If you were to DIE this moment and appear before Jesus, to whom all judgment has been committed (John 5:22), what REASONS would you give on your behalf to Jesus to convince Him that you are worthy of heaven?
That is a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, in fact it is THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION you will ever ponder!
Possessing a mere intellectual knowledge of certain facts about God and religion means very little.
James 2:19 reads, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble"!
Dependence on the mere possession of orthodox doctrine is of absolutely no value to the salvation of your soul.
I WAS BAPTIZED
The Bible does not teach that baptism makes a person right with God. In fact the apostle Paul wrote that baptism was only of secondary importance compared to the preaching of the gospel in 1 Cor. 1:17, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel……". The thief on the cross was not baptized; nevertheless Jesus promised that he would be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
I GO TO CHURCH OFTEN
In Matthew 16:18 when Jesus first gave the promise of the church, he never gave any indication that He would use it as a vehicle to save lost sinners. Instead He promised to build the church, and in 1 Peter 2: 5 we read that Christ uses those already saved to accomplish that, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house……". That spiritual house is none other than the body of Christ, the church, the fullness of Him as Paul teaches us in Ephesians 1:23. Rather than being a vehicle to save lost sinners, the church, the body of Christ is composed of saved sinners who have been baptized into it by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).
I RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS
The Bible does not teach the establishment of a series of rituals which can be partaken of to aid in a persons salvation.
The Lord’s Supper for example is to be observed in remembrance of what the Lord did on Calvary, not in order to obtain salvation (Luke 22:19). Many people believe that the Holy Spirit is received via the sacraments, especially baptism and confirmation. But John taught plainly that is not so in John 7:39 when he wrote, "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive……."
I PRAY OFTEN AND MUCH
The Bible teaches much about the importance of prayer in our lives. However, it does not teach that prayer plays a part in the salvation of a person’s soul. In fact the Bible speaks against the practice of the continued repetition of prayers by rote. In Matthew 6:7 Jesus said, "But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words".
I AM VERY DEVOTED TO MARY
The Bible does not teach us to pray to Mary. In fact in Acts chapter 1 those in the upper room after the ascension of Jesus, prayed with Mary, not to her. First Timothy 2:5 teaches, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus". Hebrews 7:25 teaches that it is Jesus who ever lives to make intercession for us. First John 2:1 teaches us that Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. We are not taught anywhere in Scripture to give devotion to Mary. It is Jesus Christ alone who is redeemer, mediator, intercessor, and Advocate.
I KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
Only one man has ever lived a sinless life, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:22). James teaches us in James 2:10 that if we break just one commandment we will lose heaven, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all". Deuteronomy 27:26 teaches that, "Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law……".
I KEEP THE GOLDEN RULE
Jesus gave us a very high standard. He said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). Furthermore in Matthew 5:44 He said that we are to love our enemies as well. In Luke chapter 10 He told the parable of the good Samaritan to point out to us who our neighbor is. First John 3:16 tells us that Jesus gave us the supreme example of that kind of love; He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. The reality is that you or no one else has ever been able to keep the "golden rule".
I DO A LOT OF GOOD WORKS
Ephesians 2:9 teaches that our salvation is not of works, lest anyone should boast. Titus 3:5 tells us that salvation is not by works of righteousness that we have done. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah tells us that in God’s eyes, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Romans 4:5 teaches that it is the man who does not work that God justifies. If our good works could earn our salvation, we would make God a debtor to us. In reality we have a sin debt to God that we could never hope to repay. Romans 11:6 says works and grace are mutually exclusive; they cannot be mixed.
AFTER TELLING JESUS ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVED WOULD WIN SALVATION FOR YOU AND FIND FAVOR IN GOD’S EYES, COULD YOU IMAGINE JESUS SAYING TO YOU, "I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME…….". YET THAT IS WHAT JESUS WOULD SAY!! WHY? BECAUSE IN ALL YOUR ATTEMPTS TO SAVE YOUR SOUL, YOU NEGLECTED AND REJECTED GOD'S WAY OF SALVATION. GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION IS STANDING BEFORE YOUR EYES. HE IS NONE OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST. PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN OR WRITTEN ABOUT THE ROLE THAT JESUS CHRIST PLAYS IN PERSONAL SALVATION ON THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE.
JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SAID...
