Repent or Perish

Introduction

This book was written following the events of September 11, 2001; a wake-up call for America, who suffered the worst attack and death, on a single day, in the history of this nation. Thousands of lives were lost; many more thousands of lives were changed. In trying to understand what caused these tragic events, the overriding question that comes up is, "Why? My God, why?"

     As our leaders try to comfort us, tell us to get back to normal and return to living our lives as we did (except to be more alert) the question is this, "What is the Lord trying to tell us?" The only place we can get answers to that question is the Word of God — the Holy Bible. Not only does the Lord give answers to that question but He tells us the truth about the future. Yes, where we are headed, and the end of life as we know it for the world.

The truth can only be found in God's Word, the Holy Bible. The message and answers found in this book have been rejected down through the ages by the majority of mankind. You will not hear this truth from our world leaders. You will not hear this from CNN or the six o'clock news. Because of the liberal tolerance of a generic god, who is everything to everyone, our world as a whole is worshipping God in vain. As a Bible believing Christian I invite you to read what the Lord has to say in answer to these questions.

May this book be a blessing to you, your family and friends. All references are from the King James Version.

          Brother Larry

          Albany Rescue Mission

Chapter 1

What the World is Telling God Today

We are living in a changing world. Although some of the changes are positive, such as the advancements in technology, not all the changes are good. As for the word of God, the Lord says:

Malachi 3:6-7 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

The truth is, we now live in a world where the abnormal has become normal; the unacceptable, acceptable. Evil has become good. Lies are taught as truth. Wrong is now right. Let's look at a few examples. God warns us about these changes in the Bible.

Homosexual acts are an abomination unto God.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

     However in today's world we are being asked to accept this as an alternative lifestyle. Homosexual relationships are condoned and being taught in some of our schools today.

     Their motto is God loves me and accepts me the way I am. However, God says:

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

     Also there seems to be more interest in contacting familiar spirits and fortune telling than there is in seeking the Spirit of God. Sorry Miss Cleo! Can you believe this was once against the law? As far as God is concerned, it still is.

Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

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Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people

Also, I suppose, it should not come as a surprise to us that the best selling books in the world and the most famous person is the boy wizard Harry Potter, a fictional character which sends the wrong message to hundreds of millions of young people around the world. It glorifies and promotes witchcraft, sorcery, familiar spirits, black magic, warlocks, etc. The sad thing is most parents see nothing wrong with this satanic movement, saying it is just make-believe fun. But the Word of God says:

Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Galatians 5:18-21 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

II Kings 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

II Kings 23:24 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie

     I can assure you that The Lord sees nothing amusing about this movement.

     The next subject we will look at and study is what could be called Satan's masterpiece. It is deceiving people through false religion. Satan has many tools in his war chest. Some we have covered. He uses them to keep people away from seeking the Lord. However, Satan's masterpiece is falsely drawing people to The Lord through false religion.

     The very men who attacked America, terrorists who hijacked planes and committed suicide in order to kill as many people as possible, used false teachings and their religion to justify their evil deeds. They believed God was on their side. They were willing to die, and were told they would go to paradise as a reward for their evil acts.

     I know our President says this is not a war against their religion, but the truth is, they have made it a religious war in their minds. And before it's over, false religion will be used to help bring the world to its knees.

     It is true that we live in a world of religious confusion. As a general rule, man has created a generic god. A convenient way to reach God through any religion of choice. Religion has created more ways to heaven than roads that lead to Rome. And we are told not to be critical, that we must be sensitive to everyone's beliefs. This has created a move to unite all false religions into a one world church that will serve the coming one world government spoken of in The Bible. The Bible reveals to us that:

I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

     The Lord Jesus warned us about false prophets:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:21-23 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

     The Lord also said:

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

     The Bible also reveals:

II Corinthians 11:13-15 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Chapter 2

What God is Telling the World Today

     What is the message God is trying to tell the world today? The answer is found in the Bible.

Acts 17:29-31 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

II Peter 3:9 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.

     You see from these verses that God has commanded us to repent. You may ask why we have to repent. Because all human beings have been born with a sinful nature.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

     Also, there is a debt or penalty because of our sin.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death

     And finally, we are not capable of paying this debt. In other words, we cannot save ourselves. We cannot work our way to heaven. There is no amount of good works, deeds or religion that God will accept as payment.

Ephesians 2:8-9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost

     That is why God Himself had to come down to earth in the person of His only begotten Son, to sacrifice Himself as a one-time payment for the sins of all mankind.

John 1:1-3 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

     Now let's turn to what John the Baptist says about our need to repent.

Matthew 3:1-2 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

     The Lord Jesus Himself tells us:

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 11:20-21 20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

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

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

     The Apostle Peter tells us:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:19 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.

     Also, the Apostle Paul tells us:

Acts 13:23-24 23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

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

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

     Now let's cover what The Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples one day. Here he uses examples of certain events that happened to warn them that all men need to Repent or Perish.

Luke 13:1-5 1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

     A closer look at the real meaning here is that we are not to judge why some people die an untimely and tragic death. Jesus knew they thought these people were greater sinners than others. But He tells them that if they themselves did not repent, they would also perish. This was not to say that they would die the same way. The context here is that if they did not repent and put their trust in The Lord to save them, they would suffer a second death and be cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

     This is not a reference to physical death. This is a reference to what will happen to all people who do not repent and trust the Lord. God's final judgment is reserved for all people who do not repent.

