Joh 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.
Table of contents
Introduction
What must I do to be saved?
Spiritually deaf and blind
What benefits are there to be born again or saved?
Who are angels?
Holy Ghost our intercessor
Gospel tract
How to avoid temptations from Satan. Rev 3:10
How to live happy and holy life in an evil, earthly world
Eternal security and a man’s responsibility to be born again or saved and then to increase his faith. Joh 6:27
1. Intrduction
Spreading gospel is the responsibility for every born again believer rather than an option (Mat 28:18-20). Somebody said that if you can not go abroad for the mission field yourself, then support someone who can go. And this is true and quite appropriate.
Jesus, when he was sending out 70 men to a short mission trip into nearby cities and villages 2,000 years ago, mentioned that the harvest (mission field) truly is plenty but the labourers (missionaries) are few (Luk 10:2). The opportunity to spread gospel shall never diminish but it will ever more increasing, and the demand for more mission workers will increase dramatically as we approach end time very rapidly and consequently people suddenly look into religion more and more.
The beauty and simplicity of the doctrine of protestant church in terms of spreading gospel is found in Rom 10:12, 13; For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. No other religion on earth can apply this simple, yet very powerful message. Just calling Jesus with mouth and in sincere heart and asking HIM to save oneself will be enough for anybody to be saved right away and he is bound to heaven after death. No matter how easy and unbelievable this might sound most lost sinners are not aware of it and can not or rather unwilling to call HIM for salvation. What this verse means is this that if a lost sinner is bleeding to death in few minutes at the last short period of time in his life, he shall be saved if he finds a way to call HIM for salvation by whatever means, by someone's intervention, by himself, or what have you.
Jesus said, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mat 16:26). Saving one's soul from lake of fire, second death (Rev 20:14) after the common first death on earth, must be the top priority on anybody's mind. Nevertheless almost all lost people on earth are ignorant of it. How sad! All born again believers are unimaginably richer than the wealthiest people on earth according to this very verse.
Let us consider two verses as follows:
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Could any lost man say these supplicating words nowadays? Hardly ever. Lost sinners' hearts are so much hardened that they would not believe any gospel message no matter what; it is almost hopeless. Nevertheless we are not supposed to give them up once for all but to keep working with prayer and patience. It is true that gospel message is for those who are willing to listen to it only.
Jesus never approached people for gospel during HIS 3-year ministry in Palestine but rather they thronged to HIM for healing and teaching ministry. After one or two times reaching out to the same individual for gospel or any theological issue, we should consider him as heathen (Tit 3:10). In other words we avoid wasting time by holding on to a stiffnecked person. The reason why lost sinners keep refusing gospel messages is their pride. See the seventh topic on the Theology menu.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for saving me and many others in the past, present, and time to come. We magnify and glorify thy name. Alleluia! Praise the LORD. We lift up our hand on high. Send us thy Son second time soon and set up 1,000 year Christ kingdom on earth after binding Satan and sending him to the bottomless pit so that he can not tempt men for 1,000 years (Rev 20:1-4). I pray in the name our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
2. What must I do to be saved?
Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
3. Spiritually deaf and blind
Why is it very difficult for unsaved people to open up their hearts to the gospel? First there is no immediate, tangible benefit of being saved after being introduced to it, that is, salvation is an abstract idea or concept. Second they are spiritually deaf and blind, and therefore they can not separate truth from false. Jesus said, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Joh 8:31, 32). If one is deaf and blind spiritually, he can not understand spiritual matters, hence he can not know the spiritual truth and is in bondage spiritually.
Let us look at a very obvious truth in 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. This verse is also stating that only Jesus Christ is required for men to reach Father, Jehovah. In other words, nobody can reach Father except he goes through the only mediator (Christ). Bible also mentions that nobody can come to Christ unless the Father draws him to Christ (Joh 6:44).
No matter how convincing and very obvious scriptures are presented to spiritually dead people who are misled and deceived by the teaching from a cult, they would not realize they are in the wrong pathway. This is all because of Satan who made them blind spiritually (2Cor 4:3, 4). One can see how Paul in his other epistles struggled against devil’s negative influence on the churches he found to defend his teaching to those in the churches, who are spiritually weak like a new born baby and hence they are easy prey for Satan’s temptation to mislead them away from the truth of Paul’s gospel teaching.
Apostle Paul said, ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Eph 6:10-17).
