Tract Number 23

YES.....

          Many have made professions of faith, turned over a new leaf and started doing better.  They have given up old habits and changed their style of living to later return back to the same old habits they had before.  Their profession was from their head and not from their heart.

 JESUS SAID:

 Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

      Making professions from the head, doing good, being baptized and joining the Church are all good works but the Bible teaches we are not saved by works.

 Ephesians 2:8-9, "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."

      Why do so many start out doing right and then turn around and go back in the opposite direction?

 II Peter 2:22, "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

      The reason men turn back is because their nature has not been changed.  Only JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, can change men and women and make new creatures out of them.

      If men trust in their own works or their own ways, they will end up without God and will be cast into hell.  Can man be born again and go to hell?

 NO.....

 Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

      The only works that man can depend on to take him to Heaven are the works of Calvary.  JESUS CHRIST came into this world to die that you might live.

1 John 5:12, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

      Repent of your sins to the Saviour today, so he can forgive you and assure you of Heaven when this life is over.

Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."