VIQ. (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION)
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!
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I
BELIEVE
IN GOD |
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. |
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| 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). |
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| 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). |
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| 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……." |
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| 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". |
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| 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. |
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| 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……". |
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| 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". |
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| 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. |
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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.
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| 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." |
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| 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." |
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| 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". |
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| 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). |
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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:
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| 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) |
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| 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". |
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| 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)