Both born again believers and spiritually dead people (unbelievers) are in constant battle with spiritual warfare. The former can withstand with the truth in the scripture and overcome it as if their scripture knowledge is their breastplate so that fiery darts can not penetrate and dissuade their mind. The latter is the opposite exactly. They do not have the truth and are very vulnerable to diverse temptations and wrong doctrine. Again they are in spiritual bondage and need to know the word of GOD to get out of it as quoted Jesus' words above.
GOD the Father in heaven was said to give up reprobate people as if they were settled with reprobate mind forever (Rom 1:28) simply because they are so ingrained with sin and untruth that it looks almost impossible to change them even though there is a possibility of turnaround.
As a matter of fact spiritually deaf and blind people are not aware of their handicap since it is discerned spiritually. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14).
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ( Mat 13:15, 16).
In the book of Ezekiel we read, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house (Eze 12:2).
As I mentioned under the effective evangelism section in the evangelism menu, it is very important to explain a lost sinner that he is born with Adam's sin with devil spirit and GOD created heaven and earth in the beginning. He is bound to hell after death, so he needs to save his soul as soon as possible since nobody knows when he will die. He needs to be explained about them first before he will be asked to receive Christ as his saviour and he receives a gospel track.
Oh Father in heaven there are many lost sinners to be reached out, who are deaf and blind spiritually or many people who never heard of gospel and need to hear it first time. Harvest is full but workers are in shortage. Too much job to be done and too little time left as thy Son is coming back pretty soon. What shall we do, oh Father? We just keep moving forward and never become weary spreading gospel and giving out gospel tracks. I pray in the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
4. What benefits are there to be born again or saved?
This question must be addressed before or when we give out gospel tracts and ask lost people to repent and to accept Christ as their personal saviour. They are spiritually dead even though they are alive and well physically. They concern with visible things on earth right now only and can not see heaven or hell after death. The benefit or purpose of salvation as far as after death is concerned is described in the Effective evangelism section under the Evangelism menu.
In addition to going to heaven after death, we need to tell lost people that there are many benefits which start from day one on earth once they accept Christ and get saved. One and the most important benefit is that saved people receive wisdom from heaven. Tell them about two verses (Pro 16:9; Rom 8:28) which I quoted in the beginning of 'Personal testimony on Comforter (Holy Ghost) part II' section under the Holy Spirit menu. When a lost sinner gets saved, he receives Holy Ghost who will lead and guide his life wisely. He can also pray to GOD for more wisdom.
A lost sinner is filled with devil spirit(s) and hence he has so called 'negative wisdom' given by Satan, which is destructive and will ruin his life soon or later. It is very crafty and malicious . A saved man with Holy Ghost replaces 'negative wisdom' with 'positive wisdom' which is good in many aspects. As I testified how Holy Ghost led me to make wise decisions in my Christian life, I can assure any born again believer that he can be wise also as he increases his faith in GOD.
The more a born again (saved) man is filled with Holy Ghost, the more faithful he shall be, the more intimate Christian life with GOD the Father, Son Christ, and Holy Ghost he shall have while living on earth. In other words Holy Ghost will guide his life as “Comforter” step by step to the right pathway for his benefit. HE will be our Comforter forever as Jesus said below. I wrote four personal testimonies regarding Holy Ghost in items 4, 8, 9, and 14 under Holy Spirit menu.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Let us look at these three verses in the Mark's gospel, Mr 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Mr 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, Mr 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Peter asked Jesus what benefits he and other disciples had following HIM, that is, becoming HIS disciples in verse 28 above. Read verse 30 carefully. Jesus was giving two main benefits, that is, hundredfold (i.e., a huge benefit) prosperity "with persecutions" while living on earth and eternal life in paradise after death. Compare similar quotes from Matthew and Luke below
Mt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Lu 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
So all three gospels quoted HIM the same basically that we born again believers shall have prosperous life on earth and to have eternal life in heaven after death. This is the promise from our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ if we are saved and dedicate our lives to HIS cause before we die.
Prosperous life is in proportion to how much we born again (saved) people endeavour to obey HIS commandments like spreading good news (gospel), loving our heavenly Father and our neighbors, helping the poor, and etc (Mat 16:27). However the other benefit, that is, eternal life in paradise after death, is guaranteed for all born again (saved) people regardless. He gets the ticket to heaven (eternal life in paradise) by faith in Jesus Christ alone without any work or effort from his part (Eph 2:8).
Now we want to avoid so called 'prosperity gospel' nonsense. Some preachers promote it on media to attract men's attention and to ask for donation. Nowhere can any one find in the scripture that GOD promised material wealth if one sends money to a ministry organization, what they call "planting a seed." Jesus did not mean it but happy relationship and peaceful life along with material contentment, not necessarily becoming super rich. Again as I mentioned in the Effective evangelism, we need to explain lost people the benefits of being saved. Just telling them to receive Christ without explanation is somewhat ineffective.