Romans 14:11-12 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Philippians 2:9-11 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

     Now let's look at the second illustration Jesus uses.

Luke 13:4-5 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

     In New York City, the Twin Towers fell and killed thousands of people. On a much smaller scale, the same thing happened to eighteen people when the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Instead of judging them or trying to reason why this happened, Jesus again tells them; ". . . except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

     So, the answer is clear. The message to all the world is we must Repent or Perish.

     Now you may be asking yourself what God means when He tells us to repent. The sad thing about repentance is, you just don't hear much about it today. It's nearly a lost doctrine, even in the Christian church.      Do you know you can believe in your mind that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave and still not be saved? The truth is, there are thousands upon thousands of church members headed to hell and don't even know it. Why? Because they have never repented. Listen to what Jesus says about these people in the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-23 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

     In order to understand what true repentance is, we must first realize what it is not. Repentance is not just being sorry. Many people are sorry they have no money, no place to live, etc. Our jails are filled with people who are sorry they got caught. However, they are not sorry for what put them there. Also, it is not just turning away from sin. That is reformation, a person reforming himself. A person can turn away from their sins and still not be saved. Most all the religious lost people have done that. No person is saved because they have reformed.

     Also, it is not doing penance. Penance is an expression of sorrow, by doing something yourself in order to pay for your sins. True repentance is a change of mind, a change of opinion, that will lead to a change of action. In other words, we must see ourselves as God sees us, a lost sinner headed to hell, unable to do anything in our own power to save ourselves. It is only then that one understands we must call on God for his mercy and put our total trust in Him to deliver us and save us. In the Bible it is called godly sorrow.

II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

     It is God's goodness that will lead one to true repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Only true repentance can prepare one to truly believe on and trust in the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus said:

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

Acts 3:19 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.

     In the book of Acts, we see an example of the results of repentance after Peter preached to many gathered at Pentecost.

Acts 2:37,38,41 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. . . . 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

     It was reported that right after the attacks of 9/11/2001, church attendance went up sharply. People felt a need to draw closer to God. They were looking for answers, searching for a message to ease their sorrow. But it also has been reported that now the totals have fallen back to pre-9/11 levels. I guess you might say it was just a blip on God's radar screen. How soon we forget. What's it going to take for God to bring this nation to its knees in true repentance? I'm sure this is just the beginning of sorrows for this nation and the world. Jesus talked about this in the New Testament.

Chapter 3

The Tribulation and Second Coming of The Lord

     One of the ways we know that the Bible was inspired of God and given to man is that it's the only source of God telling us the future before it happens. It is called prophecy.

II Timothy 3:15-17 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

     You may ask where it came from, or how it was given to man.

II Peter 1:19-21 19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

     Paul warns about the last days in which we live.

II Timothy 3:1-5 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

     But it was The Lord Jesus Himself who gave us the most vital record of the events that would happen before He comes back. At the Passover Supper, Jesus tells his disciples they are not to fear.

John 14:1-6 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

     Also, The Lord warns His disciples about the events leading into the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

     If you would like to read in depth about the Tribulation and events leading up to the second coming of the Lord, then please read the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ given to the Apostle John. If you would like a book that covers all the events of this time, including the kingdom of God on earth, and eternity, you may call or write us and we will send you a free copy of our book "From Resurrection to Eternity".

     I would like to take this time to tell you that this is not meant to be a doomsday book with a hopeless ending. On the contrary, this book closes with the best news ever given to mankind, the good news of God's only way to Heaven, the gift of God's eternal life, given to everyone who repents of their sins and puts their trust and faith in God's only begotten Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 4

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

     This last chapter covers the greatest love story ever told. If you are reading this book and you are 100% sure you are going to Heaven when you die, that's great. Then you can share this with a family member or friend who is not sure they are going to Heaven. However, if you are reading this and you are not sure you are going to Heaven when you die, then please read and see how much God loves you and wants to save you.

John 3:16-18 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He 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.

     As we have seen in the first part of this book, we have been separated from God because of our sin nature.

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

     And because of this, we all owe a debt.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death;

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The next fact we must realize is that we cannot work our way to Heaven. No amount of good works or church membership will work. In other words, we cannot save ourselves.

Ephesians 2:8-9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

     Now comes the good news. The Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate in the flesh, the only begotten, sinless, Son of God, does for you and I what we cannot do for ourselves. He pays our sin debt in full.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Romans 5:6,8 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. . . . 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

     Jesus tells us the key that unlocks the door to salvation.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Romans 10:9 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.

     Now the choice is yours. The Lord has done it all for you. He is just waiting for you to call on Him.

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

     If you would like to trust in The Lord to save you, you can pray this simple prayer of faith:

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. I trust You as my Savior.

     When God saves someone, He does all the saving, plus you are also kept by Him. These verses tell us we have eternal life.

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

John 5:24 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 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 10:27-30 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

I John 5:11-13 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These 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.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

     May God bless you, your family and friends.

               You Friend in Christ,

               Brother Larry Hample