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There are
many in the
world who
greedily try
to get money
and things
they do not
deserve to
possess. And
there are a
few who try
their best
to be
content with
what they
deserve to
have. Greed,
no doubt, is
very bad and
contentment
arising from
a sense of
justice and
love for
others is a
noble
virtue. Now
it is worth
examining
whether it
is possible
for us to
earn by our
own effort
everything
we need.
What can we
say about
the
life-sustaining
water that
is poured on
earth in the
form of
rains? If it
were
necessary
for us to
pay for this
and the
waters of
brooks,
rivers,
lakes and
the seas,
would we be
able to
remain alive
in this
world? No,
never. Let
us think of
another
example: We
pay money
for the
candles we
buy. The
light we get
from them is
valuable;
but it is
nothing in
comparison
with the
light we get
from the
sun. If we
should pay
for the
light of a
candle, how
munch more
should we
pay for the
light from
the sun? If
it were
really
necessary
for us to
pay for
sunlight, no
one would be
able to live
on earth,
because its
price is
inestimable.
Let us
examine the
case of air
also. We see
that carbon
dioxide the
breathing of
which does
only harm to
human beings
and animals,
is paid for
when it is
mixed with
water to
produce soda
water. But
oxygen,
without
which we
cannot live
even for a
minute is
never paid
for even
though we
breathe it
throughout
our lives.
If we had to
pay for this
gas, no one
in the world
would remain
alive. All
these show
that even
those who
insist on
never
receiving
anything
from anybody
without
payment, do
not pay for
the
invaluable
necessaries
of life,
because the
only means
of getting
them is to
receive them
as gifts.
That there
are
invaluable
things which
can never be
paid for and
are to be
received
only as
gifts, is a
truth of
great
importance
when we
think about
the
salvation of
one’s soul.
If the
things
essential
for the
sustenance
of our
physical
life are so
priceless
that they
can only be
received as
gifts, then
what should
be the case
of things
that are
essential
for our
spiritual
welfare? It
is obvious
that they
too must be
so
invaluable
as to be
received
only as
gifts. In
this
connection
it is worth
noting that
the one book
which
describes
salvation of
the human
soul as the
gift of God
is the
Bible. In
the seventh
chapter of
the last
book of this
book of
books, it is
mentioned
that all the
saved ones
owe their
salvation to
God1.
There are
many verses
in this
sacred book
which point
out that
there is
nothing as
valuable as
salvation of
the soul and
that it is
to be
accepted as
a gift from
God and not
as a reward
for
something
that we do
in our
earthly
life.
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1:There are
several
verses in
the New
Testament
which
describe
salvation as
the gift of
God. We read
in Ephesians
2:8, “For by
grace are ye
saved
through
faith, and
that not of
yourselves;
it is the
gift of
God.” |
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The
principle
that
salvation is
unobtainable
by works,
but is
obtainable
as God's
gift makes
the Bible a
unique book.
Because in
no other
book dealing
with this
subject do
we come
across this
idea. The
Bible is
unique in
some other
respects
also. In
this book,
made up of a
total of 66
books, [39
in the Old
Testament
and 27 in
the New
Testament]
the words,
"says the
Lord" occur
more than
2000 times.
The first
chapter of
the first
book
(Genesis) of
this great
book
contains 31
verses and
the word
"God occurs
in them 32
times (King
James
Version,
1611). While
the first
book deals
with the
creation of
man and his
fall into
slavery to
sin and all
its dreadful
consequences
the last
book
(Revelation)
describes
the total
eradication
of sin and
all its
attendant
evils from
the
universe.
The first
book
describes
how death
entered this
world and
the last
book
describes
how death is
conquered by
eternal life
and perfect
happiness.
The
intervening
books
described
how God
leads the
human race
from slavery
to sin and
eath, to
freedom from
yoke of sin
and to
eternal
life. A
careful
examination
of the
contents of
the Bible
reveals that
its author
is One who
possesses
infinite
knowledge,
infinite
wisdom and
infinite
power and
that He is
perfectly
just and at
the same
time, most
merciful to
man.
