The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his119/secure_3.arj/SECURE-3.TXT

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   ETERNAL-SECURITY VS CONDITIONAL SALVATION

   When the Lord Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, one of the last
phrases He uttered is "it is finished".  That cry has been on the lips
of true born-again believers down through the centuries as they look
back to the day when the Son of God poured out His life blood for
fallen mankind.  The Christian realizes that the penalty for his sin
has already been paid long before he was born.  Nothing can be added to
it, or taken away. The Greek word for "it is finished" is TETELESTAI. A
more accurate translation in this context would be paid in full.
According to Roman law, if a person was convicted of a crime, a
certificate of debt was prepared which listed his offenses and the
prescribed penalty.  This would be fastened to the door of his cell
until the day when, having paid his debt to society, he was set free.
The magistrate would then take this paper and write TETELESTAI across
it, denoting that (a): justice had been satisfied and (b): the person
could never be re-convicted for the same offenses.

   In the same way, God has written TETELESTAI across the certificate
of debt of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The apostle Paul
wrote: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross;" (Col. 2:13, 14).

   How many of our sins were nailed to the cross with the Lord Jesus?
The answer is all!  How many of our sins were future when the Lord
Jesus died?  The answer again is all!  There are, however, those today
who would agree to all of this, and yet teach that it is possible for a
true born-again believer through sin, backlsiding, or some other means,
to lose his salvation.  It is true that the Bible never uses the phrase
"eternal security" as such.  It does however use some better terms
like: eternal redemption Heb.  9:12, eternal salvation Heb. 5:9, and
everlasting life John 3:16.

   The main objective of this study is to defend the doctrine of
eternal security, presenting sound scriptural reasons why it is an
important and necessary Biblical truth.  Four major topics will be
examined in order to accomplish this.  Romans chapter 8 presents the
calling, justification, and glorification of the believer.  Believers
are also kept by the power of God.  Finally, believers are sealed until
the day of redemption, and have the absolute assurance that their sins
are forgiven. Other areas, such as sin and holiness, will be covered.

   ROMANS 8

   "And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified" (Rom 8:28-30).

   The salvation that is provided through the Lord Jesus Christ also
includes glorification.  Our God who forknew us, predestined us, called
us, and justified us, has also glorified us.  Glorification takes place
in heaven but in God's eyes it is past tense -- already as good as
done.  The justification that God provided takes care of all our sins:
past, present, and future.  God also makes us a new creature and brings
us into right relationship with Himself.  The believer in Christ is
secure because he can rest on the fact that God foreknew him,
predestined him, called him, justified him, and glorified him.

   God continues in the next verse: "What shall we then say to these
things?  If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:31-32).

   God who paid an infinite price for our salvation is not going to
lose any of those whom He has saved.  The salvation provided was not
incomplete or dependent on our works either before or after our
salvation.

   God is for us therefore who can be against us?  Since God forknew
us, predestined us, called us, and justified us, then who can prevent
God from glorifying us?  Is there a higher court than God whereby the
Christian can lose the justification provided by the blood of
Christ?...No!  Who can accuse the Christian?  Who can tell him he is
lost if God is for him?

   "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?  It is God
that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died,
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom.  8:33-34). These verses ask
the question that since God has justified us and Christ has died for us
then who will condemn us.  Will God do it?...No!  Will Christ who
died,    rose , and now intercedes for us, condemn us?...No!

   Who can separate us from the love of Christ and God's salvation?
Romans 8:38, 39 answers that question.  "For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

   According to these verses nothing can separate us from the love of
God and our salvation.  Men are unable, angels are unable, demons
(principalities) are unable, death and life are unable, and the
conclusion is that nothing is able to separate us from God and His
love.  Within the list everything possible is listed that might
separate us from God but nothing is able to do it.

   Now for those readers who say "that's true...but what about
ourselves?".  Paul answers that when he said " nor things present, nor
things to come, ...nor any other creature".  Any other creature would
include mankind and it would also include the individual Christian who
thinks he can lose his salvation.  To repeat, the thrust of  Romans
8:38, 39 is: nothing...nothing...nothing...can separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

   This section concludes simply by stating that salvation is not
salvation unless it includes glorification.  That is the way salvation
is presented in Romans chapter 8.  Therefore, the Christian can be
assured that he will never be condemned: "There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom.8:1).  Also, the Christian will never
be forsaken: "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee" (Heb.13:5).  "Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt.28:20).

   KEPT BY GOD

   When the Lord Jesus said "it is finished" on the cross, that meant
our salvation was complete and there is nothing anyone can do to add to
it or take away from it.  This section deals with the fact that God our
Saviour, keeps, so that none is lost.  John writes about God's will:
"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at
the last day" (John 6:39).

