Which road to salvation?
ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD
There is no greater question that a man can ask than, "Which road
leads to salvation?". But with all the different churches, sermons
and tracts on 'how to be saved', how can you know which is the right
road? Let us look at God's Word without a lot of man`s extra opinions.
For as everyone knows it is only according to the Word of God that a
man can be saved. It is the Living Word of God that all Christians and
churches must come to if they are to prove that they are saved. If
their call or walk in salvation is not according to God's Word, what
salvation do they have?
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." -I Peter
1:23
The call for people to be saved must be according to the Word of God
or it is not a salvation from sin and hell.
ELEMENTARY TEACHINGS
In this tract we will be discussing the "elementary teachings" of
Jesus and just because you do not see your church name listed, do not
assume you,re in the clear, (Hebrews 6:1). Remember well that if the
basic elementary things of Christ are not perfectly lived up to, how
can you or anyone else be in a place of maturity?
If you claim to be saved, and most do, then see if your life matches
up with God's Word. Otherwise you're not saved. You're headed for
hell. For God tells us that if we do not stay within His teaching and
Word we lose Jesus. Just think of that - if we stray from the Word of
God we will not have Jesus to save us from eternal fire. Just listen
to God's warning that He wrote in 2 John :9
"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of
Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both
the Father and the Son."
In the following tract we will see if your church lives in the
teachings of God. We will see if you have obeyed the teachings of God
and are really saved as you claim. We will see if the plan of
salvation that you were taught is really a teaching that has Jesus and
the Father in it. Indeed, God is going to show us if we have really
followed His Word or if our church traditions have nullified the
commandments of Jesus. You will see if Jesus is saying to you:
"Thus you nullify the Word of God by your tradition that you have
handed down." Mark 7:13
TO BE SURE
Be assured of one thing...most people and churches have refused the
salvation God offers and have made their own. Notice what Romans 10:3 says,
"Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and
sought to establish their own they did not submit to God's
righteousness."
Have you submitted to "God's righteousness" or your church's own
idea of what makes a man righteous? Let us see.
THE WIDE GATE & ROAD
Perhaps you believe you're saved - most people do! You may be a
church goer, a bible student or just a person who's as good as anyone
else. All your religious activity, good deeds or faith mean nothing
unless you have really obeyed the gospel as Jesus taught it, (James
2:19). Just listen to what Jesus says about obeying what He has said:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
Those people and churches who leave out portions of what Jesus said
about salvation will not be saved. And those who add in words that
Jesus did not say about salvation, Jesus also said they will not be
saved. They have only established their "own righteousness". Have you
done that? Before you say 'no' read on about what God has to say about
most people.
"Many" are on that wide religious road that leads to hell. You can
safely assume that most people you meet are not saved, that they are
following the devil and demons, (Galatians 4:27). Unless you have done
the following, you're not on the narrow road. You're not saved. You're
not in God's love and grace.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
Did you catch that? Only a "few" find salvation. For one example
of how 'few' we will look at the example of Noah in a moment.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TAUGHT CONCERNING SALVATION?
Were you taught.... ..the "wide road" salvation the Baptists teach?
That all you need do is ask Jesus in your heart, and like 'zap' you're
always saved from now on?
Were you taught... ..the "wide" self-righteous road of law that the
Church of Christ teaches?
Were you taught... ..the "wide" road of "destruction" by the
Catholic church that you can have your Rosary beads, statues, Pope and
the Lord Jesus also?
Were you taught... ..the "wide" emotional road that says 'tongues
are a sign'?
Were you taught... ..that as you walk down the road of hell just to
"think positive" all the way?
Or were you taught... ..as the Methodists and others teach that if
you believe it strong enough you're saved?
Instead of listing all the many wrongs that people are taught, let
us see what Jesus has to say. Of course you will have to forget your
pride, self- righteousness and what your church teaches and listen to
Jesus. It is up to you.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT
Before anyone should be told they have received the gift of
salvation, Jesus says that they should stop and consider what it means
to follow Him. You see, if a message makes it sound easy to be saved,
that is the "wide gate" and "broad road" that "many" will follow to
their own damnation.