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A study of
the various
prophecies
in the Bible
makes it
clear that
no man
dependent
only on his
own wisdom
would utter
them. For
example we
find in
Genesis the
first
prophetic
description
of Christ,
the Saviour
of mankind
as the "Seed
of woman".
in the case
of no other
person do we
come across
this sort of
description.
In this
book, the
births of a
large number
of people
are
recorded;
they all are
described as
the seeds of
men born of,
not the
mother, but
the father;
none is
described as
the ‘seed of
woman’. This
prophecy
about Christ
made by God
in about
4000 B.C.
was recorded
by Moses in
1500 B.C.
About 750
years later,
Isaiah was
inspired to
write "
Behold, a
virgin will
be with
child and
bear a son,
and she will
call His
name
Immanuel "
(Isaiah
7:14.
Immanuel =
God is with
us). These
prophecies
were
accurately
fulfilled
when virgin
Mary, by the
Holy spirit
miraculously
conceived
Jesus Christ
and gave
birth to Him
in Bethlehem
(Luke 1:26 –
2:14). If
Moses and
Isaiah had
written in
the light of
the wisdom
they had
learnt, they
would not
have
described a
man (Christ,
the Messiah)
as the seed
of a woman
or as one
born of a
virgin. That
they dared
to prophesy
so, and that
it was
accurately
fulfilled
later on is
proof of the
divine
inspiration
of their
writings.
There are
many
prophecies
of this sort
in the Old
Testament. A
good number
of them have
already been
fulfilled.
Some are
being
fulfilled
and the rest
are going to
be
fulfilled.
The
prophecies
concerning
Israel are
examples of
those which
are being
fulfilled
now.
The
dispersion
of Israel
from
Palestine in
the first
century A.D.
and their re
gathering
into their
homeland in
the
twentieth
century
constitute
an
incredible
episode in
the
political
history of
the world
and an
undeniable
evidence of
the
inspiration
of the Holy
Scriptures.
Nowhere else
in the world
and never
before in
the history
of nations
have we come
across such
a strange
phenomenon –
a nation
destroyed
completely
and its
people
scattered
into the
different
parts of the
world 1900
years ago,
now being
re-established
and its
people being
brought back
to their
ancient
homeland
from the
four corners
of the
world. The
secret of
this strange
phenomenon
becomes
clear when
we turn our
attention to
the
prophecies
in the
Bible.
Several
centuries
before the
Roman army
led by Titus
destroyed
Jerusalem in
A.D. 70 and
massacred
the Jews and
made the
survivors
flee to the
distant
parts of the
world,
prophets
like Moses
and Ezekiel
had written
that the
Jews would
become
wanderers in
the world.
Their
re-gathering
into
Palestine in
the 20th
Century too
has taken
place fully
in
accordance
with the
prophecies
of Isaiah
and Jeremiah
who lived in
the 8th and
7th
centuries
B.C. The
accurate
fulfillment
of Biblical
prophecies
is evidence
of this
sacred book
being the
inspired
Word of God.
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We read in
the book of
genesis that
in the
beginning
God created
the heavens
and the
earth. After
creating
them God
created on
earth all
sorts of
plants,
fishes,
animals and
finally,
man. The
name of the
first man
was Adam.
God created
Eve, the
first woman
by taking
out a rib
from Adam
after
causing him
a deep sleep
and making
it grow into
a mature
woman with
flesh and
bones. God
gave her to
Adam and
told them
that they
were husband
and wife.
They lived
in the
garden of
Eden which
God had made
for them. It
was a place
of plenty;
they had
everything
they needed.
We learn
that God had
created man
in His own
image, that
is, like
God, man
could think
independently,
choose what
he wanted,
was guided
by reason
and not by
instincts
like
animals, he
had the
freedom to
obey or
disobey his
creator and
he had a
sort of
divine glory
about him.
But it so
happened
that Adam
and his wife
misused
their
freedom of
thought and
action by
yielding to
the
temptation
of Satan,
the enemy of
both God and
Man. They
disobeyed
their
creator and
ate the
fruit of the
tree which
they had
been told
not to eat.