   What the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, He did totally
apart from any work or effort on our part.  "But this man, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right  hand of
God;...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12, 14).

   Therefore the Christian can be confident because God gives the
promise: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ"
(Phil.1:6).  Also, in 1 Cor. 1:8 "Who shall also confirm you unto the
end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ".
Notice, it is God who does the keeping of the believer.

   God's salvation is complete and when God does something it lasts
forever: "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:
nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth
it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl.3:14).  When a person trusts
Christ and is born again, it is not conditional or temporary.  God
recreates that person's spirit and he is an eternal, new creature.

   Romans 11:29 says: "For the gifts and calling of God are without
repentance".  This verse means that God will not save a person today
and tomorrow change His mind and take it back.  The believer is secure
and and can depend on the faithfulness of God.  In John 11:27-29, the
Lord Jesus states that the believer will never perish; "My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than
all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand".  When
the Lord Jesus uses words like, "never perish", and "no man is able",
this indicates that God will use His power to keep the believer.  Also
the Lord Jesus gives eternal life and not partial life.

   When the Lord Jesus Christ saved us, He did it to the uttermost.
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them"
(Hebrews 7:25).  Being saved to the uttermost means we are kept at the
point of salvation through to heaven and glory without any being lost.
The last part of the verse states that the Lord Jesus ever lives to
make intercession for us.  The Lord Jesus constantly prays for His own
and His prayers never fail.

   Another good example of the fact that God keeps the believer can be
found in the upper room.  Here the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father that
all who believed on Him would be kept and that they would see Him in
heaven in His glory.  "And now I am no more in the world, but these are
in the world, and I come to thee.  Holy Father, keep through thine own
name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we
are....Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:
for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:11,
24).  When the Lord Jesus prays do you think His prayers get answered?
Of course they do, and the Lord Jesus prayed for all believers to be
kept and to make it to glory.

   Therefore, how is the Christian kept?  Is it by his walk after
salvation or is it by God's power?  Peter answers this: "To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet.
1:4, 5). Jude also answers by saying: "Jude, the servant of Jesus
Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God  the
Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called,...Now unto him that
is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1, 24). Again
notice that the Christian's preservation, security, and keeping is not
dependent upon himself, but upon God.

   It is good news that the Christian is kept by God's love and power
and that salvation is complete apart from the works and merits of the
believer.  This section has shown that the Christian does not keep
himself, but rather it is God who keeps each believer by His power.
Nowhere in the Bible is the Christian given the responsibility of
keeping himself saved and maintaining, (under penalty of loss), his
salvation.  To say that a believer can lose his salvation is a direct
insult to the ability of God to fully save and keep His own.  It is
also an affirmation that God did not provide a complete salvation but a
partial one which must be merited by good works after salvation.  To
believe in conditional salvation is to believe in gross Biblical error
concerning what God has said is eternal and permanent.

   SEALED

   When God seals a person it is a permanent seal which no one is able
to break.  What God has sealed man cannot break. This section will show
that when a believer trusts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour at
that moment he is permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit.

   The Greek word for sealed in the New Testament is SPHRAGIZO which
means: to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or
preservation (lit or fig); by impl. to keep secret, to attest. (Strongs
Concordance).  The word for sealed in the Greek implies security and
preservation.

   The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ is sealed: "Labour not for
the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for him
hath God the Father SEALED" (John 6:27).

   In Revelation Ch.  7 the 144, 000 are sealed (SPHRAGIZO) with God's
seal and in Ch 14 all of them are with the Lord Jesus Christ and none
of them is lost.

   In the Old Testament there is an example of a sealing when Daniel
was thrown into the den of lions: "Then the king commanded, and they
brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake
and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will
deliver thee.  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the
den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of
his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel"
(Daniel 6:16, 17).

   These verses about Daniel show that the seal was given "that the
purpose might not be changed...".  Another example of sealing is when
the Lord Jesus was buried in His tomb.  The Romans sealed the tomb and
no man was to break that seal.

   When a seal is given in the Bible it is given with a purpose and is
unchangeable.  Now if the seal of a mere man is given with a binding,
unchangeable purpose, how much more when God seals something? Can men
break God's seal?

   The Bible also says that God seals each person with His Holy Spirit
at the moment of salvation: "Now he which stablisheth us with you in
Christ, and hath annointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED us, and
given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:21, 22).

   "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13).  It is good news
that when a person is born again he is sealed, because God can and does
protect that which He seals.