To be saved means far more than just "accepting Jesus into your
heart" with a simple prayer. It means something quite different than
perhaps what your church has taught you to believe. To follow Jesus
and to have His grace means your opinions have to go and you must
accept WHAT GOD SAYS His salvation means. That's why Jesus bids
everyone to consider what it means to follow Him BEFORE YOU START.
Has your church or Christian friend told you to obey these words of
Jesus? If not, one wonders where their gospel comes from. The
following are the words of Jesus and what He has to say about accepting
His free gift of salvation.
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete
it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it,
everyone who sees it will ridicule him saying, 'This fellow began to
build and was not able to finish'. Or suppose a king is about to go to
war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider
whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming
against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able he will send a
delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for
terms of peace. In the same way any of you who does not give up
everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:28-32
Before you accepted Jesus did anyone tell you to "stop", "sit down"
and "estimate the cost"?
Why not? Jesus told these people to, if they were really going to be
saved!
You who think you're saved, have you really given up "everything" to
Jesus? Your life, marriage, children, opinions and church? Do you live
for yourself or Jesus? Are you willing to obey all the Word of God? Do
you know what will start happening to you if you really start to follow
Jesus, (John 15). Don't pass those questions off too quickly, "first
sit down" and pray about it! You who preach the gospel and pride
yourself on being "biblical", do you preach that people should "sit
down" and count the cost before accepting Jesus as Lord?
How many really do not even know what the cost is in following
Jesus. They just pick and choose a church and the scriptures they
like. Or they just follow their own religious ideas. How many offers
of salvation do not make people take a good look at who Jesus is! How
unlike Jesus all these calls and assurances of salvation are! It would
be obvious if churches, ministers and Christians were listening to what
the living word of God as saying. Oh, how we love our own voices! How
easily we call darkness, (disregard for God's Word) - "light", (Luke
11:35)
THE COST
Jesus says, that if you want to know His grace and to be in
paradise, then this is what will be asked of you. THIS IS FOR ANYONE
WHO WANTS THE SALVATION OF GOD.
"Large crowds (most churches) were traveling with Jesus, and turning
to them he said; 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father
and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even
his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry
his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple...In the same way, any
of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:25-27 & 33
Think this is too tough a message? Too legalistic? Too dogmatic?
Too hard? Does this ruffle your religious feathers? It did to most of
these people too.
"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer
followed him." John 6:66
They left the salvation that God was offering them. In short, they
turned their backs on what Jesus was saying it meant to be saved and no
doubt went and made their own justified means to salvation. Let us
pray to God that the full message will once again be preached so that
many in churches would "turn back and no longer follow him".
You too have a choice to read on and obey what Jesus is calling you
to or to turn back and no longer follow Jesus. You have a choice
between heaven or hell.
MESSAGES WITHOUT A CROSS
We know that many of you have been taught about the "saving blood"
of Jesus. Yet we live in a day when most sermons, worship services and
scripture readings do not have the power of the cross in them. It is
hard to describe to most people that there is a very real difference
between the truth with a powerful cross in it and one that is only of
human wisdom! But there is a difference!! For Paul writes in 1
Corinthians 1:17 about people who preach about Jesus in the power of
human religious wisdom. He says,
"...to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest
the cross be emptied of its power."
You probably have obeyed a teaching about Jesus that has no power in
it, even though it had a lot of emotion in it. Remember, only those
who remain in the teaching of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
have God. Be sure also, that what you are calling "Holy Spirit" power
is not just human wisdom, strength and work.
THE TRUTH BUT NO POWER
You could be taught pure scripture from the Bible and yet have no
power in it. In fact, it could be satan quoting you scripture about
your salvation, and if he is, we all know how that will end. For satan
quoted scripture to Jesus promising him salvation and if Jesus would
have obeyed it he would have died. Satan quoted him the Bible. Let us
read it asking ourselves if you have really been offered a gospel with
a cross and power or one of human wisdom and power that comes from
satan.
"Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the
highest point of the temple. (How lifted up and high most think their
churches are.) 'If you are the Son of God' he said, 'throw yourself
down'. (In short, if you really belong to God you will not go to hell.