By
disobeying
God, the
source of
love,
justice and
truth, Adam
showed
obedience to
Satan the
source of
all evil and
wickedness.
By the sin
of Adam the
father of
the human
race, the
whole of
mankind was
brought
under the
yoke of sin.
It is a fact
that all
human beings
from time
immemorial
have
committed
sins, small
and great
and none has
been
absolutely
sinless and
perfectly
virtuous.
This is
proof of the
Biblical
statement,
"..all have
sinned and
come short
of the glory
of God"
(Romans
3:23). The
reality of
sin in the
world is
accepted by
all right
thinking
people. That
the ancient
Rishis of
India
believed in
the reality
of sin and
its
consequences
is evident
from the
vedas. The
Rig
Veda[2:28:5]
refers to
sin as a
rope that
keeps the
human soul
bound. we
come across
the words
‘sin’ and
‘hell’ in
all the
languages of
the world
and see
references
to torments
in hell in
almost all
mythologies.
The Bible
states that
the human
soul is
indestructible
and that
each man
will spend
his eternity
either in
heaven with
his creator
or in hell
with Satan,
his enemy.
It states
further that
judgment of
each soul is
as certain
and as
unavoidable
as death
(Hebrews
9:27). Those
who do not
believe in
the Word of
God and
accept the
forgiveness
of their
sins by the
means which
God has
offered,
will be
judged
according to
their deeds.
They will be
found guilty
of various
sins as they
have been
under
slavery to
sin; they
will have to
suffer
eternal
punishment
in the lake
of fire,
which is
described as
second death
(Revelation20:
14). The
Word of God
makes it
clear that
the
punishment
for each one
will be
according to
each one’s
sins;
however, all
the
unredeemed
will be in
hell as all
the redeemed
will be in
heaven.
Since the
sinful
nature of
the souls in
hell will be
with them
throughout
eternity,
their
punishment
also will be
for
eternity.
That there
will not be
any
possibility
or
opportunity
for
salvation
for those
who are not
saved during
their
earthly life
is a truth
of utmost
seriousness
. It makes
the
declaration
in the word
of God, "now
is THE
ACCEPTED
TIME, behold
now is THE
DAY OF
SALVATION"
(II Cori:
6:2) very
very
important.
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As God is
perfectly
just and
truthful He
can forgive
our sins
only in a
manner
consistent
with His
justice and
truthfulness.
If a person
borrows a
very large
amount of
money from
another
person and
if he has no
means of
paying it
back, what
is the means
of his
becoming
free from
the burden
of that
debt? If
another
person pays
the money on
his behalf
and if he
approves of
that payment
accepting it
to be on his
behalf, he
will cease
to be a
debtor. The
Bible
reveals that
it is an
action of
this sort
that God has
done for the
redemption
of mankind
from the
bondage to
sin and its
penalty. It
was foretold
by prophet
Isaiah seven
centuries
before the
crucifixion
of Jesus
that He
would be
"pierced
through" for
the
"transgressions"
of mankind
and that he
would be
"crushed "
for their
"iniquities"
(Isaiah
53:5). It
was further
stated, "He
would render
Himself as a
guilt
offering"
(Isaiah
53:10) and
would
"justify the
many" (Is:
53:11) and
in spite of
offering
Himself as a
sacrifice,
would
"prolong His
days" (Is:
53:10),
implying
that he
would gain
victory over
death and
live for
ever. The
22nd Psalm,
written by
King David
about a
thousand
years before
the birth of
Jesus gives
a graphic
description
of His
crucifixion
and refers
to His being
worshipped
(after His
resurrection
and
ascension)
by those who
are made
righteous by
Him. It was
necessary
for Christ,
the Son of
God to come
into this
world, to
take the
form of Man,
to be born
of a virgin,
to be
crucified
along with a
wicked
criminal on
either side,
to be buried
in a tomb
built by a
rich man, to
rise from
the dead on
the third
day and
ascend to
heaven, in
order that
the hundreds
of
prophecies
about Him
might be
fulfilled.
