Would you like to have the knowledge, the assurance and the joy of sins forgiven? Would you like to be sure of heaven?
Well, the first step to heaven is to realize that you cannot get there by trying. You can’t walk there. You can’t climb there. You can’t fly there. Only God can take you there. Many try to earn heaven. They try to climb there on a ladder of good works. They talk about "adding another rung." But look out for that good works ladder! It’s not anchored at the top and the higher you climb the farther you will fall.
God’s Word says that salvation is "the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). He is not going to have boasters in heaven—there are enough of them on earth and nobody likes them.
All of us should realize that even the best of us are not good enough for heaven, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), but in this same statement the Apostle Paul declares that believers in Christ, who died for our sins, are "justified freely by His [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).
So, friend, it is not by trying, or crying, or praying, or paying, or doing anything that you will reach heaven: it is only by believing. God says He loves sinners, and that Christ died for our sins and rose again. Will you believe this and trust Christ as your Savior? The terms are stated very plainly in John 3:35,36:
"The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand. 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."
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
By Cornelius R. Stam
Well, the first step to heaven is to realize that you cannot get there by trying. You can’t walk there. You can’t climb there. You can’t fly there. Only God can take you there. Many try to earn heaven. They try to climb there on a ladder of good works. They talk about "adding another rung." But look out for that good works ladder! It’s not anchored at the top and the higher you climb the farther you will fall.
God’s Word says that salvation is "the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). He is not going to have boasters in heaven—there are enough of them on earth and nobody likes them.
All of us should realize that even the best of us are not good enough for heaven, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), but in this same statement the Apostle Paul declares that believers in Christ, who died for our sins, are "justified freely by His [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).
So, friend, it is not by trying, or crying, or praying, or paying, or doing anything that you will reach heaven: it is only by believing. God says He loves sinners, and that Christ died for our sins and rose again. Will you believe this and trust Christ as your Savior? The terms are stated very plainly in John 3:35,36:
"The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand. 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."
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
By Cornelius R. Stam
What is God doing today?
The Person of God
If you are a charitable person we would say generosity is one of your attributes. It is something that is characteristic of you. The Scriptures teach that the same is true of God. A good example is the immutability of God, which simply means His character never changes. He is "the same yesterday, and today, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8). He has always been and always will be all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, holy, righteous, etc. This is the unchanging character of God. However, God has changed His dealings with mankind from time to time.
Click chart to open PDF file
God's Timetable
While the entire Bible is for us, it was not all written to us, nor is it all about us; we must rightly divide the Word of truth. This is the key to understanding the Scriptures. For example, in the picture above the present age of grace is hidden, as it was to ages and generations past (Eph. 3:1-5).
Perhaps the sharpest distinction in the plans and purposes of God is between Law and Grace. In Time Past (Eph. 2:11,12) God gave the Law to Israel through whom He channeled His blessing. During this period God required the blood of bulls and goats to be shed to atone for the sins of His people. Thus they were only promised forgiveness (Jer. 31:34). When Christ stepped across the stars into this sinful world, He was "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Gal. 4:4,5). During His earthly ministry, He came to redeem Israel, but His own received Him not (John 1:11). Nationally, Israel will not receive the forgiveness of her sins until Christ returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom. Then shall all Israel be saved (Rom. 11:26,27).
With the setting aside of the chosen nation in unbelief for the rejection of their Messiah, God introduced a new program called the Mystery, which was hidden from ages and generations past (Col. 1:25,26).
Perhaps the sharpest distinction in the plans and purposes of God is between Law and Grace. In Time Past (Eph. 2:11,12) God gave the Law to Israel through whom He channeled His blessing. During this period God required the blood of bulls and goats to be shed to atone for the sins of His people. Thus they were only promised forgiveness (Jer. 31:34). When Christ stepped across the stars into this sinful world, He was "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Gal. 4:4,5). During His earthly ministry, He came to redeem Israel, but His own received Him not (John 1:11). Nationally, Israel will not receive the forgiveness of her sins until Christ returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom. Then shall all Israel be saved (Rom. 11:26,27).
With the setting aside of the chosen nation in unbelief for the rejection of their Messiah, God introduced a new program called the Mystery, which was hidden from ages and generations past (Col. 1:25,26).
Click chart to open PDF file
In Time Present (Eph. 2:13) God is bestowing Grace on the Gentiles, not willing that any should perish. The channel of blessing today is the Church, the Body of Christ, which is made up of Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in Christ. Thus we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins, through His precious blood. In this present time, Christ is conducting a heavenly ministry, in which we are the beneficiaries of the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:3; 2:6,7).
What must the sinner do today to be saved? Simply believe! Believe what? That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (I Cor. 15:3,4). In Christ we are forgiven of all sin—past, present, and future! We are complete in Him (Col. 2:9,10). Under the Law the sinner was required to express his faith by submitting to the rite of water baptism (Luke 7:29,30). But a wonderful change has taken place today—GRACE! Therefore we express our faith by obeying the words of Paul who is the apostle of the Gentiles:
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).
In Time Future (Eph. 2:7) God will resume the Prophetic Program after the Rapture of the Church. The coming day of the Lord is an extended period of time which begins with God pouring out His wrath on this Christ-rejecting world. It will be a day of darkness and judgment, a day when the strong man will cry bitterly (Zeph. 1:14-18). At the close of the Great Tribulation, Christ will return in a flaming fire of vengeance to execute judgment on His enemies at Armageddon. God will then redeem Israel and His creation in the coming Millennial Kingdom (Psa. 130:8; Rom. 8:20,21). Thankfully we have been delivered from the wrath to come, that is, if you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
God’s timetable demonstrates the importance of rightly dividing the Word of truth (II Tim. 2:15). Once again, these divisions are the key that unlocks the meaning of God’s precious Word, and our understanding to all the Scriptures.
By Paul M. Sadler
To order a copy or quantities of this chart, visit: https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/products-page/books/booklets/fold-out-chart-the-key-to-understanding-the-scriptures/ or call the Berean Bible Society at 262-255-4750.
What must the sinner do today to be saved? Simply believe! Believe what? That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (I Cor. 15:3,4). In Christ we are forgiven of all sin—past, present, and future! We are complete in Him (Col. 2:9,10). Under the Law the sinner was required to express his faith by submitting to the rite of water baptism (Luke 7:29,30). But a wonderful change has taken place today—GRACE! Therefore we express our faith by obeying the words of Paul who is the apostle of the Gentiles:
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).
In Time Future (Eph. 2:7) God will resume the Prophetic Program after the Rapture of the Church. The coming day of the Lord is an extended period of time which begins with God pouring out His wrath on this Christ-rejecting world. It will be a day of darkness and judgment, a day when the strong man will cry bitterly (Zeph. 1:14-18). At the close of the Great Tribulation, Christ will return in a flaming fire of vengeance to execute judgment on His enemies at Armageddon. God will then redeem Israel and His creation in the coming Millennial Kingdom (Psa. 130:8; Rom. 8:20,21). Thankfully we have been delivered from the wrath to come, that is, if you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
God’s timetable demonstrates the importance of rightly dividing the Word of truth (II Tim. 2:15). Once again, these divisions are the key that unlocks the meaning of God’s precious Word, and our understanding to all the Scriptures.
By Paul M. Sadler
To order a copy or quantities of this chart, visit: https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/products-page/books/booklets/fold-out-chart-the-key-to-understanding-the-scriptures/ or call the Berean Bible Society at 262-255-4750.
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