We at Cornerstone are very aware of the many voices and claims which are made by many religions and cults and the tremendous confusion caused by the great variations in belief. Much of this is caused by accepting some other authority over the Bible, God's Holy Word. There are those who believe that an understanding of the Bible is incomplete and useless apart from the writings and teaching of their organization. Other lay tradition, opinion, etc. on the same level as God 's Word; while still others, in frustration, hold that the Bible cannot clearly be known.
But God is not the author of such confusion and the Bible clearly lays out the word, workings, and will of God. Its best interpretation is that which comes from its own pages without the bias of man being added to it. However, its truths are to be believed, and given a place above any teachings which find their source in man, no matter how well intended. For this reason , we hold the Word of God as sole and final authority concerning all matters of truth and belief. We willingly submit to its teachings which come through its careful study and by "rightly dividing the Word of truth"! 2 Timothy 2:15
The following Gospel tract, written by our pastor, gives evidence to this important position.........
"Who Is RIGHT??"
Authority is the power to take a position which is "absolute in its reliability" and "superior in its resource". It is capable of standing by itself as RIGHT and FINAL!
That which is based upon authority is RELIABLE in that it is grounded in truth without any bent toward prejudice, preference, or ignorance (not having all of the facts). It is FINAL in its claims because it has exhausted every possibility without anything diminishing its conclusions. Therefore everything else is to be measured by it to determine their accuracy - whether in the dimensions of morality, law, beliefs, etc. Nothing is without the realm of its influence. All matters either stand or fall based upon its relationship to such an authority.
The BIBLE is that "reliable and final authority" concerning all things.1 It is superior to any other because its source is ETERNAL and INFINITE (without restriction or limitation) in knowledge and power.2
The Bible is GOD's WORD! It is the absolute authority of the One who is the personification and perfection of truth.3 God's Word is so important that God Himself has exalted it to a position over His own Name.4
It is certain that having such an authority as this gives no assurance how people will RESPOND or REACT to its claims. There will always be those who will reject its truths, but such a reaction to Divine authority cannot neutralize that authority.5 Such rebellion does not alter the truth or relinquish the impact that truth will make upon an individual's life.
The whole issue in "Who Is RIGHT?" mandates that we must consider the matter of AUTHORITY as central to that answer!
There could be no greater need for a RELIABLE and FINAL AUTHORITY more than concerning the truthful answer to the following two questions.............
FIRST: "How Are We Saved?"; and
SECOND: "Where Will I Spend Eternity When I Die?"
Though it is certain that the answers will vary widely to these questions, we must recognize the eternal consequence of choosing the wrong source for what we believe. There will be those who will choose the position of their particular church or denomination. Some will have their own views or may have even concluded that no one can really know for certain any way. There will be those who are basing what they believe upon what they have been told or what they have read. Still others choose to ignore these questions by concluding that these are matters which need not concern them because all is left to fate anyhow; or because they have already rejected the belief in life after death.
For some, only eternity will reveal the foolishness of their conclusions.
The Bible holds the only authoritative answers to these two important questions!
FIRST: "How Are We Saved?" Many religious and non-religious views teach basically the same thing.....either we are saved by our good outweighing our bad -or- they conclude that God is too loving to condemn anyone to Hell. Both of these conclusions are unfounded and in conflict with what God's Word, the Bible teaches!
The Bible tells us that.......
(1) Man is a sinner incapable of saving himself - Romans 3:10-23
(2) Man's works, no matter how good, cannot save him - Titus 3:5;
Romans 3:20,28; Galatians 2:16,21; 3:21
(3) God provided for our salvation through grace because of
the shed blood of His Son - Romans 3:24,25; Ephesians 1:7; 2:
8,9; 1 Peter 1:18,19. Jesus died in YOUR PLACE (substitution) because of YOUR SIN (sacrifice) - 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:
24
(4) Only through believing and receiving Jesus alone into our
life, through repentance, can we be saved. There is NO OTHER WAY! - John 1:12; 3:16,36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9,10
(5) NOW is the time to ask God to forgive us of our sin and become our personal Savior.....TOMORROW MAY BE TOO
LATE!! 2 Corinthians 6:2
It is essential to believe what God has said in His Word concerning "How Are We Saved"! Any other way, no matter how sincere, is the WRONG WAY and will lead to eternal damnation! Romans 10:17; Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13,14
SECOND: "Where Will I Spend Eternity When I Die?" The answer to this question has everything to do with your answer to the first question! If you are saved by the grace of God, you will spend eternity in Heaven with God. However, if you choose to disregard God's provision for your salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation and reject this gift of eternal life freely, you will be lost forever in Hell!
Now there are those who do not believe in either a Heaven or Hell as future destinations for all of mankind but say that they are here on earth. Others teach that there will be annihilation of the soul and spirit upon physical death and we will become non-existent.
That is NOT what the Bible teaches.......
(1) There is an eternal consciousness and life beyond the grave - Hebrews 9:27
(2) HELL is the final destination for all those who have rejected
Christ (Luke 16:19-31) and HEAVEN for all those who have placed their trust in Christ alone for their salvation (John 14:1-3;
2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
(3) Those who never receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, when they die...will have part in the "resurrection unto damnation" (John 5:28,29); will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ to be condemned according to their works because of their unbelief (John 3:16-18; Revelation 20:11,12) and will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever to be eternally punished and separated from God (Revelation 20:13-15; Matthew 22:13; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
(4) Those who have trusted Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sin...will have ETERNAL LIFE and never be condemned for their sin (John 5:24; Romans 8:1); will have part in the "resurrection unto life" (John 5:28,29; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelations 20:6); and HEAVEN will be their eternal home (1 Peter 1:3-5; Philippians 3:20,21; Colossians 1:3-6)
All that a person needs to do to spend eternity in Hell is NOTHING; and forever they will have their part with the vilest of sinners in eternal darkness and torment - Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and UNBELIEVING, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the Second Death."
Friend, look again at "How We Are Saved". If you have never trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ through His Death, Burial, and Resurrection as final and sufficient payment for your sins, would you do so NOW!
Right now you can believe what God clearly says in His Word and receive the salvation He so freely offers your through His Son; or you can continue to accept the baseless claims of others who would deceived you by their assertions. But please remember that your eternity rests in the balance of that decision! Will it be Heaven -or- Hell?? The choice is Y-O-U-R-S!!
- Pastor Mark R. Thomas
If, after having read this gospel tract, you may have a desire for a visit to answer any questions which you may have with regard to its contents, we would appreciate the opportunity to share more with you.
Again, THANK YOU for taking the time to read this booklet. If you have already trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and know with certainty where you will spend eternity, we rejoice with you. If, however, you have not been born again or are uncertain of where you will be eternity after you die, please feel free to call upon us. We care for yoru soul and it would be a joy to minister to you!
Please call: (724)295-2707 or 543-2455 Our e-mail address is: cbbc@salsgiver.com. |
