peace is by trusting the Word of God to be true. I hope that you do.

There is only one way to Heaven. Christ said in John 14:6,

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Christ)." 

1. There is only one payment for sin, as recorded in John 3:16,

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ suffered and gave His life on the cross as payment for the sin of every human being ever born. He wants you and I to live in Heaven with Him for all eternity. Since we all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and the payment for sin is death (Rom. 6:23), we have a big problem! There will be no sin in Heaven.

2. There are two choices.

You can pay for your own sin in Hell, i.e., the Lake of Fire; or, accept the payment Christ made for you on the cross. His suffering and death on the cross paid the price for all sin. His resurrection showed the payment was accepted by God. We accept His payment for our sin and He gives us the righteousness we need for Heaven. Salvation, eternal life, however you want to say it, is a gift our Lord paid for by His death on the cross.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Cor. 5:21).

3. There is only one kind of faith.

God will never accept your faith in your own good works. Things like baptism, confirmation, social standing, giving financially to the church, church membership; or, any works of the flesh will never merit you eternal life. It would be an insult to God, since He allowed His Son to make the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind, for you to think you have something better to offer. Salvation is only received as a gift from God.

"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." (Eph. 2:8-9).

4. Your absolute assurance from God's Word.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36). 

"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." (1Jn 5:13). 

I pray that you will reach out by faith and receive the gift of eternal life right now, before it is too late.

By DR. MAX D. YOUNCE

How To Be Saved

The most important of all questions is "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answered it by saying, to a penitent sinner, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). That is all a penitent sinner can do. This man gave evidence of repentance. Salvation is certainly through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and a personal, definite experience that trusts everything one hundred per cent in the merit of the sacrifice Christ made, when He bore our sin in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1Pet. 2:24). The blood and nothing but the blood of Christ can cleanse from sin. This truth is stated in 1John 1:7, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." That blood, indeed, cleanses from all sin past, present and future.

The individual who thinks his good works, his high morality, his culture, his sacrifices, his tears, his baptism, his church membership, his giving, his service or anything else he is or does has any power to cleanse of even the smallest particle of his sin, simply does not understand the plan of Salvation. You can’t be saved and trust partly in Christ and partly in self effort and the individual, who thinks his Salvation depends on the atonement Christ made plus his own works, just can’t be saved.

It is our judgment both from studying God’s Word and from observation that the most wide-spread false doctrine in all Christendom is the teaching that we must trust in Christ and be just as good as we can be through our own effort to be saved or that we must trust in Christ and be just as good as we can in order to stay saved.

A thorough examination of all false religions will reveal the fact, that they teach Salvation is totally or partly by good living and good works. Anyone who so teaches is a false teacher and a real enemy of the truth. It matters not how sincere he might be. If we feed deadly poison to our children, thinking it is good food, the result will be death, just as truly as if we poisoned them purposely. The fact we were sincere will not alter the effect of the error.

Certainly God’s Word teaches that Christians should live holy, clean, honest, upright lives in every way. It teaches that perfection should be their goal, that they should crucify the flesh with all its lusts, that they should desire to keep their bodies clean, that whatsoever they do in word or deed should be done to the glory of God. It says they are to glorify God in their Spirit and in their body, that they are to walk in the spirit and they shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. But it teaches very clearly that the saved do these things not in order to be saved or to stay saved, but in order to please and glorify the Savior, who gave Himself to save them. It also teaches they will not fully reach this high goal until they awake in His likeness in their resurrection bodies, but will be constantly laying aside every weight and the sin that besets them, that they might better run the race and better exemplify, glorify and satisfy their Lord. If the saved fail to live as a child of God should, they will be chastened for their sins of omission or commission, but not condemned to hell.

We have digressed from the subject of Salvation in the last few paragraphs because we thought it well to show that while good works can not save us or keep us saved, they are the inevitable fruits of Salvation. When we are born into the family of God we are born with an appetite for Spiritual things just as truly as the babe born into this world has an appetite for material food.

Now let us return to the subject of Salvation. There are but two dominions in this world, Christ’s and Satan’s. You belong wholly to one or the other. Christ said "he that is not for me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matt. 12:30).

Christ’s domain consists of all those who have been born again having exercised repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21), "Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." I also believe all dying in infancy are saved.

Satan’s domain consists of all who have not exercised repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ or all who have not been born again.

1. We should be Christ’s by the right of creation. (He gave us our life.)
2. We should be Christ’s by the right of provision. (He provides us with all that sustains life.)
3. We should be Christ’s by right of redemption. (He died to redeem us.)

However, the human race chooses to turn from God to Satan (Rom 1:21; Rom 1:28), "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." The unsaved portion of the human race in all ages has lived in open rebellion to God’s revealed will. Since the first sin of man, the battle has been fought between Satan and Christ and Satan is, indeed, the god of this world and most of the human race still choose to follow him. The natural man certainly proves how exceedingly evil he is when he will take the life God gave and the provisions God supplies and use them to serve Satan. 

Christ redeems and keeps all who wish to be delivered from Satan’s domain, if they will but put their case wholly in His hands. Those who try to escape by their own power are doomed to fail. Eventually Christ will completely crush Satan and his domain and Satan with all his followers shall be cast into the lake of fire forever and ever and the earth will be purged of every trace of contamination Satan and his followers brought upon it.

In concluding this subject let us notice a few clear statements from God’s Word:

1. The entire human race is declared sinful. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isa 53:6). "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10). "For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God" (Rom 3:23).
2. It declares the results of sin is death and certainly this means separated from God now and eternally. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23). "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1).
3. It teaches Christ Himself died in our place, actually bearing the penalty of our sin in His own body. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1Pe 2:24). "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isa 53:6).
4. We become God’s child by faith in Christ, trusting completely in the sacrifice He has made in our behalf on the cross. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
5. God promises to keep all who are saved. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand" (John 10:28-29). "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jud 1:24).
6. God’s Word teaches that this new life received when we received Christ expresses itself in upright living and good works. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s" (1Co 6:19-20). "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Col 3:17).

By R.J. Anderson from the book entitled Vital Church Truths

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow...Do You?

"I know who holds tomorrow", is a statement that only someone who believes that Christ has made their payment for sin on the Cross, can make with confidence.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor. 5:21) 

They know there are no rituals, payments, or good works that will earn them entrance to Heaven. 

“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.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

They know there is only one price that will give someone the right to enter Heaven when they leave this Earth; and, that is the price Our Precious Savior paid on Calvary for the sin of the world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  

They know that, even though they may live good lives, they are not perfect. 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) 

They know that Heaven is a perfect place, and no sin can enter in.

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Rev. 21:27)

They know that when they believed that Jesus died for them, He gave them the righteousness; or perfection, they needed to have everlasting life, right now! 

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor. 5:21)

They can know with absolute assurance they have eternal life...the Bible says so! 

“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.” (1Jn. 5:13)

They know they “shall never perish,” or, stand in danger of going to Hell. Our Lord holds us in the palm of His Almighty Hand. We are not, by our own good works, struggling to hold on to one of His fingers. The promise is, We “shall never perish,” and “neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand"; not, even we, ourselves! 

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

You may know the subject of Bible Prophecy backwards and forwards; but, unless you know the Savior it reveals to us, it is all for nothing! 

“...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,...” (Acts 16:31) 

Then, you too will... Know Who Holds Tomorrow.
By Max Younce