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HAVE YOU BELIEVED ANOTHER GOSPEL?

"Which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal.1:7)

Friend, have you been deceived into believing "another gospel"? The word "gospel" means glad tidings or good news. The apostle Paul says that this "other gospel" is not a gospel at all; because it does not truthfully present the good news of God's GRACE in His plan of eternal salvation for the souls of men. Out of a sincere concern for those souls, this tract was written to expose the "other gospel" by presenting the true gospel of Jesus Christ as explained by Paul.

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:11,12)

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Cor. 15:3,4)

Friend, maybe you consider yourself to be of some particular creed or religious faith, but the Bible says: "Examine yourselves, whether ye he in THE FAITH." (II Cor. 13:5) Before you read any further, would you please pray and ask God to help you honestly examine yourself by His Scriptures to determine whether you have believed the TRUE GOSPEL, or have been deceived by the "other gospel".

In Acts, chapter 20, Paul briefly reviews his teachings on the conditions of salvation when he says farewell to the elders of Ephesus.

"I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." (Acts 20:20,21)

EXAMINE YOURSELF!

REPENTANCE - a change of attitude about self toward God.

*Have I ever admitted to God that I was an unrighteous SINNER in His sight?

"As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one." (Rom. 3:10)

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

*Have I ever realized that I cannot ESTABLISH MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS by getting baptized, keeping the law, or living a good life?

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law..." (Rom. 9:30-32) "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Rom.10:3) "Even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Rom. 3:22)

EXAMINE YOURSELF!

FAITH - a complete confidence in Jesus Christ alone to save your soul.

*Have I ever claimed the PERFECT SACRIFICE of Jesus' death as atonement (payment) for my sins?

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" (I Gal. 3:13)

"But this man, after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10:12)

*Am I PERSUADED that Jesus Christ has completely saved my soul from the judgment of a burning lake of fire, forever?

"...for I know whom I have believed, and am PERSUADED that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (II Tim. 1:12b) "And being FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:21) "Therefore being justified by FAITH we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1)

Friend, if you couldn't answer "Yes" to each of the previous questions; then you have probably been deceived by the "other gospel" and are not in THE FAITH which Paul is talking about. You see, the "other gospel" teaches that you must "live right" in order to get saved or stay saved. It offers no real peace with God because you have to wait until death to know if you have everlasting life or not. This is not faith in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross. You are still trusting in yourself to ESTABLISH YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. You cannot get saved by believing this other (false) gospel.

Remember, the true gospel teaches that salvation is a gift from God for man, not a work from man for God. "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." (Eph. 2:8,9) "For if they which are of the law be heirs, FAITH IS MADE VOID, and the promise made of none effect:... Therefore it is of FAITH, that it might be by GRACE." (Rom. 4:14,16a) "And if by GRACE then is it no more of works, OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE,..." (Rom. 11:6)

Are you willing to believe the true GOSPEL OF GRACE? If so, with repentance toward God and faith in Jesus, ask Him for the gift of everlasting life right now. The very moment you completely trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord ... that very moment ... you are saved ... forever!

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but IS PASSED from death unto life." (John 5:24)

In the gospel of St. John we read of the marriage feast at Cana. Here Mary emphasizes the importance of Jesus, her son, and the words that He speaks.

Realizing that the wine was gone, and that she herself could not do anything, she tells Jesus, the only One who could do something. Mary then gives the servants A COMMAND, one that we all should consider. "His mother saith unto the servants, WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT." (John 2:5)

This is the only recording in the Bible where Mary gives a command, so most certainly all Roman Catholics should take heed to her words... "WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT." Since the goal of all good Roman Catholics is to get to Heaven, let us look in the Bible and do what Mary said to do; see what Jesus says and do it.