It is the same garden of Eden lie that we will not die if we disobey
or disregard God's Word. That God did not "really" say we had to do
this for salvation) "For it is written" 'He will command his angels
concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you
will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4:5-6)
In short, satan is saying "Awe, you're saved, no need for you to
repent". It is with tears and a holy anger that comes from heaven that
we say that most people are obeying a message of Jesus based on no
power for it comes merely from human strength and religion even though
it is based on the written Word of God. Don't stay in it any longer;
"leave them" (Matthew 15:12-14). Repent!
The point again cannot too strongly be made that satan is quoting
the Bible, just like many churches and ministers do, but it is the
wrong spirit. That is why John tells us,
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to
see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone
out in the world." 1 John 4:1
Be very sober here for you could be taught straight scripture and
yet that scripture be coming from the pit of hell. The very scripture
you, re so faithfully claiming for salvation could wind up being your
damnation. Best you learn what it is to "lose your life" by the Holy
Spirit starting today!
OK, THEN, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
In order to be saved you must first "sit down" and look deeply at
what it means to follow Jesus. Are you willing to pay the cost? Do
you really want to give up everything in order to follow a living God?
Do you count it joy to give up all for Jesus?
If you decide that you do want to love God with "all your heart,
mind and soul" then this is how God says you can receive His salvation.
And it is not by saying the believers prayer, infant baptism, speaking
in tongues or by your own interpretation of scripture. Salvation comes
only to those who obey the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit,
(2 Corinthians 3:3).
WHAT SHALL YOU DO?
Let us ask a question many thousands asked Peter one day concerning
how to be saved. Let us say to God...
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles 'Brothers, what shall we do?`" Acts 2:37
Over 3, 000 people are asking Peter and the other apostles what they
must do to be saved, what God would have them do in order to receive
the free gift of salvation that is not by works but by grace.
I ask you, did they receive 12 different answers as we do today?!!!
NO! They answered according to what Jesus had told them to say.
What Jesus told them to say and do can be read in Matthew 28:16-20
if you want to check it out. For now, let us watch as 3,000 people
receive salvation. Let us see how they received this salvation. Let us
see how they obeyed the full message of salvation.
Acts 2:37-41 tells us the plan of salvation. By the way, there is
no other right plan. Oh, there are many other plans for salvation that
everyone will say is right. But as Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a
way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death". Let us
now read and study Acts 2:37-41 and if you claim to be a Christian, see
if this matches up to what you were taught and if it had the power of
the cross in it by the Holy Spirit. If you're saying it does then it
will be conforming to the Word of God!
Acts 2:37-41 "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Peter replied, 'Repent (prepare to obey God's Word) and be baptized
(baptism means immersion), EVERY ONE OF YOU, in the name of Jesus
Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit."
Notice that Peter did not say, "Ask Jesus in your heart", "Sprinkle
your babies with water", "Let me lay hands on you", "Receive Jesus and
then as a public testimony be baptized". Nor did Peter say, "Ask Jesus
into your life and then seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit later",
"Whatever you believe, as long as you believe it strong enough is OK
guys" and he did not say, "Think positive and you will arrive in
heaven".
In addition, the people did not complain to Peter that "You're
making this a salvation by works."; "We have this church tradition
that takes care of this."; "That's just the way you interpret it
Peter."; "We too preach the message but only the mature and needed
things." or "You mean we have been wrong in our thinking about how to
be saved...who do you think you are?". Lord have mercy on His Word and
give us men and churches who will obey the pure Word without allot of
talk, commentary and dodges, (Ecclesiastes 5:3, 6:11). How much
"whitewash" is being given away today all because men refuse to be
quiet and accept what God has to say:
"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to
listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know
that they do wrong." -Ecclesiastes 5:1
How many are saying "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the
Lord", (Jeremiah 7:1-5), and how little there is simple obedience to
the Word of God. Too much talk! Too much adding to and taking away
from God`s Word. Unto such God will prove their gospels to be lies.
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take
refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and
prove you a liar." -Proverbs 30:5-6
In short, we receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit by
being baptized in water. At least that's what God and the first
Pentecostal sermon says.
THE "FULL" AND "WHOLE" MESSAGE
"The Lord said, 'Go, stand in the temple courts,' he said 'and tell
the people the full message of this new life." Acts 5:20
"For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of
God." Acts 20:27
How churches and so-called Christians like to say they stand on the
Word of God and yet hate and reject much of the Word of God. Remember
that those who do not continue in the teaching of Jesus do not have
salvation. Most messages about salvation leave out the full message.