   What does it mean to be "sealed by that holy Spirit of promise"? The
answer is in John 14:16, 17: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall
give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even
the Spirit of truth;..." Notice the promise is for the Holy Spirit to
dwell with the believer for ever and ever.  The sealing of the believer
is a permanent, unbreakable seal.

   God's seal also guarantees our salvation because we are sealed unto
the day of redemption; "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,  whereby
ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph.4:30).  Now if we are
sealed until the day of redemption, does that mean that some will lose
their salvation before reaching the day of redemption?  No...when God
says the Christian is sealed until the day of redemption,  He means
just that.  All born-again Christians will stay saved and make it to
the day of redemption because God says so.

   In John we are told of the new birth; "Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man
be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's
womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto
thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3-7).  Here the Lord Jesus says
the believer is born of the Spirit and God's Spirit is eternal.

   Not only is the believer sealed but he partakes of the Divine
Nature, (which also is eternal); "Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
divine nature..." (2 Peter 1:4).  In 1 John 2:25 God promises us
eternal life, not partial life; "And this is the promise that he hath
promised us, even eternal life".

   Since the Christian is chosen from the foundation of the world,
kept by God's power, and sealed with His Holy Spirit, God refers to our
salvation in the past tense in 1 John 5:11, 13: "And this is the
record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son....These things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

   FORGIVENESS OF SINS

   How many sins does the blood of the Lord Jesus cover?  This section
is necessary because in order to deny eternal security one must also
deny the believers future sins were paid for by the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ.  Those who believe that a Christian can lose his
salvation are saying that past and present sins are forgiven when a
person is saved.  However, forgiveness for future sins is conditional
and is dependent upon the Christian.  If a person continues in sin
without repentance, there comes a time, (not defined), when he has
sinned too much and he loses his salvation and becomes an unsaved,
unforgiven sinner again.  He is then un-born again and un-adopted by
God.  There are two schools of thought embraced by those who believe in
conditional salvation at this point: (1) Some believe the person is now
lost and it is impossible for him to be renewed again to repentance and
re-saved.  (2) Others believe that if that person repents and turns
back to God with all his heart, he can be re-forgiven, re-saved, born
again again, re-adopted by God, and restored as a new creature again.

   This section will show the error of conditional salvation as it
relates to sins, forgiveness, and the righteousness of the believer in
the Lord Jesus Christ.

   The salvation that God provided cleanses from all sins, not just a
few.  Paul writes in Eph. 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace".
Also, "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin"
(1 John 1:7).  These verses state that the blood of the Lord Jesus
cleanses us from all sins.

   Now how many sins are "all"?  Does "all" include past sins? Does
"all" include present sins?  Does "all" include future sins? According
to Websters dictionary "all" is defined as: the whole amount or
quantity of; as much as possible; the whole number or sum of.
Concerning sins "all" would include the whole amount of sins and
exclude none.  This means "all" sins would include all the sins of a
Christian from birth to death (past, present, and future sins).

   The Bible says: "...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb.1:3).  "...but now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself" (Heb.9:26).  "As far as the east is from the
west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm
103:12). Notice these verses include all sin, not just a few.

   God says that He not only forgives our sin, but he wills not to
remember them any more.  "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"
(Isaiah 43:25).  "...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more" (Jer.31:34).  "This is the covenant that I
will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their
sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb.10:16, 17).

   The Bible also teaches that God imputes His righteousness to all
that trust in the Lord Jesus as Saviour.  "For he hath made him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him" (2 Cor.5:21).  "For what saith the scripture?  Abraham
believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness....But to
him what worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness....And therefore it was imputed
to him for righteousness.  Now it was not written for his sake alone,
that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be
imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the
dead" (Rom.4:3, 5,22-24).

   God has dealt with the sin of the believer because the penalty and
all judgment for sin was put on the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross. God
now deals with the Christian as one of His children.  He deals with His
children in discipline and not by judgment and eternal condemnation.

   CHRISTIAN LIVING

   Does the fact of eternal security give the Christian the right to
sin and rebel with no call of holiness and righteousness on his life?
This section will deal with the lifestyle of the Christian and sin in
the Christian's life.

   Firstly, God commands His people to live separated, righteous, and
holy lives before a Christ-rejecting world.  "Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor.6:17).  "But as he which
hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet.1:15,16). "For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11,
12).

   However, Christians are not perfect and those who say they have no
sin are liars (see 1 John 1:8).  When a Christian sins God wants him to
do two things: (1) admit he has sinned, and (2) repudiate that sin. God
gives a promise in 1 John 1:9; "If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness".  Notice that this verse does not say the Christian is
to ask for forgiveness.  Forgiveness of sin is a settled fact through
what the Lord Jesus did on the cross.  This verse refers to the
fellowship of the believer with God.  When a Christian sins, a barrier
of guilt comes up between the Christian and God.  This verse is God's
provision for removing that barrier so the Christian can resume his
close walk of fellowship with God.  John says that it is not God's will
that His children sin, but if they do, their sin is taken care of: "My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1,2).