That is why
we believe
that the
description
of Jesus as
one born of
a virgin is
absolutely
true and
reasonable.
No man born
of Adam
could be
free from
the reign of
sin; only
one coming
into the
human race
from outside
would be
free from
its yoke. In
order to
redeem
mankind from
sin, it was
necessary
for a
sinless man
to suffer
death, the
punishment
of man's sin2.
In order
that this
might
happen, God
had made a
plan for
man's
salvation
even before
he created
the world3.
According to
this plan,
God the Son
or the
second
person in
the Triune
God4
(God the
Father, God
the Son and
God the Holy
Spirit)
became Man
by being
born of
virgin Mary.
The Jews
thought that
He was the
eldest Child
of Joseph
and Mary. He
led an ideal
life
respecting
His parents
and obeying
the rules of
the Jewish
religion. He
started His
public
ministry at
the age of
thirty; He
performed
many
miracles
including
the raising
of the dead
and
controlling
the forces
of nature
such as the
waves of the
sea and
fierce
winds. He
proved to
the world by
His actions
and words
that He was
in fact
'Immanuel'
i.e. God who
had become
Man. At the
end of His
public
ministry He
permitted
Himself to
be crucified
by wicked
men so that
the divine
plan for the
redemption
of mankind
made before
the creation
of the world
might be
accomplished.
He rose from
dead on the
third day as
He is God
and death
can have no
authority
over Him. He
appeared to
His
disciples
and many
others and
after about
forty days
ascended to
heaven,
giving His
disciples
the command:
"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 .
28:19 - 20).
An
examination
of the
accounts of
Jesus'
birth, life,
death,
resurrection
and
ascension to
heaven and
His
teachings
described in
the New
Testament
reveals that
any person,
no matter
how great a
sinner, can
get all his
sins
forgiven in
a moment by
accepting
Jesus as his
Lord and
Saviour. It
also points
out that no
man however
virtuous,
will be
found
sinless when
his actions
and thoughts
are examined
by God and
therefore it
is
impossible
for any man
to justify
himself
before God
on the basis
of his own
works. In
the Gospel
according to
Luke we find
the
description
of a very
wicked
criminal
getting
saved in an
instant. In
fact two
most wicked
criminals
were
crucified
along with
Jesus on
either side
of Him. This
was done,
implying
that Jesus
was the most
wicked man
on earth and
he deserved
to be
crucified as
the greatest
among all
evildoers.
God
permitted it
to happen
so, in order
that the
only sinless
Man in the
human race
might be
treated as
the most
sinful man
when He
offered
Himself as a
sacrifice
for the sins
of humanity.
Of the two
wicked men
who were
thus
crucified on
either side
of Jesus,
one listened
to Jesus'
prayer to
the Father
that His
tormentors
be forgiven
as they did
not know
what they
were doing.
He was
surprised to
note that
Jesus was
different
from all
other ones
who had been
crucified
earlier.
[The victims
of
crucifixion
usually
abused and
cursed their
tormentors
until they
lost their
ability to
speak]. He
thought for
a moment
about Jesus'
strange
behaviour;
it dawned on
him that the
man hanging
on the cross
beside him
was none but
the Messiah
of Whom the
Old
Testament
prophets had
spoken - the
One who
should die
for the sins
of mankind
and rise
from the
dead,
gaining
victory over
Death. When
he learnt
this truth,
he realized
that the few
most painful
moments of
life he had
before him
on the cross
would be his
last
opportunity
for
salvation.
If that was
lost, he
would be
damned for
over. He
decided to
seize that
opportunity.
He repented
of his sins,
admitted
that he was
a sinner and
believed
that Jesus
the Messiah
was making
atonement on
the cross
for the sins
of humanity.
He also
believed
that Jesus
would gain
victory over
death and
ascend to
heaven. So
he prayed to
Jesus to
remember him
when He came
again into
the world as
King and
Lord of all.
