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Now is the Time to select where you will spend Forever. On earth you have many choices, but in the hereafter there are only two. While you live, the choice is yours. However, once you have passed from this world, you will not be able to escape the consequences, if the wrong choice is made. Make no mistake; you will not inadvertently end up in paradise. Jesus assured us that He would arrange a place for His people, who are willing to prepare themselves to be acceptable for their place in Heaven. From Now to Eternity This information is provided freely to ALL in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.With or Without Jesus Eternity is Forever. Introduction At some point in eternity past, God along with his Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit determined to create the Universe and a worldly home for a newly planned creature to be known of man. The purpose of this to be created creature was to provide the Godhead with a race of loyal humble servants, who would worship their Creator. Originally, God intended that these creatures would live in a paradise on their new home planet with all the necessaries of life, such as food, growing in abundance as it was in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, man sinned and paradise on earth was lost. Every person who has ever been conceived or lived on the face of the earth will live eternally. Under God’s plan the spark of life in all people is their soul. Each life begins with the soul being contained in an earthly body. At some point the earthly body expires, but the soul, which the essence of the person, lives on forever. The first part of the existence of the soul could be called the trial period. This is the time lived on earth beginning at the age of accountability and ending with the death of the earthly body. If the body of the individual dies before the attainment of accountability, then the soul of that individual moves directly to paradise. If at the end of the trial period or the hour of death a divine determination will be completed. If the individual has obeyed the gospel of Christ, which is not difficult and obeyed His commandments, which must be followed to the letter, his (saved) soul will move immediately move to paradise. If not, the (lost) soul will be transported to Hades. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus described the rich man who had died and soul was suffering in the fires of Hades. This man, who had lived a magnificent life of ease and worldly pleasures while he lived on earth, pleaded to Abraham, "Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame". The rich man, Lazarus and Jesus all walked the earth during the early part of the first century. Imagine, this incident took place over two thousand years old. Consider the pain he has endured during all years and the fact that rich man, who had everything during physical life continues to suffer until this very day. Based upon the Biblical account, the rich man will remain in Hades until Judgment Day, at which time will be doomed to Hell forever. When he has spent a trillion years, in Hell, he will have just begun. The concept of forever is very difficult for most, if not all, to fully understand. On the other hand, Lazarus, had lived in an acceptable manner, so when he died his soul moved to paradise and was enjoying the company of Abraham, when the rich man called out to them. The Bible tells us that a great gulf exists between Paradise and Hades, which cannot be crossed, so it was not possible for Lazarus to come in contact with the rich man. Lazarus has been in paradise now for over 2000 years, looking forward Judgment Day, when he and all the saints will enter their everlasting Heavenly Home. Our Lord promises us in John 14:2-3, "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 you may be also". Heaven is beyond our wildest imaginings or dreams. The beauty, wonders, splendor, majesty, grandeur, magnificence, brilliance and stately dignity of Heaven simply cannot be adequately described in the language of humans. Love and the Light of God will fill it and endless happiness, peace and joy will abound. Jesus promised in Revelation 2:7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. The only way to experience Heaven is to be among the souls that have been saved from everlasting damnation. Saved souls will not have a remembrance of sorrows, pain, tears or the people they knew during their lives on earth. Revelation 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” The Bible indicates that lost souls will have a remembrance of events and people they knew during the trial period. The rich man clearly remembered his brothers. On Judgment day, he can only face his eternal destiny of everlasting punishment. Revelation 20:10, "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever". Jesus warned that Hell where all lost souls will cast is a ghastly and horrific place beyond description. Hell simply cannot be fully portrayed in human terms. Mark 9:45-46 "cast into hell, into the fire that shall never shall be quenched: where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" Matthew 13:42, "And will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth". Revelation 14:11, "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night." Revelation 20:15, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" It is imperative that our name be found in the Book of Life. Is your name in that book? Make no mistake; you will not inadvertently end up in paradise. Jesus assured us that He would arrange a place for His people, who are willing to prepare themselves to be acceptable for their place in Heaven. On earth you have many choices, but in the hereafter there are only two. While you live, the choice is yours. However, once you have passed from this world, you will not be able to escape the consequences, if the wrong choice is made. The Judgment is absolutely final, without appeal, as this is the highest tribunal of all. In Matthew 6:33, our Lord Commands us "But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." In other words, make it your number one Mission or Goal in life to go Heaven. If a Child of God sincerely desires to go to Heaven above all else and is willing to meet the simple requirements, he or she will definitely have the Hope and Expectation of being included the multitude of Saints in Heaven. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (1 Peter 1:13) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (2 Peter 1:10) As in the words of the old song “Take Time to be Holy”, Christians must not become so involved in worldly affairs that they have no time to feed the Spirit. And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4) Make it your life’s Mission to go to Heaven, along with members of your family, friends and others who touch your life. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16) “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” At this Point, many times we are asked the most important question that any one can ever ask, which is What must I do to be Saved? We have answered that question several times with in this website, but have chosen to take a slightly different approach in this article. Since the ramifications of our answer are eternal it is imperative that we give the author of man’s salvation (Hebrews 5:9) the opportunity to provide the answers. The Human race has been provided with all the information that is needed in regard to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) through the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Since all Scripture is inspired, whether written by the prophets of the Old Testament (Hebrews 1:1), Jesus (Hebrews 1:2), or His apostles (John 16:13), it is clear that the Scriptures is the only source of this knowledge. Revelation 22:18-19 clearly point outs that God has not and will not provide mankind with any new revelations other than the directions and commandments which, He included in the Bible. Therefore, the His Holy Word is the only source of information on which any man or woman can depend on to learn the steps one must complete, in order to be saved from the flames of Hell. Someday, each of us will make our departure this world and there will definitely be a Judgment Day (Hebrews 9:27). The Words of Jesus from the inspired Word of God will be the measure by which all peoples will be judged on that Great Day, for all His true believers (John 12:48). How did Jesus answer the question, “What must I do to be saved?” The rich young ruler asked Jesus the question (Mark 10:19, 21) His answer: obey the commandments and follow Me. On the day His One True Church began in Jerusalem, that Glorious Day of Pentecost, the renowned Apostle Peter delivered one of the most monumental and important oration of all time. A large percentage of the audience was the same horde of barbaric unfaithful Jews, who less than two months before had subjected their Lord and Savior, the King of all earthly kings, to one of the most brutal and vindictive forms of death, ever conceived by the evil mind of man. Many of these individuals had shown no interest his message and were overtly hostile towards Christ. When Peter had finished preaching the Gospel, it must have been a time of critical sorrow among those who believed. They knew in their hearts and had no alterative, but to admit that they had demanded that, the Messiah, whom they had awaited for centuries, be murdered in a bloodbath. They were carrying the guilt of slaughtering the only man who ever lived a totally sinless life. At the moment of realization, a great fear must have come upon the Jews, as they begged Peter and the other Apostles for a way out by asking “Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?” Finally, at long last they had been convinced that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Their question indicated clearly their belief and confession, therefore all that was left was to repent and be baptized, which Peter directed them to do in Acts 2:37-38. Repentance is an alteration of one’s heart and mind, bought about by godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:9, 10), the results of which is a change of lifestyle, in which sin is avoided and obedience to His message becomes a personal concern (Matthew 3:8). The second part of Peter’s instruction was to be baptized (Acts 2:40) for the forgiveness of all their sins. Their belief, confession and repentance were of no value, until they were willing to submit to His Will by an act of faith and be saved. Peter’s words prompted three thousand Souls to follow this simple commandment of God and thus formed, in approximately 30 A.D., the first congregation of His One True Church, the Church of Christ (Romans 16:16), in Jerusalem, ten days after our Lord and Savior departed this world to assume His rightful place on a glorious throne of light, at the right hand of God, in Heaven. Salvation is embarked upon when an individual develop a willingness to obey the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25), and an eagerness to seek and follow Jesus (Hebrews 11:6). When the jailer asked the same question, he was told to believe on the name of Jesus and he would be saved (Acts 16:30-31). The jailer was possibly