They leave out the power. For John writes to us and says in 1 John
5:6-8,
"This is the one who came by water and blood-Jesus Christ. He did
not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit
who testifies, because the Spirit is Truth. (How few have ears today
that are willing to listen.)
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the
blood; and the three are in agreement."
One area that has become law or is just left out is water baptism.
Yet to have the full message there must be:
1. An understanding of the cost (the "blood").
2. A true receiving of power from God, (the Holy "Spirit") and
3. A "water" baptism that is both physical and spiritual.
A true belief in God...a real faith...a true hungering and
thirsting for righteousness and a true salvation in God will testify to
what the Holy Spirit "testifies" to. For the Holy Spirit is Truth. To
reject or alter the teaching on the plan of salvation is to reject the
Truth and with it salvation for oneself. For as Paul wrote to Timothy
in 1 Timothy 4:16,
"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because
if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
How do we know that water is the baptism Peter is talking about?
Well, let us ask Peter. Ok, Peter, is it water you are talking about?
1 Peter 3:20-21 "...God waited patiently in the days of Noah while
the ark was being built. In it only a FEW people, eight in all, were
saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves
you also -"
Let us ask Philip if Peter really is referring to a water baptism
for today. Ok, Philip, tell us; Acts 8:35-36
"Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and and told
him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they
came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look here is water. Why
shouldn't I be baptized?' And he ordered the chariot to stop. Then
both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip
baptized him."
Now back to Acts 2:37-41 where we can hear Peter telling them to
count the cost before they decide to be immersed in water for
salvation.
"The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far
off- for all whom the Lord our God will call." (In short, for all who
will obey the gospel as Jesus teaches it.)
"With many other words he warned them; and pleaded with them 'Save
yourselves from this corrupt generation.' (Peter is telling them to
count the cost and to save themselves from those who have corrupted
the things of God, i.e.- plans of salvation.)
If you want the message Jesus has to offer, if you say that you're a
Christian, then this is the message you have to respond to! For God says,
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3, 000
were added to their number that day." Acts 2:41
Baptism, of course, means so much more than just going down into the
water. It is spiritual and very powerful. You will need to get with
someone and study. Baptism is not some dead law the way others preach
it.
However, to receive salvation and the grace of God into your life it
is the first step that must be taken. Otherwise, we must and you must
seriously question your so called salvation.
"ORDER"!
But you say,
"I have already received the Holy Spirit!"
"I truly asked Jesus into my heart!"
"They have a good heart and witness for the Lord!"
"I love the Lord and the Word of God too!"
"Let me tell you how the Lord answered my prayers!"
"It is the symbolization that counts and our church tradition takes
all this into account."
"You're making this salvation by works!"
"You're not being very loving like Jesus was."
"Our church teaches righteousness and holiness too."
"Just overlook this one small area."
"Give people time and be more patient...just love a little."
"See how much our church is doing?"
"God sees my heart and knows that I have a good one...that I love
Him!"
We say to you what God and Jesus would have us say to you. That is,
" learn what the costs are; stop preaching 1/2 a message and get into
that water and be baptized". Go home and tell your church to preach
the "full" message, (Acts 5:20, 20:27), to repent of the "vain"
teachings and "rules taught by men" as Jesus said to, or your worship
is in "vain"! (Matthew 15:1-9)
Until then, we, by the authority of Jesus Christ and the power of
the Holy Spirit, say, repent and obey the Word of God! What, how can
we say that? Let us read Acts 10:44-48,
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came
on all who heard the message...For they heard them speaking in tongues
and praising God. Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from
being baptized with water? They received the Holy Spirit just as we
have." So he ORDERED that they be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ."
Therefore, leave behind all your worthless church traditions and
opinions and get down in the water where God says salvation is
received. If you remain stiff-necked about the full message why should
we take seriously your claim to know God? Let us repeat that question:
If you remain stiff-necked about these "elementary teachings" about
Jesus why, should we take seriously your claim to know God?
GOD'S GRACE
How can you tell if someone is on the narrow road? How can you tell
if they have really received a baptism that is not of human wisdom?