Jesus
accepted his
prayer and
replied to
him: "Truly
I say to
you, today
you shall be
with Me in
Paradise"
(Luke.
23:43). This
account of a
great sinner
being saved
solely on
the basis of
his
repentance,
his faith in
the
sacrificial
death of
Jesus Christ
for his sins
and his
personal
acceptance
of Jesus as
his Lord and
Saviour,
reveals all
the
essential
teachings of
the Bible
regarding
salvation.
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2. "For the
wages of sin
is death,
but the free
gift of God
is eternal
life in
Christ Jesus
our Lord.
[The term
'death'
means
primarily,
separation
from God,
the Creator
and source
of life;
cessation of
physical
life is its
secondary
meaning]
3. "He (God
the Father)
chose us in
Him (Jesus
Christ)
before the
foundation
of the world
that we
should be
holy and
blameless
before him
in love".
(Ephesians
1:4)
4. "The
Bible
clearly
states that
there is
only one
God; but it
is also made
clear that
there are
three
Persons, the
Father, the
Son and the
Holy spirit
in this one
God. Hence
the term
'Triune
God'.
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All
religions5
in the world
teach that
salvation is
the reward
for good
works. But
the Bible
points out
that the
so-called
good works
of man can
never be
good enough
to earn him
salvation.
So God, out
of His mercy
has given
man a means
of salvation
which is
available to
all sorts of
men no
matter how
wicked or
immoral or
how ‘good’
they are. It
is available
to the poor,
the rich,
the
ignorant,
the learned,
the weak,
the healthy
and in
short, to
every one
belonging to
the human
race. That
is why Jesus
Christ,
before He
was
crucified,
gave this
exhortation:
"Come to Me
all who are
weary and
heavy-laden,
and I will
give you
rest...You
shall find
rest for
your
souls"(Matthew.
11:28-29).
This is the
most
important
message that
Jesus has
given to the
world. It
means that
He offers to
humanity
what the
religions of
the world
have been
unable to
offer.
Religions
exhort
people to do
this, do
that, do not
do this and
do not do
that. They
urge people
to go to
holy places
and temples
and to
practice
vows. They
create the
impression
that
salvation of
the soul is
to be
obtained by
hard work
and
self-discipline.
But the word
of God
states that
no man who
is under the
yoke of sin
can make
himself
sinless and
perfectly
virtuous,
however hard
he tries.
So, every
man in the
world leads
a life
tainted with
sin; even
those who
try to be
perfectly
virtuous,
entertain
sinful
thoughts at
times, speak
words
hurting
others and
do actions
which are
not
perfectly
right. Thus
every one,
by his
position and
by his
actions,
proves
himself
(herself) to
be a sinner.
Religions of
the world by
their
exhortations
of dos and
don’ts fail
to redeem
man from his
bondage to
sin and save
him from the
penalty of
his sinful
actions. It
is in this
context that
the message
of Jesus
Christ is
most
significant.
He gives to
man, free of
cost, as a
gift, that
which is
most
valuable –
Salvation of
the soul. It
is given not
on the basis
of one’s
actions, but
on the basis
of one’s
willingness
to accept
that which
is offered
as a gift.
The reason
for God’s
giving it as
a gift is
twofold:
First, God
loves his
creation Man
so much6;
secondly,
salvation is
so valuable
that man
cannot buy
it as a
reward for
his works
and the only
means of
God’s giving
it to him is
to give it
as a gift.
Thus we see
that the
most
essential
thing man
needs for
his
spiritual
welfare –
forgiveness
of sins and
eternal life
– is made
available to
him as God’s
gift,
assunlight,
water and
oxygen,
essential
for man’s
physical
life, are
made
available to
him as God’s
gifts. We
cannot but
note that
there is a
fundamental
difference
between what
the Bible
says about
salvation
and what
religions
say about
it. The
story of the
wicked
criminal on
the cross
points out
that
salvation is
available to
all, even to
the most
wicked ones
and the only
means of
obtaining it
is to
receive it
by faith, as
a gift. It
also points
out that
Jesus
Christ, by
His
sacrificial
death on the
cross and by
His
resurrection
has brought
within the
reach of man
what
religions by
their dos
and don’ts
have failed
to bring. |
5: "True
Christanity
is not a
religion;
Jesus Christ
did not
claim to be
the founder
of a new
religion;
what He
claimed was
that He was
the way of
salvation
for all
mankind.