JESUS SAYS... He is the ONLY one that can be your Saviour. "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)

HE DID NOT SAY... to trust in saints, the pope, or even His mother, Mary, to save you. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must he saved." (Acts 4:12)

JESUS SAYS... FAITH IN HIM, is the only kind that can save you. "He that BELIEVETH ON THE SON hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

HE DID NOT SAY... special sacrifices and good works were needed to help save you. "But to him THAT WORKETH NOT, but believeth ON HIM that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)

JESUS SAYS... EVERLASTING life is the only kind He gives. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth MY word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

HE DID NOT SAY... it was probationary life which depended upon our keeping it or we'd lose it. "And I give unto them ETERNAL life; and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand." (John 10:28)

JESUS SAYS... GOD'S words are the only authority to follow. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not MY words, hath one that judgeth him: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)

HE DID NOT SAY... traditions or the commandments of men were HIS words. "Howbeit IN VAIN do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." "Making the word of God of none effect THROUGH YOUR TRADITION, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:7&13)

Friend, you can RIGHT NOW be saved and KNOW that you have ETERNAL life, if you will put your COMPLETE faith in Jesus Christ, and stop relying on yourself, church, sacraments, or anything else to SAVE or help save you. Jesus is the Saviour. Do you believe He can save you, or don't you? "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." (I John 5:13)

Remember, the very moment that you COMPLETELY TRUST Jesus Christ as YOUR Saviour and Lord... THAT VERY MOMENT,... you are saved from Hell... FOREVER!

WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

( ) I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAYS.

I know that I am a sinner, and for the first time I really believe that Jesus Christ can do for me what He says. I have just now prayed and trusted Him to be my Saviour. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:13)

( )I FEEL THIS TRACT IS ANTI -CATHOLIC.

Friend, the reason we gave you this tract is because we love you and do not want to see you go to Hell when you die. If you feel this tract is Anti-Catholic, you had better reexamine your beliefs. After all, anyone who rejects what JESUS CHRIST says is, ...ANTI-CHRIST. "He that is not with me is against me;..."(Matthew 12:30a)

The following is a response to a letter that was sent to the Fellowship Tract League to refute the message in this tract.

Thank you very much for responding to our tract: Mary's Command for Catholics. I appreciate the opportunity to correspond with you concerning it's four points. May I begin by answering your objection that I do not understand the "Catholic position". That argument may seem effective against a typical "Protestant minister"; however, it does not apply in my case because I am a former Catholic who was taught the Catholic position, practiced it, and witnessed others practice it. I have enclosed the tract for reference as I go over your objections to it's four points.

1. I know that the official Catholic catechism claims that they do not believe that Mary , the saints, or the pope can save them. But, you have to admit that there are many "superstitious" Catholics who show that they do believe this by their own actions. Consider the many prayers to them, pilgrimages that are made to their shrines, and the Catholic literature that promotes this activity. For example; have you ever seen the pamphlet; "Heaven's Weapons for Unity, Peace and Salvation for All Mankind" printed by a Catholic organization called "The Blue Army". It claims that Mary promises eternal life to anyone that is wearing her scapular when they die.

This is definitely contrary to what the Scriptures teach, and yet it is sanctioned by the official Catholic "Imprimatur". If anything, you should be thankful that this first point is renouncing a falsehood which you claim that your church doesn't believe anyway.

2. In your objection to the second point, you claimed that Jesus taught that works were needed to save us and cited Matthew 7:21 for your proof text. However. keeping in mind that the Scriptures do not contradict themselves (John 11:35); Jesus explained that the work of God is to BELIEVE ON HIM whom He hath sent (John 6:28,29). After all, in Matthew 7:22.23 Jesus denounces those who are thinking that they should be allowed into Heaven because of the "many wonderful works" that they have boasted of doing in His name. The Scriptures are very clear in teaching that salvation is by grace through faith without works. (see Rom. 4:5; and Eph. 2:8,9) Works are not the cause of salvation. THEY ARE THE RESULT OF IT! I have enclosed some tracts that I have written that may help you to better understand this Scriptural principle.