Don't look at their church doctrine...look at their life! In their
lives are they quick to confess sin and to change from that sin? Do
they hunger and thirst to obey all of God's Word? Is there a full
faith and belief in the Holy Spirit? Has the Holy Spirit put to death
self and sin or is it merely human effort dealing with sin in the name
of Jesus? Are their lives RADICALLY different than the world's? For
God says His grace is this:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say "NO" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright lives in this present age..." Titus
2:11-14
So we say to all of you who claim to know Jesus...prove it!
"I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their
repentance by their deeds." Acts 26:20
That's right, they will be more pure than those around them. They
will not smoke, drink, be materialistic, nor love pleasure, nor be
merely religious etc. etc.. They will be so full of the joy of heaven
that they will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, pick up their daily
cross and be crucified.
In fact, if someone claims to know God's grace and yet is sexually
immoral, greedy, religious, slanderous, a drunkard, unloving, or stiff-
necked toward the Word of God we will not even eat with them, (I
Corinthians 5:9-13, etc.).
GOD IS CALLING YOU
If you have been following the dictates of religion...if you have
been walking in your self-righteous pride...if you have been
corrupting the Word of God...if you have been walking on the easy road
of false salvation...if you have been lied to about the fate of your
soul...there is good news - Jesus is calling you to Him.
Will you now, today, see your false security, your sharing of
partial gospels with people, (Acts 18:24-26), and come learn from Jesus
what Luke 5:11 means:
"So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and
followed him."
Matthew 4:21-22 "Going on from there, he saw two brothers, James and
John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing nets.
Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father
and followed him."
Will you, by the Holy Spirit, live out Mark 8:34-35? "Then he called
the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, 'If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me. For whoever wants to lose his life for me and for the gospel will
save it."
Are you willing to "lose your life"? If you're married are you
willing to live as though you were not married? (1 Corinthians
7:29-31) Are you willing to "hate" money as Jesus said all must do who
claim salvation from Him? (Matthew 7:24) Are you willing to "beat your
body" as you go into "strict training"? (1 Corinthians 9:22-27) There
is more to consider but this will give you a taste of what Jesus is
saying here.
YOUR CHOICE
The narrow gate is in front of you! The narrow road is mapped out
for you! Eternal life and peace awaits those who will obey God and not
religious man!
It is up to you, but remember, all your self-righteous talk of faith
in Jesus will do you no good. All the talk of your experiences or
works in the Lord will mean nothing unless you obey what God has to
say. For as God's Word says over and over...
Hebrews 5:8-9, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from
what he suffered and once made perfect, he became the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey him."
Acts 5:32, "We are witnesses of these things, so is the Holy Spirit,
whom God has given to those who obey Him."
1 John 2:3-4 "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his
commands. The man who says, 'I know him', but does not do what he
commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys
his word, God's love is truly made complete in him." (So forget all
your talk about how you love others unless you're preaching and seeking
to live the "whole" and "full" message!)
For those of you who insist on your sin, self, and human church
tradition we warn you to at least tell others that you are unclean
before God. Don't let Proverbs 30:12 be true about you,
"There are those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not
cleansed of their filth."
CONCLUSION
It is time for those who claim to know God to start living and
understanding what the "full" message is. It is time for those who
"whitewash", (Ezekiel 13), the sins of the people to repent of their
lawless preaching. It is time for those who preach the law or "ink" of
water baptism to start believing in the Holy Spirit. It is time that
when an altar call is given that people be told to "sit down" and
"count the cost". It is time for those who rely on emotions and gifts
of the Spirit for salvation to measure their experiences by the Word of
God.
It is time for all true believers to demand that they be given "pure
spiritual milk", leaving behind the human empowered crosses of today's
Christianity. It is time for those who are in churches that refuse to
repent to leave those churches as Jesus said to do! It is time for
those who claim to be humble by the Holy Spirit to really have faith
and soft hearts to receive it from the hand of God. It is time to tear
up the robes, socializing churches, easy one, two, three steps to
salvation, human effort dealing with sin and false joy that you rely on
and obey God's Word by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is time for repentance according to God's Word! Let there happen
in this land a true, honest to goodness Holy Spirit revival - obedience
to God's Living Word.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not in my
presence, but now much more in may absence - continue to work out your
salvation with fear and trembling..." -Philippians 2:12
SOUND DOCTRINE BBS