5. Who are angels? See article #20 under Theology menu and articles #5 and #11 under Evangelism menu.
They are faithful messengers and servants of GOD basically, that is, they do not do anything on their own (Psa 103:20) and created by HIM; only GOD knows when they were created. Apostle John said that there was nothing [in heaven and on earth] which was not made by HIM (Joh 1:3). They are visible spirits (Heb 1:7, 13, 14; Psa 104:4) capable of performing miracles (Exo 12:23, 29, 14:19; 2Sam 24:16). They are very many (Mat 26:53).
Supposedly GOD created good angels only in heaven to begin with but a bad angel called Satan rebelled against GOD during some unknow time in the past. He and other bad angels had a war with good angels in heaven, and Satan and his followers were defeated. Then they were expelled down to earth, and this was the beginning of Satan's temptations and torments on innocent men on earth apparently (Rev 12:7-12). Again we do not know when the temptations and torments were started.
Only two names of them are recorded in the Bible, Gabriel (Dan 8:16, 9:21; Luk 1:19, 26) and Michael (Dan 10:13, 21, 12:1; Jud 1:9; Rev 12:7). Another angel refused to disclose his name to the parents of Samson (Jdg 13:16-18).
It is very much evident throughout the scripture that they are involved with men's life on earth. Bible records their rescuing saints from danger many times both in OT and NT. Then they should protect born again believers from any harm nowadays definitely.
The benefit of being a born again believer (Joh 3:3) is not just going to heaven after death but it starts from the moment one gets saved and receives Holy Ghost. Yet saved people will encounter persecution and martyrdom as end time so called 'the day of the LORD' is approaching fast. Nevertheless GOD would not ignore our difficult times on earth in the mean time but certainly HE would assign HIS angels to every single believer for guidance and protection nowadays as HE did during Bible time (Mat 4:11; Act 12:7, 23:11).
Oh heavenly Father, we thank thee for taking care of our immediate needs on earth while we are living on earth which is nothing but very wicked and sinful. We do not lose our faith in THEE but keep it as strong as before. We shall not neglect one of our duties to spread gospel unto the end of the earth. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
6. Holy Ghost our intercessor
Rom 8:27 And he (any saint) that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he (Holy Spirit) maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God [the Father].
Anybody searching the heart sincerely will find it through the help of Holy Spirit since HE (Holy Spirit) leads him to the right pathway according to the will of GOD; Holy Spirit is the tutor for men who search GOD’S will. It is very important for a Christian to receive Holy Ghost to know the will of GOD. Holy Ghost is nothing but GOD'S Spirit. If one is saved by accepting Christ as his personal savior, he has already received Holy Spirit, that is, all born again Christians have received Holy Spirit (Joh 3:3). Then any saint or born again Christian filled with Holy Ghost can and will do the things what GOD wants instead of what he wants.
All evangelical believers know that Jesus Christ is the intercessor for us to plead to GOD the Father and the mediator between us and HIM basically. We can not reach out to the Father except through Christ (Joh 14:6) or we can not come to Christ unless the Father draws us to HIM (Joh 6:44). When we evangelicals pray to GOD, we end our prayer by saying, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Most other religious people do not end their prayers like it; it is a very unique way of praying to GOD, real GOD, Jehovah, and I AM in heaven, who created heaven and earth (Gen 1:1).
We do not worship Jesus Christ or Holy Spirit but GOD the Father only in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:24). See item #1 about Trinity in the Theology mentu. Basically Holy Ghost or Spirit took over what Christ did during HIS 3-year ministry on earth 2,000 years ago and HE is doing the same thing nowadays, that is, HE acts like a Comforter for us (Joh 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7). This does not mean that Christ is our of picture all together never interceding on our behalf or comforting us. No, no. HE still does them! Remember that Trinity works as one body so that nobody can separate three of THEM and deal with one or two of THEM at a time. When a man receives either Holy Ghost or accepts Jesus Christ as his personal saviour, he is receiving the other TWO concurrently and automatically.
So we born again believers have two INTERCESSORS working on our behalf in heaven right now! Is not it wonderful? And more importantly Satan can not interfere THEM. By no means. Alleluia! Praise the LORD!
7. Gospel tract
I have seen different small gospel tracks printed and prepared for sale before. I decided to prepare my own and came up with as shown below. I carry two or thee of them in my pocket always to give them to long time believers or someone who just got saved in order that I know they will not trash them later. Click upper right corner to open the document in the new window, then click File menu and download.