3. The next point leads me to ask you this question: Do you PRESENTLY have everlasting life? Naturally, I am not talking about everlasting "physical" life; because the Scriptures are clear that no one will get that until they get their glorified, resurrected body. But do you have everlasting "spiritual" life? If not, according to John 5:24, you are still abiding in spiritual DEATH. You see; a person can be physically alive in this present world and still be spiritually dead; however, they also can be physically alive and have SPIRITUAL LIFE; and please notice that this spiritual life is not temporary, or probationary; IT IS EVERLASTING! If you are waiting to see whether you will get everlasting life at the end of your physical life, you cannot presently claim to have Jesus as your Saviour. I John 5:12 says: "He that hath the Son HATH LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." It is obvious that this is speaking of ETERNAL life because of the context with verses 11 and 13. According to Romans 6:23: "the gift of God is..." what kind of life? "...ETERNAL LIFE." "Eternal" means endless, infinite, perpetual. Of course, it takes "real" faith to believe that Jesus has completely paid for one's sins and give one ETERNAL spiritual life even while living in these physical bodies. But that is exactly the kind of faith we MUST have: just take God at His Word, even if we don't see the physical manifestation of it yet. This is the same kind of faith that Abraham had when he was promised a son at the age of 99 (Rom. 4:19-25). Also, when he went to offer up his son Isaac...believing that: if necessary, God would raise him up from the dead (Heb. 11:17-19). Read Galatians 3:6-9 and consider this: DO YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF F AITH?

As to the other verse references that you gave to prove that a person could lose their salvation, if you would carefully study them in their context, you might be surprised to find out that they are not speaking about that at all. For instance: in I Cor. 9:27, Paul is not speaking about his eternal salvation, he is talking about his credibility among men as a minister of the Gospel.

4. You ask what the Christian community did for the first 350 years before the canon was "officially recognized" by Pope Innocent I. (It was completed by about A.D.96 with the book of Revelation by John the Apostle) Part of the answer is: they quoted much of the Old Testament for their authority. If it was just oral tradition, then why does Peter, Paul, John the Baptist. and even Jesus consistently say: "IT IS WRITTEN..."? Before Paul's death, he wrote to Timothy requesting that he bring to Paul "...the books, but especially the parchments."(II Tim.4:13) Even Peter officially recognizes the authority of Paul's epistles as equal to "...the other SCRIPTURES...;(II PET. 3:16) Besides this, there are many quotes from the New Testament found in the writings of such men as Polycarp, Papias, Irenaeus, and Origen. (All of these lived and died before Pope Innocent I was even born.) The truth of the matter is: by the time of Pope Innocent I, the New Testament Scriptures were already well-known and accepted by the general concensus of all true Christian believers plus some who were not believers. Consider: just because Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent and Spain officially recognized it as the "New World" doesn't mean that it didn't exist here before 1492.

One more thing to consider: what was the purpose of having a COMPLETED canon of Scriptures; and what kind of authority would it have if it can be superseded by extra-canonical teachings such as those of tradition and the teaching magesterium of the Roman Catholic Church? NONE WHATSOEVER!!! (Mark 7:7-13)

In closing. I would encourage you to read the Bible (not just some book that tells you what the Bible says); and pray to God, sincerely asking Him to help you to know the truth of His Gospel of grace.

Respectfully Yours,

DEATH: It Happens Every Day!

WHAT IF YOU DIED TODAY?

Even while reading this tract, you could be having a slight pain in your chest or head; but WITHIN A FEW HOURS, YOU WILL BE DEAD of a heart artack or brain hemorrhage. But you're thinking. "That'll never happen to me."

"...Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

You might be in good health, but ON YOUR WAY HOME TONIGHT YOU WILL BE KILLED in a car accident. Remember how shocked you were, the last time you heard about someone you knew that was killed in wreck? They never thought that death would come so suddenly to them did they? Maybe THESE WILL BE THE LAST WORDS THAT YOU WILL EVER READ!

YOU CAN'T ESCAPE DEATH!

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27)

Now maybe you're thinking. "If I would die today. I'm ready to go; after all, I've never done anything really bad. I don't believe that a merciful God would send me to hell."

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) "For the wages of sin is death ;" (Romans 6:23a) "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

According to God's Word, no matter how good you are, YOU DESERVE TO BURN IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOR EVER AND EVER!

BUT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A SAVIOUR.

"...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b), "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Now stop a second, and read that last verse again. How does the Bible say that you get everlasting life?

NOT BY TRUSTING IN SOME CHURCH OR SAINT!

"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)

NOT BY DOING GOOD WORKS!

"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)

YOU GET EVERLASTING LIFE BY COMPLETELY TRUSTING JESUS .

The Bible proves this in John 3:18 and John 3:36.

