What are you learning in church?

The fact that you are attending a church will not grant you a ticket for eternal life.

If the word of God and the teachings of Christ are not being presented, you are in the wrong church.

Continued repetition of tradition will not find favor with God. We do not receive salvation by following a religion, joining a church, being baptized, or trying to do anything else to save ourselves.

Salvation is found in a person, Jesus Christ.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)

“The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from sin (1 John 1:7).

A relationship with God is a personal one. One that grows closer and closer the more we become acquainted with his word and his desires.

Saying that we believe there is a God will not gain us salvation. As the knowledge of our savior increases we have a calling to put it to use.

Before Christ ascended he said to the disciples and the crowd, “You shall be my witnesses.”

This was a command. Having a vast knowledge of scripture is useless if it’s not put to use.

It’s like an auto mechanic going through vigorous schooling to become a technician, but decides to never repair a car.

As my walk with the Lord grows, I have had many occasions to witness to friends and family. I have found that so many people are convinced that they will have a place with God in his eternal family because they are good people, doing all the right things. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It breaks my heart to see some of my dearest friends being so misled because they won’t take the time to study the word of God. Satan is the great deceiver and the master of lies and so many people fall into his trap. Until we accept Christ as our Savior, the prophet Isaiah wrote “our works are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our good deeds and works are only recognized by God when we become a born-again Christian and receive salvation. Christ himself said “Verily verily I say unto you, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

There is only one way to be with God and belong to his family of eternal life, and that is through Jesus. “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6)

We are born sinners and there is only one way to conquer sin and death, and that is through the blood of Christ on the cross. Sin can only be dealt with by a perfect sinless person. The only one who meets that criteria is God himself presenting himself as man. Jesus is the Image of the invisible God.

The Bible does not allow anyone to earn his way to heaven. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus 3:5) For by grace we are saved through faith; and not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

In the 1500s Martin Luther launched the Protestant movement by arguing that we’re saved by faith, not by works and obedience to church leaders.

God started his plan of salvation with one righteous man, Abraham, and from Abraham he established one righteous nation: Israel. God entrusted Israel with guidelines for holy living and with a commission: “You will be a light to guide the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

But Israel failed its mission. So God sent his son, Jesus to complete this mission by showing people how to live as citizens of God’s kingdom and by sending out disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew 28:19)

God’s plan of redemption begins and ends with Jesus, his coming and his coming again.

Salvation is freely given to all who will turn to God and believe that his son, Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and after three days arose from the dead.

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. (Romans 10:9)

This is the plan of salvation (being born again) that the bible talks about continually, that so many people know nothing about. Now is the time to Start your journey with God and join his eternal family.

Sample prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for saving me from my sins. I believe that you are my savior and I now receive you into my life so I can have forgiveness and eternal Life with you In your precious name I pray, Amen.

Rick Jones lives in Mahoning Valley.