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Beware of Substitutes
This modern age is an age of substitutes and imitations. Nylon has been substituted for silk. Margarine has been substituted for butter. Likewise, there are many subsitutes offered for salvation.
1. Service is not Salvation.
"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" (Matthew 7:22-23).
One cannot truly lead a person to Christ if they do not truly know Christ themselves. Jesus told the Pharisees, "Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte (convert); and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).
Our works of righteousness are a filthy rags. We are not saved through any good works we do, but through saving faith in Christ alone.
2. Salvation to improve one's life is not true Salvation.
The modern gospel and modern evangelistic methods teach that the way to happiness, joy, and fulfillment is through Jesus Christ. Sure, some of the many benefits of salvation and a life devoted to Christ are peace and joy. But to give one's heart to Christ to simply try and improve one's life is not true salvation. One doesn't "give Jesus a try", but one turns to Him as the only way to find forgiveness and salvation.
True salvation includes a recognition of one's sin and one's lost condition. True salvation includes repentance from one's sinful lifestyle and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
3. Turning over a new leaf is not Salvation.
Man does not get saved by reforming, nor by saying, "I will clean up my life and make a new start."
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).
"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" (Ephesians 2:8--9).
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6).
4. Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to God.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:7-11).
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