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me". If you are wondering how we might come to the Father through Jesus, He answered that question for us in a conversation that He had with Nicodemus about Himself in John 3:18, "He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God". In John 6:47 Jesus spoke these words, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." Jesus referred to Himself as the good shepherd in John chapter 10. In verse 9 He stated, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…….". And in verses 27 & 28 Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
APOSTLE PAUL SPOKE & WROTE THESE WORDS
In Acts 13 Paul was preaching about Christ and in verses 38 & 39 he said, "……..That through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses". In Acts 16:30 the Philippian jailer asked Paul what he had to do to be saved. Paul answered by telling him that what had to be done was done already; he simply had to believe in the One who had accomplished his salvation at Calvary, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved……..". In Romans 10:9 Paul wrote, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved". Writing to the Galatians in chapter 2 & verse 16 Paul penned these words, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
APOSTLE PETER SPOKE & WROTE THESE WORDS
In Acts 4:12, referring to Jesus Peter spoke these words, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." In the house of Cornelius Peter was preaching about Jesus and said, "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). In his first epistle Peter wrote concerning the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:18-21). In 1 Peter 3:18 he also writes, "For Christ also suffered once for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit".
APOSTLE JOHN WROTE THESE WORDS
John, the beloved apostle, wrote that salvation came to those who received Christ as their savior by faith, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12, 13). Later he wrote, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30, 31). Concerning the assurance of salvation that those who trust Jesus as their Savior possess, John wrote, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13).
AFTER READING THE ABOVE, YOU MIGHT BE SAYING TO YOURSELF, "ALL OF THAT STUFF ABOVE IS FOR THE REALLY BAD PEOPLE WHO COMMIT BAD SINS; I’M BASICALLY A GOOD, SOUND, MORAL PERSON. THE TEACHING THAT FOLLOWS FROM THE WORD OF GOD WILL PROVE TO YOU HOW WRONG YOU ARE. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TRUTHS ABOUT ALL HUMAN BEINGS, YOURSELF INCLUDED:
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS UNRIGHTEOUS
Romans 3:10 teaches, "…..There is NONE righteous, no, not one". Please notice that Paul says there is NO ONE righteous. Does that include you? Paul tells us why this is true in Romans 3:23, "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Notice that Paul says ALL have sinned. Does that include you? Your sin has not only rendered you unrighteous, but Isaiah tells us of another effect of your sin, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:2). In your unsaved condition Paul says you are actually "…….Dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1)
CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR UNRIGHTEOUS CONDITION
In the Word of God Paul teaches concerning sinners who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Cor. 6:9). The apostle Paul writes of the consequences of those who reject God and His provision for them in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). Concerning the wrath of God, Hebrews 10:31 teaches, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God".
RIGHTEOUS FAITH:
CONCERNING HOW THE LOST SINNER MAY GAIN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT IS REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
First we would like to tell you that feat is not accomplished by our good works as indicated by Paul in Titus 3:5 that our salvation is, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done……". Paul teaches in Romans 4:5 that our salvation is by faith not by works, "Now to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God has never committed any unrighteous-ness (John 7:18) and is correctly called Jesus Christ the righteous in 1 John 2:1. When the lost, ungodly sinner places his trust in Jesus Christ, his faith is accounted for RIGHTEOUSNESS because his sins are charged to Christ’s account and Christ’s righteousness is charged to the account of the one who has come to Christ in faith (2 Cor. 5:21. Isaiah wrote concerning this wonderful transaction, "…..For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE BEGUN TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE POINTED OUT EARLIER; THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION IS BY FAITH IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.
AS WE END THIS PRESENTATION, WE ASK YOU TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER
CHRIST'S SACRIFICE FOR YOU:
THE WORDS WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS CONCERING THE EFFICACY AND FINALITY OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY
This epistle teaches that the purging of our sins was accomplished by Jesus, "……When He had by Himself purged our sins……."(Heb. 1:3). Purgatory is nothing more than an invention of man’s religion; purging of our sins was accomplished at Calvary and now we need only come to Him in faith and accept Him as our Savior. Heb. 7:27 teaches that He not only saves but intercedes for us, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them". A word that stands out in this epistle is the word "once". This epistle teaches that Jesus offered the sacrifice of Himself to His Father once. The Bible teaches that there is no longer a necessity for priests to offer this sacrifice daily on altars around the world. Please consider these passages. Referring to Jesus we read this, "Who does not need daily as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (Heb. 7:27). Heb. 9:12 teaches the efficacy of Christ’s offering, "…….But with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION". Repeating a sacrifice over and over as some do today is an indication that the job is not done. The work of Christ is finished forever as Heb. 9:26 teaches, "……But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself". Hebrews 10:11, 12 sum up beautifully the completed work of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ, "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God".
IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT AS YOU HAVE READ THIS PAGE ON OUR WEB SITE THAT YOU HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT, INDEED, JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY (JOHN 14:6) TO SALVATION. PLEASE REALIZE THAT APART FROM FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE, THAT YOU ARE A LOST SINNER WITH A SIN DEBT YOU CANNOT PAY AND AS SUCH LACK THE NECESSARY RIGHTEOUSNESS TO ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD. ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BECOME YOURS (2 COR. 5:21).
REPENT TOWARD GOD FROM YOUR SIN AND WORDLINESS AND PLACE YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (ACTS 20:21)