[Jesus said
to him,"I am
the way, and
the truth,
and the
life; no one
comes to the
Father, but
through Me".
John 14:6].
6: "For God
so loved the
world, that
He gave His
only
begotten
son, that
whoever
believes in
Him should
not perish,
but have
eternal
life" : John
3:6. |
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" ..... if
you confess
with your
mouth Jesus
as Lord, and
believe in
your heart
that God
raised Him
from the
dead, you
shall be
saved".
Romans 10:9
"Therefore
having been
justified by
faith, we
have peace
with God
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ".
Romans 5:1
"There is
therefore
now no
condemnation
for those
who are in
Christ
Jesus".
Romans 8 :1
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The Bible
tells us not
only about
the
salvation of
a very
wicked
criminal,
but also
about the
salvation of
a very
pious, just
and
kind-hearted
man named
Cornelius
who prayed
to God
continually.
In the tenth
chapter of
the book of
Acts we read
that in
answer to
this man’s
prayers God
sent His
apostle
Peter to him
and he
learnt that
it was
necessary
for him to
believe in
the
sacrificial
death and
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ if he
was to be
saved. He
believed
accordingly,
accepted
Jesus as his
Lord and
Saviour and
was baptized7
in the name
of the
Father, the
Son and the
Holy Ghost.
In spite of
being very
virtuous
this man
found it
necessary to
believe in
Jesus Christ
in order to
be saved.
What does
this mean?
All people,
no matter
how good or
virtuous,
have to
admit that
they fall
short of the
divine
standard of
perfection.
As this man
admitted
that he was
a sinner in
spite of his
goodness,
any person
who wants to
be saved
from the
penalty of
his sins –
eternal
damnation –
must admit
before God
that he is a
sinner and
he needs the
forgiveness
of all his
sins. So one
who wants to
be saved by
believing in
Jesus Christ
has to pray
more or less
in this
manner:
"Lord Jesus,
I admit that
I am a
sinner; I
believe that
You came
into this
world, died
on the cross
paying the
penalty of
my sins and
rose from
the dead and
ascended to
heaven. I
accept You
as my Lord
and Saviour
and I thank
You for
saving me"8.
A sincere
prayer
expressing
these ideas
in these or
other
similar
words brings
a person
into a new
relationship
with God. He
(She)
becomes a
child of God
according to
the verse,
"as many as
received
Him, to them
He gave the
right to
become
children of
God, even to
those who
believe in
His (Jesus
Christ’s)
name" (John
1:12).The
Bible
declares
that those
who, in this
manner have
become
children of
God, will
not be
judged on
the day of
the great
judgement
when all who
have not
received
forgiveness
of sins
through
Jesus Christ
will be
judged and
punished for
all
eternity. It
is very
important
that we act
wisely now
and are
saved from
eternal
damnation.
Jesus said
,"...what
does it
profit a man
to gain the
whole world
and forfeit
his soul?
For what
shall a man
give in
exchange for
his soul"?
(Mark. 8:
36-37). The
value of
one’s soul
is
inestimable;
if one does
not get
one’s sins
forgiven and
is not saved
during one’s
earthly
life, one
will repent
of one’s
foolishness
throughout
eternity.
God wants
every one to
be saved.
That is why
Jesus has
commanded
his
disciples to
go to all
countries
and to all
places and
proclaim the
gospel of
salvation to
all peoples.
It is the
duty of
everyone to
be wise
enough to
understand
the gospel
of salvation
and to act
accordingly
and become a
child of
God, a new
creation9
in Christ.
