A Tract for Salvation

This is a copy of the tract that I wrote for handing out at Mardi Gras 2009.
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Many people fear the wrath of God, and so they should. The world is restless in its evil.
As a nation that still calls itself generally “Christian”, we commit adultery, look at pornography, pick up prostitutes, commit suicide, commit homicide, commit rape, and child molestation everyday. We slander and lie, we are greedy and we cheat, we have tempers beyond control, we neglect justice and kill the most innocent people in our country, the unborn child. We are guilty!

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer,God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. ~ Romans 1:28-32

And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. ~Romans 2:2

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. ~Romans 1:18-19

We are ALL guilty and completely deserve the FULL wrath of God!

But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ~2 Peter 3:7

But where is this day of judgment? Well, I believe that 9/11 was a taste of it, but the day is coming and those who are not ready will live to regret it.

The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. ~ Peter 3:9

Well, you might say, if God wants us to be forgiven, why doesn’t He just forgive us of our sins and forget about it?Because there MUST be payment made for EVERY sin. God is holy and everything that comes into His presence must be holy. If you are going to enter into His presence, you too, must be holy. Well, I just finished reminding you of how thoroughly guilty we all are. How in the world are we supposed to become holy?

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ~Corinthians 5:21

Jesus became your sin! He became my sin! Every sin that has ever been committed was laid on Jesus’ shoulders. The guilt of every murder that has ever been committed was place on the head of Jesus. The guilt of every man that cheated on his wife was laid on the head of Jesus. The blood of every abortion that has ever been committed and will be committed was held against Jesus. This is why Jesus asked the Father that “this cup” might pass from Him, while He was in the garden of Gethsemane. He knelt down, and began to pray, saying,

“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.And being in agony He was praying very fervently;and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. ~ Luke 22:42-44

Why was He in such agony? Because the “cup” that He was about to drink was the cup of God’s wrath that was full and overflowing. Think about the world around you and all the sin that you see. Think about Hitler and all the sins that he committed. Think about everything that you have done today that was selfish, dishonest or downright evil. Multiply that by the billions of people that are alive today and then multiply that by all the generations that have existed from the beginning of the world. Jesus became that sin. God looked at Jesus, and saw your sin on Him. That is why the scripture says that God was “pleased to crush Him.”

But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief;If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,He will see His offspring,He will prolong His days,And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.As a result of the anguish of His soul,He will see it and be satisfied;By His knowledge the Righteous One,My Servant, will justify the many,As He will bear their iniquities. ~Isaiah 53:10-11

So how can you be clean before God? You must ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and let His blood cover over your shame.You might say, “But I have too much sin! He could never forgive me!” But the scriptures say,

Though your sins are as scarlet,They will be white as snow;Though they are red like crimson,They will be like wool. ~ Isaiah 1:18

If you repent and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life, He will forgive your sin, heal you and make you a new creation. You will be saved from all your darkness, selfishness, addictions and greed.

And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ~ Acts 2:21

You will receive a new nature, that of a son or daughter of God Himself! Jesus will put in you His very own Spirit and you will soon begin to act and think like Jesus. All your sins will be wiped away and your heart will be filled with the love of God. Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will receive power to live out this new life faithfully. Peter said to them,

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. … Be saved from this perverse generation!” ~ Acts 2:38-39, 40