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The Truth

You cannot be saved by being a 'good person':

"For by grace are ye saved through faith...Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8a-9 KJV)

And there are not 'many paths’ to God, there's only One:

"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 KJV)

The Bible tells us that everyone is a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23 KJV)

You must realize that there is a punishment for sin:

"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a KJV)

This does not mean only physical death, but also spiritual death:

"...fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28b KJV)

Jesus died on the cross for your sins:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 KJV)

And then He rose from the dead, conquering death:

"Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;" (Acts 10:40 KJV)

Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, eternal life becomes a free gift from God:

"...by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18b KJV)

"...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b KJV)

But just like any gift, it doesn't become yours until you receive it. To receive God's gift of eternal life you must call on the name of the Lord:

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

Time is growing short and you should not put off your decision. The Bible tells us:

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

There is no other way to be saved than by Jesus, and there is no better time than now to receive salvation.

Salvation

"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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19 KJV)

Jesus said He is the only way you can receive eternal life. The Bible says you must repent of your sins, confess Him as Lord and receive Him as your Savior. If you don't you will be condemned for eternity:

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18 KJV)

To receive Jesus as your Savior simply do as the Bible tells us in Romans 10:9 above: Believe in His resurrection with your heart and confess Him as Lord with your mouth. You can say this prayer or one similar for your confession:

Dear Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and God raised You from the dead. I'm sorry for my sins and want to turn from them and follow You. I now confess that You are Lord and ask You to come into my life and be my Savior. Thank You for saving me Lord Jesus. In Your Name, amen.

But you may be thinking, there's no example in the Bible of a 'sinner's prayer'. True, we’re saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ ( Ephesians 2:8 ), not by a prayer. But we're told to "confess with our mouth" (Romans 10:9a) because the verbal confession is a product of our salvation (Romans 10:10b). If we’re not willing to confess Jesus as Lord before others, He will deny us before the Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:32-33). And heartfelt belief in His resurrection must also accompany the verbal confession (Romans 10:9b) because that belief produces righteousness (Romans 10:10a). Our outward confession is a product of our inward belief. One can say their own prayer for their confession, I only offer an example.

Remember the thief on the cross? He believed in Jesus and was saved by God’s grace, so he addressed Jesus as Lord and asked Him to remember him when He came into His Kingdom (Luke 23:42). That was the thief’s verbal confession of Jesus’ Lordship and his acknowledgment of Jesus’ resurrection by alluding to the Lord's future Kingdom to come.

So if you’ve just received Lord Jesus as your Savior welcome to the family of God and to eternal life! Please read and study your Bible and pray every day for guidance. If you don't have a Bible there is one online at Blue Letter Bible (http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=1&v=1&t=KJV#top), or you can download free Bible and study software for your computer at e-Sword (http://www.e-sword.net/).

If you have questions about Jesus and salvation, or if you want to share your decision in receiving Jesus as your Savior, we would enjoy hearing from you. Please contact us through our online ministry Divine Intervention (http://www.DivineIntervention.ws/).

In His service,

Keith

What’s Next

Now that you have received Lord Jesus as your Savior, there are certain things we should do as Christians. We recommend attending a good Bible believing church so you can fellowship with other Christians and learn more about Jesus and God's Word. The Bible tells us:

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

The Lord commands us to support our local Church financially by giving it 10% of our income. This is known as ’tithing’ and is commanded in both the Old and New Testaments:

"And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD." (Leviticus 27:32 KJV)

"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's..." (Mark 12:17 KJV)

Also, one way of proclaiming your Christian faith to others is to be baptized. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but is a way for believers in Christ to publicly demonstrate our identity with Him:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19 KJV)

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27 KJV)

Jesus wants us to testify to others about the salvation He offers. Tell everyone what He has done in your life and can do in theirs. He wants us to continue what He began until He comes for us:

"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." (Luke 19:13 KJV)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15 KJV)

You can know that you are saved and cannot lose your salvation. Jesus, Himself, declared that salvation through Him cannot be lost:

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28 KJV)

Our Heavenly Father promises that once you have received His Son as your Savior you are saved and are His forever:

"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." (1 John 5:11-13 KJV)

We’re told not to sin after being saved, but if we do, as Christians we now have our Lord Jesus that speaks to the Father on our behalf:

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2 KJV)

When we sin after being saved we should immediately confess our sin to God, ask for forgiveness, and turn from our sin. We don't lose our salvation when this happens. We lose our fellowship with God for a time, but not our relationship.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  (Hebrews 9:28)

Amen Brother! - Beautiful and timely Posts that the world needs desperately!

Amen nChrist, it certainly does. Thanks for pinning it, brother. Here's today's offering...

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.  (Isaiah 25:9)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  (Romans 8:23)

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  (Philippians 3:21)

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  (2 Thessalonians 1:10)

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  (Malachi 3:17)

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.  (Isaiah 26:20)

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  (Psalms 27:5)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (Colossians 3:3)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (1 John 3:2)

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  (Colossians 3:4)

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.  (Isaiah 25:9)

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  (Romans 5:2)

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)

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.  (Titus 1:16)

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:  (Isaiah 29:13)

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.  (Mark 7:7-8)

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  (Matthew 6:7)

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.  (Daniel 9:18)

O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.  (Jeremiah 14:7)

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (Romans 6:21)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  (Galatians 6:8)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  (Matthew 19:29)

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?  (James 2:5)

The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  (Isaiah 29:19)

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  (Philippians 3:3)

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (1 Peter 1:23)

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  (1 Corinthians 15:54)

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (Revelation 21:4)

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  (2 Corinthians 6:17)

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  (John 6:37)

Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.  (Isaiah 41:9)

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.  (1 Samuel 12:22)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  (John 15:16)

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  (Matthew 21:22)

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (1 John 5:14)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (Hebrews 10:35)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  (Galatians 6:8)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  (Matthew 19:29)

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.  (Luke 6:22)

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  (1 Peter 4:14)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (Ephesians 5:8)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (1 John 1:7)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  (1 John 1:3)

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.  (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.  (Isaiah 25:9)

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.  (Isaiah 12:1)

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.  (Zechariah 14:9)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (Matthew 28:19)

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (Ephesians 3:14)

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.  (Psalms 95:6)

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.  (1 Samuel 2:8)

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  (Hebrews 1:3)

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  (1 John 3:5)

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.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:5)

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.  (1 Peter 2:24)

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  (Romans 6:2)

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  (1 Peter 1:14)

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  (Acts 17:30)

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.  (Mark 1:15)

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  (Romans 16:26)

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  (Colossians 1:26)

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:  (Mark 4:11)

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  (Matthew 13:13)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  (Isaiah 60:1)

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  (Philippians 2:15)

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.  (Luke 2:32)

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.  (Acts 28:28)

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:  (Romans 3:29)

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  (Colossians 3:11)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  (1 John 5:20)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.  (1 Timothy 3:16)

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:  (Colossians 1:6)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (John 4:23)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (1 Peter 2:9)

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  (Isaiah 60:2)

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (Hebrews 1:2)