It is made
clear in the
word of God
that those
who become
the children
of God feel
the urge to
lead a life
obeying the
spirit of
God who
dwells in
them. Since
they have
been saved
by God’s
grace, they
are grateful
to God and
they feel
the desire
to worship
him; they
lead a life
obeying the
word of
their father
and
consequently
they are
found just,
kind,
merciful,
truthful and
virtuous.
The proof of
the
salvation of
a person
according to
the word of
god is his
sincere love
for the
other
children of
god and his
obedience to
the
commandments
of his lord
Jesus. The
presence of
the holy
spirit in
his heart
makes him
love all
human beings
in the world
and creates
in his mind
a desire to
do good to
all he comes
into contact
with. Evil
desires and
emotions no
more control
him; with
god’s help
he overcomes
them and
leads a life
obeying the
will of his
heavenly
father.
The Word of
God tells us
that Jesus
will come
back just as
He went up
into heaven.
When this
happens all
the dead in
Christ shall
rise from
their graves
(burial
places),
putting on
heavenly
bodies;
those
believers
who are
alive, also
will put on
the same
kind of
immortal
bodies and
all will be
caught up
together in
the clouds
to meet
their Lord.
According to
the
prophecies,
after this
event the
world will
be ruled for
a period of
seven years
by
Anti-Christ,
a man of
great
cunning and
tact. He
will be
accepted as
the leader
of the whole
world; at
first he
will be
considered
by all as a
man of great
abilities
and noble
virtues. But
in fact he
will be the
very
incarnation
of Satan; he
will, after
some time
start
persecuting
the Jews; he
will
massacre
them and try
to wipe out
the nation
of Israel
from the
face of the
earth. When
the
persecution
of Jews
reaches its
highest
degree of
cruelty and
wickedness,
Jesus Christ
from heaven
will descend
on earth in
all His
glory as
King of
kings and
Lord of
Lords. The
Anti-Christ
will be
immediately
punished by
being thrown
directly
into the
lake of fire
and all his
armies will
be
destroyed.
This will be
followed by
the rule of
Jesus Christ
on earth for
a thousand
years.
During this
period Satan
will be kept
in prison
(bottomless
pit) and he
will not be
able to
influence
men to do
evil.
However, at
the end of
this period,
Satan,
onbeing
released
from the
abyss will
urge all
human beings
on earth to
rise in
rebellion
against
Jesus Christ
and His
people. It
will result
in the
greatest and
the final
battle to be
fought on
this earth.
When it is
fought, fire
from heaven
will come
down upon
the armies
of Satan and
they all
will be
destroyed.
It will lead
to the
purification
of the whole
earth and
the burning
and
dissolution
of
everything
in the
world. When
it happens,
the
prophecy,
"the heavens
will pass
away with a
roar and the
elements
will be
destroyed
with intense
heat, and
the earth
and its
works will
be burned
up"(II Peter
3:10), will
be
fulfilled.
Immediately
after the
purification
of the
present
earth by
fire, all
who failed
to receive
salvation
through
Jesus Christ
will be
resurrected
and tried
before the
great white
throne of
God and they
will be
awarded
eternal
punishment
in the lake
of fire
according to
their evil
deeds. Thus
the reign of
sin and all
its evil
consequences
will be
eradicated
from the
universe for
ever. Then
the new
Heavens and
the New
Earth will
emerge; it
will be
occupied by
the people
of God. They
will worship
Him; there
will not be
death or any
misery or
sorrow or
hunger or
any
unhappiness
in this new
world.
Does it
sound
incredible
that all
these are
going to
happen? It
may; but,
weren’t
those
prophecies
which have
already been
fulfilled
incredible
ones?
Certainly
they were;
yet they
were
accurately
fulfilled.
Then, it is
certain that
these
prophecies
also will be
fulfilled.
Now the
question
arises: what
shall we do
in the light
of the great
truths we
have learnt
from the
word of God?
Shall we not
be wise
enough to
take them
seriously,
to believe
them and act
accordingly?
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7. Christian
baptism is
an outward
visible
manifestation
of an inward
invisible
spiritual
experience .