a Gentile and in all probability had never heard the Gospel, since we are told that Paul and Silas taught him the Word (Acts 16:32), so that he might believe (Romans 10:17). After he heard the Word and believed in Jesus, he was baptized (Acts 16:33-34). Belief was the foundation of his successful completion of God’s simple Plan of Salvation. Saul of Tarsus encountered a life altering experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 20:10). After Jesus gained his undivided attention, He directed Saul to go into Damascus where he would receive enlightenment. Saul was immediately convinced that Jesus was his Lord. Saul prayed and fasted for three days, but he remained mired in his sins. If there was ever a good candidate for an individual being forgiven of his sins by the saying the so-called “sinner’s prayer” or “the prayer of salvation” it would have been Saul. His prayers did not provide remission of sins for Saul and prayer absolutely will not provide forgiveness or any other spiritual benefit for sinners today. Ananias provided the answer for Saul, which is recorded in Acts 22:16, when he said “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” My friends, the following is the Scriptural answer to the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” To be saved from the terrors of Hell, a man or woman must hear the Gospel, and by doing so develop faith (Romans 10:17). He or she must believe with all his heart that Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16). Truly repent of his sins (Acts 17:30) and confess Jesus before God and man (Matthew 10:32-33). Be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of his sins (Matthew 28:19) and live faithfully unto death (Revelation 2:10). Living faithfully means working towards perfect obedience and willingness to perform the works of God (James 2:24), while totally relying on God’s grace to forgive him when he sins (1 John 1:7-9). Since God’s Word must be taken as a whole “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27), we must take ALL examples together to come up with God’s complete Plan of Salvation. God’s plan for man’s salvation is the same today as it was in the days of the Apostles in the first century! God still deeply loves all mankind. “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) It is His desire that all men be saved “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) “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH” (1 Timothy 2:4) What is the TRUTH that is being referred to in this passage? Jesus answers that question in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by your TRUTH, YOUR WORD is TRUTH.” Jesus further enlighten us in John 8:32 “And you shall KNOW the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall make you FREE”. If Man will faithfully and completely do his part, the Grace and Love of God will carry him to Heaven “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8) Not all men will be saved! MATTHEW 7 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT. These verses make it plain that there are only two roads to eternity. The broad and most popular way that leads to destruction or eternal punishment and the NARROW WAY that leads to the perpetual joys of Heaven. It is an ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that every man and women who endeavoring to live Christian life is HOPING that he or she will among the few who find the narrow way. But, it will take more than HOPE. It will take strict obedience to the Word of God and faithful attendance and involvement in HIS ONE TRUE Church. Jesus built only ONE TRUE Church and only those worshipping, as defined in the Holy Bible have any HOPE of Heaven. 2 JOHN 1:9 Whosoever Transgresseth, And Abideth Not In The Doctrine Of Christ, Hath Not God HE THAT ABIDETH IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HE HATH BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON. HIS CHURCH was established, in Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, ten days after ascension His to Heaven. Any Church that was established at a different time in history or at a different place cannot be THE ONE TRUE CHURCH that Christ built. This includes all man-made denominations of today. Those who are not a part of HIS Church we read about in the Bible, but are a part of a substitute a man-made organization instead HAVE NO PROMISE OF SALVATION. HIS Church is the Church of Christ, which was the name of HIS ONE TRUE Church in the first century. Thus the great Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 16:16, "The churches of Christ salute you". Please take a few minutes of quiet time and consider intensely the concepts of eternity and continuous creaseless retribution. Life is too Short and time without end or eternity is simply too long and the everlasting punishment in the fires of Hell too terrifying to make any mistakes. Once you pass away from this Life you have lost the Golden opportunity to have the Hope of Heaven. If you fail to accept God's Grace and Love, by becoming His faithful servant and active Member of His One True Church, you have selected Hell and to spend eternity as a angel of Satan, in everlasting Fire, by default. Take Control of Spiritual Life. Now is the TIME to SEARCH the HOLY SCRIPTURES to confirm our convictions and to find the Narrow Way, which will lead you to a Glorious Crown of Eternal Life.
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Copyrighted, all rights reserved 2005-2006 This web site was written and designed by James W. Goddard, Ph.D., an active member of the Eufaula Church of Christ
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