Saturday, March 01, 2008

God's Simple Plan of Salvation

My Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.

“ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22).

“ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this tract over and over, without laying it down, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.

God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

  • Pray -- you talk to God.
  • Read your Bible -- God talks to you.
  • Witness -- you talk for God.

AFTER you are saved, you should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8).

Please note that you DON'T have to be baptized to go to Heaven. It is a step of obedience for the believer.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Power of a Shout

The Word of God says, "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lordl let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1). There is great power in a shout. A shout commands attention. A shout is prophetic and faith building; a shout calls things that are not as though they werer. A shout demonstrates and passion. A shout changes the atmosphere.
God's Word tells us to shout. "Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy!" (Psalm 47:1). "Shout for joy" (Psalm 98:3). Isaiah 26:19 says,"Wake up and shout." it doesn't say wake up and shot at your kids. It does say to wake up and shout for joy!
When I am leading worship, I don't shout to get people excited or "hyped up." When I shout, I am encouraging people to put action to their faith. A shout of joy changes the atmosphere over our lives. Praise is not an angry shout; it's a faith-filled shout! I am a singing teacher's worst nightmare because I strain my voice continually before I start singing. I get excited in the prayer meeting as we lay hold of God and shout His praise!
I want to go into every service full of expectation to see people's lives changed to reflect His grace in their lives. I want people to sing a new song. I want those who are sad to learn to shout! I want those who are timid to shout for joy. I want to help people see the Father, help them to "taste and see that the Lord is good." That is the power of a shout. I want everyone to know the power of a shout to the Lord
"The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them" (Numbers 23:21).

Reference: Extravagant Worship by Darlene Zschech, page 63

Listen: Shout To The Lord

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Ed Lapiz Back-To-Back Series No.1

18 Things To Consider While Young
14 Things To Refuse While Young


The first book I read on my entire life ... And I can say that this is one of the greatest book I ever read. It contains teachings on how to manage and enjoy your youth to the fullest and of course with Jesus Christ our God.

If you ever try to attempt to look for this book at National Bookstore, maybe you'll get curious about the book because of its design. The book has no back. Side by side is a front cover page. You need to flip the book VERTICALLY or in other words UPSIDE DOWN. Hope you'll not get shocked at the store while looking at it.

The first side which tells about things you need to consider or things that you need to learn while you are still in the days of your youth. So you can walk in the right and enjoyable life. Pastor Ed Lapiz will tell you everything what to do on the days of your youth. It tells about good things like finishing your schooling, making a lot of good friends, enjoy your family, learning to swim, learn fractions and percentages. and so on.

The other side which tells about things that you need to refuse. Mostly things that will tempt you to loose yourself into worldly things, worldly happenings like taking drugs, pre-marital sex, cults, etc.

So, why don't try to? The book cost only P100 at any branch of National Bookstore. Near religious sides of books, mostly where you can find the Bible. God Bless us all!!!