What Saith the Scriptures
(Some key verses to know and remember)
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
JOHN 14.6
Jesus said until Him "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
MARK 16:15-16
And He said to them, "Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned."
COLOSSIANS 1:14
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
JOHN 3:36
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him."
MATTHEW 18: 2,3.4
Then Jesus called a little child to set him in the midst of them, (3) and said "assuredly I say to you unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (4) "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Everything to Gain
- It is the most important decision you will ever make.
- It is a matter of choosing between heaven and hell, between eternal life and eternal doom.
- You have everything to gain and nothing to lose but your sins.
- There is no risk in trusting Him.
- There is nothing to pay. Salvation is a gift.
Much to Lose
- Delay could be fatal.
- Life is uncertain.
- Death is sure.
- The time is short.
- The coming of Christ draws near.
URGENT MESSAGE FOR THOSE UNCOMMITTED
The purpose of prophecy is not to tickle the imagination but to stir the will. It is designed to forewarn people as to what lies ahead so that they will take intelligent action now. However, many have the idea that prophecy is limited only to foretelling events of the future. According to Paul, he who "prophecies speaks unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort." See 1 Corinthians 14.3.
If you are not saved, the message for you is clear. Trust Christ as your Lord and Savior right now. If you wait until He comes or you die it will be too late. When He comes your believing relatives, friends, and neighbors will go, and you will be left behind to suffer the wrath of God. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by receiving Christ as your only hope for heaven.
IT PAYS TO HAVE CONNECTIONS
In case you are not sure how to do this here's how.
First, acknowledge before God that you are a sinner, that your sins deserve eternal death, and if you died now it would mean hell for you.
Second you must realize that you cannot save yourself. Neither your character, nor good works, baptism, church membership, religious parents or grandparents, nor any human attainments can purchase heaven for you.
Next, believe that Jesus Christ died as a Substitute for you paying the price that your sins deserved, enduring the wrath of God that you should have endured. It is true that He died for the world. But make it personal. Believe that He died for you.
Then by a definite act of faith, accept Him as Lord of your life, and Savior from sin. When you do that, God saves you, and can know on the authority of His Word.
THE TRUTH
"God our Savior; Who will have all men be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
The verses preceding our text encourage believers to be in prayer "for all men" (v.1), including "all that are in authority" (v.2), that our own lives might be "quiet and peaceable", as well as for their salvation.
God who abhors and promises to judge sinful individuals, does not desire to punish anyone. His desire is for "all men to be saved," and He has done all that is necessary to bring this about, by paying sin's awful penalty of death. While not all will avail themselves of this opportunity, choosing instead to continue in their sin, our prayers somehow are used by God to bring some "to the knowledge of the truth."
The truth necessary for salvation follows: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all" (vv.5-6)
In order to be saved, we must embrace the fact that there is only "one God" who alone holds the key to eternity, and there is only one way we can reach that God, "the man Christ Jesus." We, in our natural state, are at war with God, estranged from Him, and separated by the presence of sin in our lives. Christ Jesus, acting as our mediator, our peacemaker, our advocate, being fully God (i.e., "one God") and fully man (i.e., "the man") bridges the gap between the Father and all men. As Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6)
How has He bridged the gap? He gave himself a ransom for all" (v6) but that Christ died for our sins (2 Corinthians 15:3). Since He willingly "gave Himself" as a ;punishment for our sins, we can stand before God the Father in Christ's sinlessness.
SALVATION
Salvation possesses a very broad meaning covered by such words as justification, redemption, reconciliation, etc., summarizing our mighty deliverance as "the gospel of our salvation." Yet look at the word "salvation" in perhaps a more primary application for our present study.
1. The Meaning of Salvation. In the Old Testament, in anticipating the coming Messiah, God's people expected Him to bring "Salvation from our enemies". This can be carefully noted in Luke 1:70 and 71. Yet in the New Testament the meaning of salvation is on a much higher plane, as recorded in Matthew 1:21: "thou shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Both references suggest the existence of definite danger or peril, reminding us of consequences of our sins; that we will "perish" unless saved.
Therefore we must consider ourselves lost, threatened to dangers, both present and future. The disciples in Matthew: 8:25 cried, "Lord save us: we perish:" Though it was a matter of temporal danger and deliverance for them, yet God's salvation through Christ, is a deliverance from every peril, past, present or future.
2. Our Past Salvation. "According to His mercy He saved us" is the language of Titus 3.5. This is an accomplished fact for all who have trusted Christ. It can be known by all who will confess their lost state before God and embrace the finished work of the Cross to put away their sins. All who do can say concerning their past sins and their consequences: "He saved us!" What blessedness!" and redeemed hearts praise and honor the Son of God, saying with exulting joy, "He saved us!"