Listen, why don't you admit to God that you are a hellbound sinner. That you are willing to turn from your sinful life, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. If you will do that right now, with a sincere heart, God's Word says that you can know for sure that you have eternal 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." (I John 5:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Do it now, don't put it off another minute! THIS IS NOT BY COINCIDENCE THAT YOU ARE READING THIS TRACT. God planned it for you and not somebody else. This could be YOUR LAST WARNING! "... PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD..." (Amos 4:12b)

WILL YOU ACCEPT JESUS?

JESUS, I now admit that I am a sinner, going to hell, and need YOU as MY SAVIOUR. I now cease to rely on MYSELF, MY church, MY religion, or anything else I might do. I now, with YOUR help will turn from the sinful life I now lead. I NOW ACCEPT YOU as MY Saviour.

I now put MY faith in the BLOOD that you shed on the cross to pay for all MY sin and to keep ME from going to hell. Thank You LORD JESUS.

Remember, salvation does not depend on feelings or an emotional experience. It is based on what GOD HAS PROMISED IN HIS WORD. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

WILL YOU REJECT JESUS?

"... he that believeth not is CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18b)

GOD LOVES THE UNBORN!

ABORTION IS MURDER!

Every year there are at least 1.5 million babies murdered before they have a chance to be born. That's right, BABIES! Not fetuses, or parasites, BABIES! The Almighty God Himself refers to the unborn as literal human beings in His own words: "...she was found with CHILD (not fetus) of the Holy Ghost." (Matt.1:18) "... the BABE (not parasite) leaped in her womb." (Luke 1:41) Refusing a helpless baby the right to be born is obviously murder and therefore against God's will according to His Word. "Thou shalt not kill." (Exod. 20:13)

THE CHOICE FOR LIFE!

Friend, did you know that God's Holy Word speaks about others who are unborn in a different kind of way. That's right, but these have a choice of whether they want to be born or not. In the gospel of St. John, we see Jesus explaining this to a very moral and religious man named Nicodemus, "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." (John 3:3) Nicodemus thought that Jesus was talking about a physical birth. "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?" (John 3:4) Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must have a second birth, a spiritual birth to enter into the Kingdom of God. "...Except a man be born of water (from the mother's womb) and of the Spirit (from the Word of God - John 6:63, I Peter 1:23), he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5) Notice that the word "water" in this context is speaking of the physical birth and not the ceremony of baptism.

Jesus reaffirms this meaning in verse six: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh (Physical Birth), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Spiritual Birth)."

WHY A SECOND BIRTH?

According to the Bible, God said that Adam would die the very day that he ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil "... for in the day that thou eatest thereof Thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:17b) Adam did not die a physical death that day. It was a spiritual death that passed upon all mankind. "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Rom. 5:12) Since you are a descendant from Adam, you have inherited that spiritual death and must be "born again" to have spiritual life.

GOD LOVES THE UNBORN!

Let's continue Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in verse fourteen. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth (not get baptized, but BELIEVETH) in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world (spiritually unborn), that he gave his only begotten Son (to die on the cross), that whosoever believeth in him (not about him but IN HIM), should not perish but have everlasting life (not probationary life, but EVERLASTING LIFE).

Listen, if you have never been born again: you are "spiritually" unborn; but God loves you and has made a way for you to become His spiritual child.

Friend, according to God 's Holy Word, you are a creature of God, but you are not considered a CHILD of God until you are born of the Spirit. The only way that you can become a CHILD of God is by putting your complete faith in Jesus Christ to save your soul. St. Paul makes this very clear when he wrote a letter to his spiritual brothers and sisters in Galatia. "For ye are all the children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26) Think of it! The very moment that you call on Jesus Christ with "complete faith" in Him to save your soul; that very moment; you are birthed into the Family of God to be HIS CHILD forever! "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a SON: and if a son, then an HEIR of God through Christ." (Gal.4:7)

WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?

[ ] I choose to be born of the Spirit by completely trusting Jesus Christ to save my soul forever. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." (John 3:36a)

[ ] I am content with being born once, and choose to remain spiritually unborn. "... he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36b)

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN." (John 3:7)

NOTE: Abortion is a terrible crime of our society. However, the only real solution to the problem (as with all others) is JESUS CHRIST. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." (II Cor. 5:17)