IT NOW DEPENDS ON YOU!

There was a time when our soul's salvation depended entirely upon the Lord. When man sinned he deserved to die in his sins, God has said, "... for in the day thou eatest thereof thou strait surely die." Gen. 2:1 7b. "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23a. In Ezekiel, God says, "... the soul that sinneth, it shall DIE." BUT God, who is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4), loved us and had already devised a means to save us from our sins.

HE HAD A PLAN TO SAVE

Before a man had ever sinned, God in His great foreknowledge had devised a PLAN to save him. That is why He says in 1 Peter 1:20 that Christ was "verily foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world" as the Lamb that was slain for lost sinners. In the mind of God, Christ died for sinners before the world was made. Rev. 13:8 "... the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world." His PLAN is simply how "that Christ DIED (the wages of sin) for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day." 1 Cor. 15:3,4.

HE MADE A PROVISION TO SAVE

The Plan He devised He put into effect for we read in 1 Peter 1:20 "... that He (Christ) was manifest in these last times FOR YOU." This is what is meant in Romans 5:6 where we read, "IN DUE TIME Christ died for the ungodly." When He was born the angels announced His birth by saying, "Unto you is born this DAY in the city of David a SAVIOUR, which is Christ the Lord. " Luke 2:1 1 . As the Lord provided a lamb for Isaac (Gen. 22:7,8) so He has for us. Abraham called the name of that place, "Jehovah-Jireh", which means "the Lord will PROVIDE." Gen. 22:14.

HE GAVE HIS PROMISE TO SAVE

God in His great mercy toward us has not only PLANNED and PROVIDED salvation for us, BUT He has PROMISED to save. Even before the foundation of the world He gave His promise, for we read in Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED before the world began." The "Gospel", His PLAN and PROVISION, was PROMISED through all His prophets in the holy scriptures Romans 1:2. Listen to this lovely promise to YOU. "Whosoever (anybody) believeth (trusts) in Him (Christ) should not perish (die and go to hell) BUT have eternal life (that is the promise)." Jn. 3:15. God said it, so it must be true, since He cannot lie. Tit. 1:2.

IT NOW DEPENDS ON YOU

God's work in man's salvation, as to His PLAN, PROVISION and PROMISE, is complete. He cannot add to it. It is perfect in every detail. NOW He waits for you. It no longer depends upon Him BUT upon YOU. It is your turn to act. Act you MUST or perish forever. Lk. 13:3 says, "Repent or perish." Jn. 3:16 says "Believe or >; perish." Your action is clear; it is "REPENT and BELIEVE". You might ask, "How do I do that?" Let me make it as clear as 1, 2, 3 and as simple as A, B. C.

1. UNDERSTAND HIS PLAN to save. 2 Cor. 5:21. God "hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

2. ACCEPT HIS PROVISION TO SAVE. 1 Tim. 2:6, "Who gave Himself a RANSOM (paid on behalf of others) for all, to be testified in due time." Also read Gal. 1 :4.

3. TRUST HIS PROMISE TO SAVE He said. "... him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE cast out." Jn. 6:37. "I give unto them eternal life and "THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH." Jn. 10:28.

A. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SINFULNESS BEFORE GOD. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

B. BELIEVE (trust) IN CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and THOU SHALT BE SAVED." Acts 16:31.

C. CONFESS HIM AS YOUR SAVIOUR BEFORE MEN. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 10:32. Rom. 10:9,10.

Will you take your bible and carefully consider all the scriptures used and seriously consider your eternal salvation? It NOW DEPENDS on you. To be lost, do nothing. To be saved, repent and trust Christ as Saviour. The choice is yours. "Today if you will hear His voice, HARDEN not your hearts." Heb. 3:15. "Behold NOW is the accepted time (time when He is accepting all sinners through Christ): behold NOW is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. "How shall we ESCAPE if we NEGLECT so great salvation." go Heb. 2:3.

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Last Updated September 20th 1997 by Harold Smith