Introduction
The most important question you will ever be asked in your entire life—DO
YOU KNOW 100% SURE IF YOU DIED RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD GO TO HEAVEN?
Have you ever been asked this
question before? Have you ever
given this question any thought? There are many “If’s” in life but this is NOT a matter
to be taken lightly. Your soul’s
destiny is at stake! Many folks are
in the dark concerning their soul’s salvation.
They’ve heard umpteen religious teachings all their life but aren’t
really sure of anything. They’ve
never really settled down to business on this matter. Friend, I would like to guide you in the following chapters
into many of these Scriptures—with a sincere desire that you may come to the
glorious knowledge of the truth and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
as your Savior.
I thank God for all the millions of Gospel tracts which get passed out
each year in this nation; however, it has always concerned me that too many are
vague and lacking any real substance. Nothing
can replace a personal soul-winner. Howbeit, many people have been led to the Lord Jesus Christ
by a simple and short Gospel tract. A
simple tract is helpful because many people will not take the time to read a
long brochure. Further, salvation
is not a difficult matter and God only requires a child-like faith to be saved.
Nevertheless, there are some people who need more than a simple tract.
It is not unreasonable for a person to have many questions and concerns.
I wish I had found a book such as this when I first began to seek the
Lord as a teenager. I have written
the following chapters in an attempt to “lay it all out on-the-table” in
hopes of giving you a more complete understanding of God’s wonderful plan of
salvation. This just may be the
world’s longest Gospel tract. I
pray that God’s Holy Spirit will speak to your heart as I speak to your mind
in the pages ahead.
There
are many uncertainties in this life, but your soul’s salvation does NOT need
to be one of them. You can KNOW beyond
a shadow of a doubt that you are saved and on your way to heaven.
“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…”
(1st John 5:13). We all know that
we have to die, but we don’t know when. Why
not take out a fire insurance policy with God and make ready your soul for the
day when you die and pass from this life into the next.
The honest truth is that God has provided a simple and easy way for all
mankind to be saved. God does NOT
want one single sinner to perish into hell.
“The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT
ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL
should come to repentance.” (2nd Peter
3:9). What a wonderful truth!
The promise mentioned is the return of Christ as prophesied in the Bible.
There were “scoffers” and “doubters” in those days (just as there
are today) who make light of the Bible and laugh at the Scriptural teaching that
Jesus Christ will someday return for His own.
These scoffers are known as “liberals” or “modernists.”
The apostle Paul here assures these folks that God is not a liar and does
indeed keep His promises. The
reason for the Lord’s delay is simply because He is “LONGSUFFERING
to us-ward, not willing that
ANY
should perish, but that ALL should come to
repentance.” It is you my dear friend whom God is waiting
for! God does not want you to
perish! You have no idea how much
God loves you, what He has made available to you and how very much He wants you
to get saved. Again, it is my
humble prayer that the Holy Spirit of God will speak to your heart in the
extremely important pages ahead.
The
only accurate way to interpret the Bible is not to interpret it at all.
The Bible speaks for itself! May
I say, there will always be areas of doctrine that puzzle us.
This is why we are challenged in 2nd Timothy 2:15 to “STUDY to show
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.”
This is how we learn the Bible—by dividing it (cross-referencing).
When we compare one Scripture with other Scriptures, we obtain true
doctrine. This is where many people
get into big trouble—by failing to “rightly divide” the Word of Truth.
For example, we are told in Mark 16:16 that “Whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”
The casual reader might mistakenly conclude that baptism is essential for
salvation. This would make baptism
a sacrament. This is not correct
however because we are told elsewhere in the Bible that Paul was not sent to
baptize, but rather to preach the Gospel.
“For Christ sent me NOT
TO BAPTIZE, but to preach
the gospel” (1st Corinthians 1:17). Paul never would have made such a statement if baptism were
necessary for salvation. This is
just one of thousands of examples of why it’s important to know your Bible
well. It is my earnest belief that every
Christian should have a thorough understanding of the Bible.
I’ve
written this book because I feel it is very much needed. I’ve met many people who thought they were saved, but in
fact were NOT. There is an
abundance of false teaching and false religion all around us in society.
The devil is a master counterfeiter!
Many false religions have been started based on sincere
misunderstandings (false teachings) from the Bible.
2nd Peter 3:16 & 17 warns us about tampering with the Bible.
Those who do so, do it “...unto
their own DESTRUCTION.”
Peter was wise to admit that he simply did NOT understand some of
Paul’s writings. Honesty is
always the best policy. There’s
nothing wrong or demeaning about saying “I don’t know.”
Many people are blinded by arrogance and are too proud to admit their
ignorance on certain matters. May
I say, there are many things which I do not understand.
I do not pretend to understand everything in the Bible; on the contrary,
I have many questions for Jesus when I get to heaven. We
are encouraged in 1st Corinthians 13:12 concerning this matter; “For
NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY; but
then face to face NOW I KNOW IN PART; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
What a wonderful truth—Someday we will know God just as much as He
knows us. Until then, we must
be content to “know in part.”
This
book is all about salvation. I am
going to share with you many of the practical truths which God has used to burn
my heart over the years. I think of
these truths often. I can
proclaim with Jacob, “I am not
worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the TRUTH,
which thou hast shewed unto thy servant”
(Genesis 32:10). God is
wonderful to me and His truths are precious indeed.
I fervently pray that the truths in this book will be a blessing to every
reader. These are NOT my truths,
they are God’s truths; I’m simply sharing them with you, gladly.
There
is NO greater matter in life than the destiny of a man’s soul.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and LOSE
HIS OWN SOUL?” (Matthew 16:26).
The important thing is that you know your name is written in heaven in
the Lamb’s book of life. If you
are not saved, nothing else matters!
All the knowledge and wealth in the universe will do you no good if
you die in your sins and go to hell forever.
As a Christian, Jesus Christ lives within my heart (and I live in His
heart). If you are saved, He
lives within your heart also (and you in His).
If you are NOT saved, Jesus Christ wants to come into your heart.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
OPEN THE DOOR,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”
(Revelation 3:20). The
Scriptures are speaking of the door to your heart.
God wants to live in your heart my friend.
The choice is completely yours to make.
I
have included several chapters
addressing the “assurance” of one’s salvation.
I have personally known quite a few Believers Who couldn’t find peace
concerning their soul’s salvation. There
is no reason to fear and doubt. The
Bible declares that we can KNOW beyond the shadow of any doubt that we are
indeed saved. Again, “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”
(1st John 5:13). When I was
younger, I was always afraid to go down into the basement when the lights were
out because I didn’t know what might be lurking in the dark.
I was afraid of the unknown.
This is usually why a person doubts their salvation, they are ignorant
concerning the Scriptures. What if?
What if I’m not really saved? What
if I go to hell? People often fear
that which they do not understand. It
is my heart’s desire to help you gain a greater understanding of God’s plan
of salvation in the pages that follow. I believe you will find this book helpful.
I’ve endeavored to keep the chapters brief yet long enough to say what
needs to be said. Whether your
saved, unsaved or not sure your saved—there is something in this book for you.
It is my sincere prayer that God’s Holy Spirit will speak to your heart
in the pages ahead as I speak to your mind, may God Bless you.
A
sinner saved by God’s loving and merciful
grace, Dave