   In light of God's provision for sin in the believer's life, does
this mean that the Christian can go out and sin as much as he wants
with no consequences?  Paul answers the sin question in Romans 6: "What
shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any   longer
therein?...Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that  ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof....What then?  shall we sin,
because we are not under the law, but under grace?  God forbid.  Know
ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?...For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free
from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye
are now ashamed?  for the end of those things is death" (Rom.6:1,
2,12,15,16,20,21).

   In 1 Corinthians Paul gives an example of a believer who got
involved in gross sin and would not repent.  According to those who
profess conditional salvation, that person would be lost.  However, the
Bible gives the following different outcome: "It is reported commonly
that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so
much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's
wife.  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that
hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.  For I verily,
as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as
though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an
one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor.5:1-5).  Notice that the
penalty for the Christian's rebellion is not the loss of salvation but
the destruction of the body that the spirit may be saved.  His spirit
"may" be saved means that he is saved and will still go to heaven.  If
there is any question about the word "may", look at 1 Cor.15:28: "And
when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also
himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may
be all in all".  The word "may" in this verse does not mean, maybe God
will be all in all or maybe He won't.  It means He will be all in all,
just as the rebellious Christian is saved even thought his body should
be destroyed by Satan.

   What about great Christian leaders or workers who appear to be
saved, but reject their faith and walk away from the Lord Jesus?  Is
this not an example of someone forfeiting their salvation they once
possessed?  The Bible answers this question and says that person was
never saved in the first place.  The proof is the fact they left the
Lord Jesus Christ.  John writes: "Little children, it is the last time:
and as ye have heard that anti-christ shall come, even now are there
many anti-christs; whereby we know that it is the last time.  They went
out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they
might be made manifest that they were not all of us" (1 John 2:18, 19).

   The final question is about Judas Iscariot.  Was he not an example
of someone who was saved, but lost his salvation?  The answer is No; he
never was saved according to the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Jesus answered
them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake
of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray
him, being one of the twelve" (John 6:70,71).  When the Lord  Jesus
washed the feet of the twelve, he said the following: "...He that is
washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and
ye are clean, but not all.  For he knew who would betray him; therefore
said he, Ye are not all clean" (John 13:10,11).  Judas had every
opportunity to be saved but refused.  He was chosen in God's
foreknowledge that scripture might be fulfilled.

   CONCLUSION

   To conclude, we have shown that throughout scripture the security of
the believer is upheld.  Only by ignoring God's promises for
justification, sealing, and keeping; or by pulling verses out of
context, can the doctrine of conditional salvation be professed.  We
have shown the fact that God glorifies all that He justifies.  We have
also seen that God has promised to preserve and keep each believer by
His power and faithfulness.  It is also good news to know each believer
has been sealed by the Holy Spirit, has complete forgiveness and
remission of sins, and has been imputed God's righteousness.

   In light of all this, the reader must now consider whether he in
fact has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord.  Could
it be that some are trusting in their own performance in the Christian
life to keep their salvation rather that trusting in the finished work
of the Lord Jesus on the cross?

   It must be emphasized that a "conditional" view of salvation not
only denies God's Word, but it also produces a legalistic, fear-
inspiring, and experience-oriented Christian walk.  How can one share
the riches of God's grace to the unsaved when he believes his own
acceptance hangs by a tenuous thread?

   To close, the following is God's simple plan of salvation for those
who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, or who do not
have 100% assurance that if they died today, they would go to heaven.

   The Bible says:

   FOR ALL HAVE SINNED: "For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;" (Rom 3:23).

   SIN HAS A PENALTY: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die...." (Exek
18:20).  "For the wages of sin is death;..." (Rom 6:23). "And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire" (Rev 20:14, 15).

   THE LORD JESUS PAID THE PENALTY: "But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa 53:5).
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).

   YOU MUST RECEIVE THE LORD JESUS: "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).

   SINNERS PRAYER

   Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner deserving death.  I ask You
to come into my life to forgive and save me.  I now receive You as my
Saviour (trusting in You ALONE to save me) and my Lord (making you my
Master and committing my life to you).

   ASSURANCE

   "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that
hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know
that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the
Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13).

   By A. Yusko and E. Prior

   THE SEED SOWERS,
   P.O.  Box 2513, Stn. F,
   Scarborough, Ont.  M1W 3P2