8. How to avoid temptations from Satan. Rev 3:10
Re 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The very first temptation mentioned in the scripture is in Gen 3:1-6 where the serpent (Satan) tempted Eve and led her to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in the midst of garden of Eden, which GOD prohibited (Gen 2:16, 17) and then she gave it to her husband Adam, and he did eat.
Reading, learning, meditating, and keeping GOD’S commandments in the scripture are the best way to avoid Satan’s temptations, not to mention overcoming them at the end.
Here we have a wonderful promise from Christ that HE will keep us from the hour of temptation from Satan. Who wants to be tempted and who does not want to know how to avoid it? Read annotation on Rev 3:10 below
10. I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation: This is a wonderful promise from Jesus for the churches in Philadelphia since less temptation will lead them to less chance of falling into sin.
One can apply this wonderful promise to our current time that if we learn and keep or follow HIS words (scripture), we will be less tempted, not to mention overcoming them at the end.
which shall come upon all the world: Nobody is immune to Satan's temptation which most people are not aware of. When one commits a sin, he does not know that he is tempted or led by Satan to sin.
to try them that dwell upon the earth: Satan’s temptations come upon everybody on earth is to try them. This explains the reason why GOD does not remove Satan and his evil influence to torment and to tempt men on earth, especially born again believers. HE expects us to be tried by Satan and to come out as winners at the end to strengthen our faith in HIM.
Tests or examinations are necessary to determine how much students learned at school; likewise, Satan’s temptations to try both believers and unbelievers are necessary to choose true, faithful men. Certainly GOD does not want people with weak or fake faith toward HIM. See Mat 6:13, 26:41; 1Cor 10:13; 1Pe 4:12; 2Pe 2:9
9. How to live happy and holy life in an evil, earthly world
We born again believers who are citizens of heavenly world or so called paradise are living in an earthly world which is evil and under the influence or power of Satanic spirit. We are supposed to spread the gospel as much and often as we can until we die for whatever reason (Mat 28:18-20). We are filled with Holy Ghost so that whatever we do and think, we should be different from average people who are sinners still, lost spiritually, and under the power of Satanic spirit, evil spirit.
Our mentality and focus should be in heavenly things always so to speak so that we do not get worried or anxious in earthly matters or business. Jesus illustrated this idea very nicely in Mat 6:24, 25, that is, we have to choose either earthly or heavenly standard and pleasure.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Of course we go with heavenly standard so that we can overcome earthly worry or anxiety by focusing our mind in heavenly things. The more we worry on earthly things, the worse we can be; we are hurting ourselves. Whenever we are tempted by Satan to focus on earthly worry and pleasure instead of being content and thankful to GOD the Father in heaven for having food and raiment (1Ti 6:8), we condemn him in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Get thee out of me Satan!
Unbelievers do not know about heavenly things or ideas. Then they are entangled with earthly things, pleasure, worry, and etc all their life.
10. Eternal security and a man’s responsibility to be born again or saved and then to increase his faith. Joh 6:27
Eternal security that nobody can lose his salvation once truly saved is discussed in article #5 under Theology menu. This article is about a man’s responsibility to increase his faith toward GOD the Father and Son Christ once he is truly saved. Let us check out exegesis (commentary) on one verse below.
Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
27. sealed: This word ‘sealed’ was used differently to mean ‘locked up’ in 2Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13, 4:30, that is, we can not lose our salvation. See annotation on 3:33.
GOD will forgive their sins and then they become right with HIM again as before as if we never sinned before. They might fall and sin again in the future. Nevertheless they will be forgiven after confessing their sins.
No matter how much we struggle with Satan, we never lose our salvation, that is, our relationship with GOD the father through HIS Son Christ shall remain the same simply because GOD will forgive our sins to restore it always. Alleluia! Praise the LORD.
It is incumbent on the saved (born again) person to increase his faith toward GOD the Father and Jesus Christ, that is, THEY will not increase his faith even though THEY could since nothing is impossible for THEM. He must put his own effort to be closer to THEM by himself.
Similarly THEY would not make some sinners get saved, then THEY have to make all sinners on earth get saved. This is nonsense. In other words, increasing faith and one’s salavtion are incumbent on men to act voluntarily 100%.
So once a man is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, he would not lose his salvation. As to how he becomes closer to THEM spiritually, that is, how he can increase his faith toward THEM, he has to work it out by himself by reading scripture, attending church services, praying, and etc. There is nothing for THEM to do; THEY are 100% passive on this matter of one’s increasing faith and salvation.
