The Gospel
Jesus Christ loves you so much, that he died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins.
If you are looking for a purpose in life, someone to love you, and eternal security, Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to get any of those. All you have to do is accept Jesus Christ’s free gift of salvation.
“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.” – John 3:16 (KJV)
Everyone is born with a sin nature. That is, everyone naturally wants to commit evil. There is NO such thing as someone who is inherently good. That is a lie from Satan. If man were naturally good, then why would he do evil, since he naturally does what is good? Why do we have police if people are naturally good? Why do we have a military if people are naturally good? The answer: we humans are not basically good.
Also, the idea of “circumstances have forced a person to commit evil, but man is still basically good” is false.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” – Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV)
“They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Psalm 14:3 (KJV)
All you have to do to have Jesus Christ in your heart is to confess with your mouth Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe with all your heart that God raised Jesus Christ from death. There are NO WORKS involved in obtaining salvation. The idea of (Believing + Works) is a lie from Satan.
“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.” – Romans 10:9 (KJV)
You cannot trust idols to get you to Heaven. They cannot see, hear, talk, nothing. They are made from the elements of the earth (stone, wood, gold, etc.) They are worthless to save your soul from total damnation in Hell.
“The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.” – Psalm 135:15-18 (KJV)
Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father. Your good works are not enough to get into Heaven. Just by going to church or by just being good will not cut it (religion does not save you; Jesus Christ does). Giving to the poor, helping civil government, doing sacraments, believing in a literal 6-day creation (which is what the Bible teaches, not millions of years) will not cut it either. Only Jesus Christ can save your soul, not a priest, not Mary, not your pastor, not because you were born into a Christian family, not because your parents are Christians, not because you belong to a particular Christian denomination, not because you were baptized as an infant and/or adult, etc.
“Jesus told him, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6 (KJV)
“We are all infected and impure with sin. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)
Baptism does not save you. That is another lie from Satan.
“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.” – Romans 10:9 (KJV)
Here are several problems with the idea that salvation requires someone to be baptized.
1) Requiring baptism to be saved is faith+works. Salvation is by faith only...not works.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." -- Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
2) The Bible says that our works are like filthy rags. Since this is the case, how can baptism be a part of salvation, since being baptized to be saved would be performing a work?
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." -- Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)
3) "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." -- 1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV)
Since Paul's primary mission was to preach the gospel (not to baptize), the logical conclusion is that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
Thoughtful Question: If baptism is necessary for salvation, why would Paul not worry about it and instead focus on preaching the gospel?
4) The thief on the cross was never baptized, but Jesus said that he would be with Him in paradise.
Luke 23:40-43 (KJV) "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
If baptism was necessary for salvation, 1) the thief on the cross would have really gone to Hell, and 2) Jesus would have been lying. The only sane conclusion is that baptism is not necessary for Salvation.
One person online claimed that the thief "could have been baptized earlier on". This is a very weak, baseless, nonsensical argument.
5) The Book of 1st John says:
1 John 5:13 (KJV) "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."
Everything in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John is to teach us how to know we are saved. Nowhere in those books is baptism mentioned. Obviously if baptism was necessary for salvation, the Lord would have made sure it was mentioned.
God is three in one (God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ], and God the Holy Spirit). Yes, the Bible does not actually mention the word “Trinity”, but the idea behind the Trinity is very much real.
“ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
“I and my Father are one.” – John 10:30 (KJV)
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” – John 17:21 (KJV)
If you die without Jesus, the results are terrifying. You will burn in Hell…forever. There are no second chances to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior after you die. Your place in Hell (if you die without Christ) is permanent. Please do not trust the lie from Satan that there is a second opportunity after death (widely known by many people as purgatory). There are no second chances.
Just think about that. One million years later, you are still burning in Hell. One billion years later, you are still burning in Hell. One trillion years later, you are still burning in Hell. When does it ever end…never. Think about that.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” – Hebrews 9:27-28 (KJV)
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:49-50 (KJV)
“And 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. And 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. And 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)
Jesus Christ died on a cross to give you the opportunity to accept Him as your Savior, so you would not have to go to Hell to pay for your sins, and so you may be with Him in Heaven forever when you die.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
Jesus Christ wants everyone to accept Him as their Savior. Jesus Christ does not wish anyone to perish, but to accept His free gift of Salvation He paid for on the cross about 2,000 years ago.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” – 1 Timothy 2:3-6 (KJV)
“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.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
Jesus then was raised to life on the third day (after He died on the cross).
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.” – Acts 10:39-41 (KJV)
Jesus spent 40 more days on the earth showing Himself to people, and talked to them about God’s kingdom. He proved to the people that He is really alive and well.
“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” – Acts 1:3 (KJV)
Then Jesus went back to Heaven…
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)
where Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God. Jesus is not still “dying” for our sins repeatedly as people have been (and are) taught to believe. He died once and for all.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:” – Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV)
“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” – Romans 6:9 (KJV)
“ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” – 1 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
Jesus Christ is coming back one day to take all believers to Heaven with Him. Do not be left out when Jesus comes back. He could come any minute.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In 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.
And 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.” – John 14:1-3 (KJV)
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (KJV)
To have your sins forgiven, you must trust and believe 100% upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation. If you truly believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried and resurrected after three days, you will be saved!
"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." - Romans 10:9 (KJV)
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." - Acts 16:31 (KJV)
The moment someone accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit enters into them. No, being baptized is not necessary for receiving the Holy Spirit. That is a lie from Satan. Nowhere in the Bible will you find a reference to someone having to be baptized to receive the Holy Spirit.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV)
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” – Titus 3:4-6 (KJV)
Now if you became a Christian, you are not suddenly immune to problems. There is still sin in the world, you still have the want to do the wrong thing, but Jesus promises to help us out.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
Do not have a Bible? Don’t worry. There are plenty of online Bible sources that you can use.
Make sure to find a Godly church that only teaches what is in the Bible. There are many false teachers that try to make you believe in doctrines of demons (such as: we are not saved by faith alone, there is no hell, you can lose your salvation, “health and wealth” will follow you if you do certain things, etc.). These false teachers work for Satan whether they realize it or not.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)