3. Our Present Salvation. We are delivered from our past evils, but still face the present evils of this world. Can we be saved from our threefold enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil? Yes we can! Christ has also provided by His redemptive work salvation from past dangers and this salvation we need every day! Three sources of power are assured us to fulfill this:
A. We Have a Great High Priest. Read Hebrews 7:25; Romans 5:10 and other Scriptures telling of our Lord's priestly intercession to keep His own, such as His High Priestly prayer of John 17, especially noting v.15.
B. We Have the Word of God. Read 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 119:11, which give the knowledge that here is a divine instrument to sustain and strengthen us to meet the dangers of this present evil world.
C. We Have the Holy Spirit. Read the eighth chapter of Romans through and realize that the divine Person of the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, proving us with power to live victorious over sin, for we possess the Victor Himself.
4. Our Future Salvation. This will be our final deliverance when we shall be saved from every danger forevermore. God's wrath and judgment will yet fall upon this ungodly world: His eternal punishment for sin will be one day visited upon the lost. (See 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 and Revelation 20:11-15.) Yet what a portion is to be ours, we who are saved, for we shall be delivered from the coming wrath, as God tells in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and in the day of His great judgment upon the lost we shall be forever with Christ, possessing bodies of glory, for at the blessed coming of our Lord, which may soon take place, our salvation will be complete! See Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:3-5 etc. May the Lord richly enable us to enjoy every phase of this great salvation!
WORSHIP
It is highly recommended that you get a copy of a paperback book titled "WORSHIP: THE CHRISTIAN'S HIGHEST OCCUPATION" by A.P.Gibbs with a foreward by Geo.M.Landis. We know of no other source where Worship is more fully described. The FOREWARD to this book is herewith presented:
It has been our privilege to read "WORSHIP: THE CHRISTIAN'S HIGHEST OCCUPATION" in manuscript. We acknowledge a great deal of gratitude to the author for being the first to bring to our attention, over some years ago, many of the precious truths contained in this book; and the acceptance of which radically changed the course and character of our ministry.
Here is a book which we thoroughly agree and which we can heartily endorse without reservation.
The title is challenging and the treatment convincing. The author's assertion that "worship is associated with spiritual maturity," is equally true of this book. Even a casual reader would soon detect that it is not the vaporizings of a novice ambitious to become an author; but rather the product of firm convictions based upon a careful searching of the Scriptures, and matured by meditation and by years of deep experience in the Christian path and strengthened by keen observations. Alfred P.Gibbs believes and therefore writes.
In his own inimitable way, the author proceeds in an orderly and cumulative fashion. His homiletic gift is evident and most helpful to the reader. The book is marked by clarity of thought and expression, made more forceful by vivid figures of speech and graphic illustrations.
The reader is soon aware of the fact that worship is not a subject which can be developed and dismissed with a paragraph, but, instead, is impressed with the vastness and importance of the theme. Basic facts on the subject are drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. Practical applications and responsibilities are made clear and in inescapable.
The truth concerning worship is faithfully presented and false theories are mercilessly exposed, by the apt use of sanctified irony. Clouds which confuse many on the subject are dispelled by a number of distinctions of truth are drawn. We cite several. The contrast between the ritualistic worship of Judaism and the spiritual worship of Christianity and the superiority of the latter is worth the reading of the book. The difference between worship and ministry is clearly drawn and is most helpful in these days when Christendom seems to know little about, and values less, the privilege of worship and emphasizes service almost to the exclusion of worship. The place of worship, within the vail, is clearly distinguished from the place of meeting; something which most religious systems utterly fail to see.
The chapters which deal with the worshipper, his privileges and perils, the things to be sought, and the things to avoid the preparation of heart and mind for true worship, are most searching.
The description of the worship of the wise men is a spiritual classic, and might well be printed in pamphlet form for wider distribution.
Certain adult Bible classes would find this volume suitable for a text book for a series of studies on worship. Elder brethren would render a great service by circulating copies among those young in the faith.
We hope and pray that the book may have the wide reading which it merits, and that it may be used of God in leading many into an appreciation and practice of "the highest occupation of the Christian."
WEBSITE EDITOR NOTES:
Both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Landis are now deceased. Their teachings, writings, and preachings still follow them to give encouragement and comfort to Christians young and old.
Please access the following Audio Messages by clicking on the link below to take you to the appropriate page.
"Our Heritage - Where Did We Come From?" by George Hall of England
"Three Ways of Salvation" by Alfred P. Gibbs
"Unsaved When Jesus Comes" by George M. Landis
"The Great White Throne Judgment" by T. Ernest Wilson
"The Anti-Christ" by Doug Kazen
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