SALVATION TRACT

Having Ears to Hear

Can I share with you some of the most fantastic, sobering and important things you may ever hear? Though some things may be hard to hear, please consider them carefully, for they are so clear and plain, that if you are willing to hear them and believe, your life will never be the same again; though trials will come, you can still have the most amazing love, hope, and purpose ever!
I will also prove to you (if you have ears to hear), why you are in danger of hell, if you are lost, and show you God’s way to be saved and how to come into His wonderful kingdom!

What is your purpose?

All of the universe and it’s laws have a creator behind them, otherwise, everything would be
by random chance. If everything was by chance, then all your thinking, moral convictions, opinions, arguments and your whole life would be without any meaning or purpose. Yet, the opposite is true, and there is a creator and absolute standard for all–that is God. We see design in the universe, so there is a designer; we see order and purpose, so there is a creator to give it order and purpose. For example, if you look at a constructed model of the solar system you know that it was made by someone, even though you did not see the creator. You know it did not come by chance, because it has design, order and purpose. Likewise, the evidence in the universe points to a creator even though we don’t see him. It is that simple!

The creator of all is God; and you were made for His purpose and according to His will. Part of that purpose is to know Him, love Him and serve in His kingdom. But, since the beginning, from Adam and Eve, men have fallen from this and seek to do their own will. Now all must come into God’s salvation to know their purpose, or be separated forever in hell.

No wonder we see such evil in the world for people have lost their purpose, and don’t know where they are going. They rush about trying to fill the emptiness inside with money, sex, power, material possessions, drugs, man–made religion and many other false gods.

You might ask, “Why doesn’t God get rid of all the evil and suffering?”. Well, then he would have to get rid of all of us right now, because we have all done evil. But he is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish. And when we see suffering, this should force us to realize that something is wrong in the world and look to God for help.

You condemn yourself

Consider this, have you ever lied, even one lie? If so, that makes you a liar. Have you ever stolen something, even the smallest thing? If so, then you are a thief. Have you ever coveted something, or loved something more than God? If so, you are a covetous, idolater! Already, you have shown, by doing such things, that you are a lying, thieving, covetous idolater. How will you be saved and stand before a holy God? And how will you answer for doing these evil things? What excuses can you give?

If I were to go on, you would be guilty of so many other sins, as I was. Even many of your good works would be found to be done with selfish and impure motives. By wilfully doing evil, this shows that you are evil and headed for hell.

The point is that if you said, “Yes I have lied or stolen”(etc.), then you base judgement on what you have done by some moral law or standard, that you already know about. This is the work of God’s law shining in your heart. You know what you should do. but don't and so condemn yourself.

For example, have you ever said to someone, “Go to hell!” for doing something evil to you? Or have you ever cursed someone or called them a fool for being mean and selfish to you? Then, afterwards, you also lied or took something that wasn't yours or were mean and selfish to others? People make these moral judgements and do the same evil things all the time.

But when you judge others for doing evil and do the same things, you condemn yourself. For you are no different than them and are being hypocritical. So by saying "Go to hell!" to someone, you first admit that there is such a place and that you should also go there by your own judgement.

The Bible says that all those who have lied, stolen, coveted, fornicated, hated, been drunken, selfish, proud or done any evil, will not enter heaven unless they repent and have faith towards God. For they have broken God’s law as seen in the ten commandments and the work of the law is written in the hearts of all men.

Even lusting after a man or woman in your heart is adultery and sin, because God looks at the motives of your heart. When we sin, the light of God’s truth shines in us and convicts us of guilt in our conscience (Eph. 5:13, Rom 1:18,19, 2:15, John 3:19-20). The law then shows us sin, condemns us and leads us to God for help.

THE GOOD NEWS

Unless God helps mankind there is none that can keep his law, or approach Him on their own. For since Adam, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Not one could satisfy God, or justify themselves without Him. Only God could do such a thing, yet only mankind must do so, or be justly condemned. For a holy God must punish evil. This is the dilemma.

However, if someone could represent all mankind to God and satisfy His justice and love, perhaps through him, humanity could have a chance to be saved. But no sinner could help. Men could only hope in God’s help and His righteousness to be saved and believe in the Light they had (John 1:9 Romans 1:19 KJV). Until one man did come, who is the righteousness of God revealed to us, and that man is Jesus Christ the Son of God; he is God revealed to us in the flesh and without sin(1 Timothy 3:16). As a man he represented us to God and died for our sins; as God He was able to do this and demonstrate his love for us. He satisfied God, kept the law and gave the perfect sacrifice by giving himself and shedding his life's blood. And this is the good news to all, that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor 15:3-4), and he was seen after his resurrection by many. So in the cross we see the great love of God and His judgement against sin declared. God sees one perfect man, (Jesus Christ) that could approach him, who is the only representative and substitute for mankind, making atonement for
sin. And that man is the God-man Jesus Christ.

So God has made it possible for one man to satisfy his righteousness by becoming that man himself for us. God sees His own righteousness in Jesus Christ and reconciles the world to himself through Christ. What glorious wisdom! For God alone is both the just one and justifier of those who believe in Jesus. There is no other way we can approach a holy God.

How to be saved?

You might say, “That’s alright for Jesus and at least one man could approach God, but what about the rest of us?

Salvation is by the grace of God - we can’t earn it. And Jesus said, "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" ( John 3:3). As a sinner, when you call unto God and repent of your sins towards Him, (which is a change of mind about the way you are going) and confess and forsake your sin against God from a true and humble heart, putting faith in Jesus Christ as your saviour, you are forgiven and born again. Then the Spirit of Christ comes into you and gives you life and peace; for you are now trusting in God's righteousness, and have faith, as all have done since the beginning who are saved.

We are then connected in spirit to Jesus, this new man in heaven, and made the righteousness of God in Christ. It is like he is the vine and we are the branches. The bible says that we are seated together with him in heavenly places in Christ"(Eph 2:6). Now God sees a glorious man in heaven representing all those who continually abide in him by faith and we can
approach God through Jesus Christ. We also have eternal life if we remain in him, and have hope after death.

So flee from the wrath to come! Turn from your sin! Let Jesus Christ be Lord of your life! Be filled with the Holy Ghost, and read the Bible.

downey@ca.inter.net

Hello all,

[quote=Truth-no-lies,Oct 13 2005, 10:51 PM]
Hello all,
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Hello Bruce!

I thought I would post this document here instead so that it would get more exposure.

Thanks for the gospel message. We were a little weak in this area on the forum and I am glad you helped make up for it.

[quote=Shekel,Oct 13 2005, 09:23 PM]
Thanks for the gospel message. We were a little weak in this area on the forum and I am glad you helped make up for it.
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Amen! I'd love to see what we could come up with if more of us tried our hand at this! Each of us has our own personality and our own testimony, and we can reach people in different ways. This is great!

Debbie

Oh but by your grace dear Jesus...for I am worthless without you....but in you I try to abide in your love and in all your ways...when I don't I can count on you for correction in this I trust, that Nothing can seperate the love you have for those desire to do your will...and you supply that desire...for only you dear Jesus are worthy and we honor your HOLY NAME JESUS.

Thank you so much for this post Bruce...it really reaches within our hearts...to surrender daily to our LORD JESUS.

God Bless You

Truth-no-lies

A good post. If you are going to use it as a tract to give to non-believers then may i suggest that you go through the post you have and find all the church "jargon" and try your best to replace those words with their meaning in ordinary english. I can tell you have put a lot of effort into talking in plain english already.

Some people do not know what words like abide,wrath, idolater and forsake mean.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days