When a
person
believes in
Jesus and
accepts Him
as his Lord
and Saviour,
he dies to
his sins
through
Christ,
makes
atonement
for his sins
through
Christ, and
gains
victory over
death and
the power of
sin through
Christ’s
resurrection.
This
invisible
inward
transformation
is made
visible
outwardly
when the
believer is
baptized.
When he is
immersed in
water his
body goes
under the
surface of
the water;
it
symbolizes
his death
and burial
through
Christ. His
coming up
from the
water
symbolizes
his
resurrection
through
Christ. This
ritual gives
the believer
the
assurance
about the
spiritual
change he
has
undergone
and enables
him to lead
a victorious
life,
obeying the
will of God
and
overcoming
the
temptations
of Satan. It
is to be
noted that
this rite of
baptism, a
sort of
declaration
of one’s
victory over
Satan, is to
be
administered
in the name
of the
Father, the
Son and the
Holy Ghost ,
by one who
has already
been
baptized in
this manner.
8. In the
Old
Testament we
read that
soon after
the human
race was
brought
under
bondage to
sin, God
gave man a
temporary
means of
salvation--sacrificing
an animal
such as a
lamb which
was free
from all
defects.
This animal
which was
perfect in
every
respect
symbolically
represented
Jesus
Christ, the
Sinless
Perfect Man
who was to
offer
Himself
afterwards
as the real
and perfect
sacrifice
for all the
sins of
mankind.
Those who
performed
animal
sacrifices
according to
the
prescribed
rules before
the
crucifixion
of Christ,
are also
considered
to have
believed in
Him and got
their sins
forgiven.
Thus man had
means of
salvation in
a sense
through
Jesus
Christ, even
before His
crucifixion
and
resurrection.
He is the
real lamb
that took
away all the
sins of the
world (John
1:29).
9. "....if
any man is
in Christ,
he is a new
creature;
the old
things
passed away,
behold new
things have
come." II
Corinthians.
5. 17.
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We, your
brethren in
Christ
Jesus, who
have
published
this booklet
hope that
you have
learnt the
fundamental
truths
concerning
every man’s
past,
present and
future as
revealed in
the Word of
God. We urge
you to
believe (if
you have not
already
believed) in
Jesus
Christ’s
sacrificial
death on the
cross for
your sins
and in His
resurrection,
and to
accept Him
as your Lord
and Saviour.
We expect
you to write
to us about
your
spiritual
needs such
as your
interest in
studying the
Word of God
with the aid
of books or
correspondence
courses and
your need to
worship God
in spirit
and truth
(John 4:23).
We will
extend to
you whatever
help we are
able to.
Now, don’t
you think
that this
booklet will
be useful to
those who do
not have a
clear
understanding
of the
message of
salvation?
You can help
many such
people whom
you know, by
informing
them about
this website
or by
sending to
them the
message of
this booklet
by any means
you find
suitable.
We like to
conclude the
message of
this small
book with a
quotation
from the
last chapter
of the last
book of the
word of God,
". . . And
let the one
who wishes
take the
water of
life without
cost"
(Revelation
22:17). Now,
Dear Reader,
if you have
not yet
tasted the
water of
eternal life
– if you
have not yet
believed in
Jesus Christ
and
confessed
your faith
in Him – do
it now and
let God save
you from
eternal
damnation.
See that you
obey the
word of God
in your
everyday
life and
that you
make every
effort to
convey the
message of
salvation
through
Jesus Christ
to all
people in
all parts of
the world.
Thus enjoy
the greatest
blessing you
can have in
your own
life and do
to others,
the greatest
service you
are able to.
May God
bless you.
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The
Christian
Brethren at
Bible Study
Centre,
Mannuthy,
Thrissur,
Kerala,
India
request
their fellow
believers -
all the
saved ones
near and far
- to pray
that the
gospel of
Jesus Christ
may be
imparted to
every
unsaved soul
in the world
immediately
and that the
Lord may
come soon.
"He who
testifies to
these things
says, 'yes,
I am coming
quickly'.
Amen. Come,
Lord Jesus"
(Revelation
22:20")
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