If You Really want to [go] to Heaven Please! Don't Waste Time doing the following . . .

If you really want to go to Heaven . . . . . . don't waste time preaching in Christ's name, casting out devils, or performing many wonderful works! Christ warned that on Judgment Day, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED [preached] IN THY NAME? and in thy name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?" Matthew 7:21-22 These poor souls assumed they had been pleasing God all along.   They thought surely God would take their actions into account and allow them into Heaven.   Yet, Jesus, in so many words, told them they had wasted their time.   He said, "And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY" (Matt. 7:23).   Tragically, they were trusting in the things they did for Christ rather than in Christ Himself. . . . don't waste time, religiously praying to God, or giving to the poor. The Bible says, "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A DEVOUT MAN, and one that feared God with all his house, which GAVE MUCH ALMS to the people, and PRAYED TO GOD ALWAY."   Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius thought he was pleasing God.   He assumed his actions would appease God's judgment.   However, God, seeing that Cornelius was wasting his time, felt compassion for him and told him to meet with Peter, "Who shall TELL THEE WORDS, WHEREBY thou and all thy house SHALL BE SAVED."   Acts 11:14    In spite of his religious zeal, Cornelius still needed to trust Christ.   So "the words" that Peter told him were, "That through his name [Jesus] WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH [trusted] IN HIM shall receive remission [forgiveness] of sins" (Acts 10:43).   Cornelius was receptive to "the words"--he REPENTED.   He stopped trusting in his "religious works" and placed his trust SOLELY on Jesus Christ.   He got saved!

. . . Don't waste time fasting or giving your church a tenth of your earnings (the tithe), in trying to get to Heaven. Jesus, one day, told the following parable: "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.   The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.   I FAST TWICE IN THE WEEK, I GIVE TITHES OF ALL THAT I POSSESS."   Luke 18:10-12 The Pharisee--a religious leader, no less--felt he had a better chance of going to Heaven than the publican; he had more "righteous acts" under his belt.   Whereas, "The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER."   Luke 18:13    As far as Jesus was concerned, the Pharisee was wasting his time trusting his own righteousness.   Christ ends the parable by saying, "I tell you, this man [the publican] went down to his house JUSTIFIED RATHER THAN THE OTHER: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."   Luke 18:14 The publican saw his true condition before God--a lost, hell-deserving sinner in need of a Saviour.   The Pharisee felt he didn't need a Saviour. He considered his self-righteous self to be his own Saviour. . . . Don't waste time trying to keep the Ten Commandments. The Bible says, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD. THEREFORE BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW THERE SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN."   Romans 3:19-20    No one can justify themselves to God by keeping His law.   Why? Because it's impossible to keep the law in the first place!   God demands perfection: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL" (James 2:10).   If we break just one law, it's like breaking them all!   The Ten Commandments expose our lack of righteous perfection.   They were given to show us that, "ALL

HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). That's why, "BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED."   Galatians 2:16    God's law leads us to the conclusion that we can't save ourselves. We need a Saviour, and we need to put our trust in Him ALONE! "Wherefore THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH."   Galatians 3:24 . . . Don't waste time performing works of righteousness. The Bible says, "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but according to his mercy HE SAVED US."   Titus 3:5 "Who hath SAVED US, and called us with an holy calling, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, but according to his own purpose and GRACE, which was given us IN CHRIST JESUS..."   2 Tim. 1:9 "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."   Eph. 2:8-9 . . . Don't even waste time asking God how to EARN a spot in Heaven. Some have already asked, and here's what they were told: "Then said they unto him [Christ], WHAT SHALL WE DO, THAT WE MIGHT WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?   Jesus answered and said unto them, THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YE BELIEVE [trust] ON HIM [Jesus Christ] whom he hath sent."   John 6:28 Friend, anything WE DO to try to earn our way to Heaven is a waste of time.   You see, the way to Heaven has been bought for us ALREADY. Jesus Christ paid for our sins with His shed blood when He died on the cross.   He's done all the work for us.   We simply have to put our trust in what He has already done.   Life is too short to be wasting time doing things that aren't even necessary.   To learn HOW to receive what Christ has done for you, please read God's plan of salvation on the back [below].

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13). BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because: "...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2. In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23. SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "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."   Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5. THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   (Rom. 5:8-9) THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9 SEND THE LIGHT P.O. Box 815   Fargo, ND 58107

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