How To Know You are Good Enough to get to Heaven

How do most people evaluate their character? Do they compare themselves to others? What does the Bible say about human goodness? What is the only way to get to heaven? DTW#4004-T  $12.00 US (pack of 100) Read the Tract Below:             Most people, when asked to honestly evaluate their own character, will respond that they are basically good.                   Chances are you see yourself in the same way. Like most people, you may concede that you have some faults, but generally you try to be a good person. And, by human standards you probably are. You obey the law as best you can. You deal with other people fairly and honestly as much as possible. You contribute to worthy causes, and give to the needy when you can. You are a caring person to family and friends.                   But, does being a good person by human standards make you good enough to get to heaven? And, if it does, how do you know exactly how good you need to be? If you’re not certain, there is a way to know.                   To find that way, start by thinking of the “goodest” person you can—for example, Mother Teresa (If anyone has gotten to heaven, certainly Mother Teresa has!). Now, compare yourself with her. If you are as good as she was, then you may reasonably expect that you, too, are good enough for heaven.                                 Mother Teresa is a difficult comparison though. After all, she devoted her entire life to being “good.” And, realistically, her level of goodness was probably way above God’s minimum anyhow.                   Maybe then, it will be more helpful to think of someone closer to your degree of goodness—perhaps a saintly grandmother, or a kindly aunt. Where do you stand in relation to one of them?                   If you still think you’re comparing yourself at a level well above God’s minimum, take a different approach. Think of the worst person you can. If there is a minimum goodness level for heaven, it must be somewhere between the worst person’s “badness,” and your grandmother or aunt’s “goodness.” But, exactly where is that level?                   By now, of course, you have realized that comparing yourself with others is not the way to find out if you are good enough to get to heaven. And, the larger question still remains: “Does being good by human standards make you good enough for heaven at all?”                   In the Bible a young man asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus replies, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good.”                   The “One” Jesus refers to is God. Therefore, if only God is good, God must expect you to be as good as he is to get to heaven. But, if you can’t even reach your own grandmother or aunt’s level of human goodness, how can you possibly hope to reach God’s heavenly level? In fact, you already know in your heart that the closer you compare your “goodness” to God’s, the “less good” you realize you actually are.                   The Bible tells of the time when God first reveals himself to the Prophet Isaiah. As Isaiah encounters God’s holy perfection, he cries out, “Woe to me! I am ruined!” Later in the Bible, when Peter, the close disciple and friend of Jesus, suddenly realizes that Jesus is God he falls to the ground and exclaims, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” In the light of God’s absolute goodness, Peter realized how “ungood” he really was.                   When humans first truly see themselves compared to God, they know that their “goodness” is completely inappropriate. It is like “filthy rags,” as Isaiah later wrote. In their sudden awareness of God’s perfection, humans are driven to despair by the utter vastness of their separation from him.                   Only when God reveals his goodness to you, and you also are at that point of despair, will you discover the real truth about how “good” God expects you to be. You will see that God has no expectations about your goodness at all, because your “goodness” has nothing to do with getting to heaven!               The only way to get to heaven is to realize that, compared with God, you will never be good. This brings you to a radical new view about your relationship with him. This is repentance. Once you are convinced that your own efforts to be “good enough” are completely hopeless, you will (like Isaiah and Peter) cry out to God for his mercy. Then you will begin to comprehend that God’s kindness and love have made it possible for your “ungoodness” to be replaced by his goodness because his Son Jesus took your “ungoodness” upon himself when he died on the cross. Through his sacrifice he made it possible for your sins to be totally forgiven.                  All God ever expects of you is to trust what he has done for you through Jesus. When you pray the following prayer with all your heart, you will know for sure that you are good enough to get to heaven. You will realize that it is God’s goodness within you—not your own—that gets you there. Lord Jesus, I know that my sin has separated me from your goodness. I believe that you died on the cross to save me. I ask you now to forgive me and replace my “goodness” with your goodness through your Holy Spirit so that I may spend eternity with you in heaven. Amen. Scriptural quotations: Mt. 19:16-17; Is. 6:5; Lk. 5:8; Is. 64:6 (New International Version—NIV). See also: Mk. 1:14-15;                 Eph. 2:8-9; Eph. 1:13-14; Tit. 3:4-7.

If God is Love, Why is There a Hell?
	Would a truly loving God send anyone to hell? For that matter, would a truly loving God even allow hell to exist? What about the rebellious child? Does our free will make hell necessary? DTW#4005-T   $12.00 US (pack of 100) Read the tract below: COMING SOON!

What Is Truth?

This question from Pontius Pilate is one we all need to answer. Is there absolute truth? If there is, who is God? Do all religions lead to Him? Was Jesus God in the flesh or a madman? What is your decision? DTW#4006-T   $12.00 US (pack of 100) Read the tract below: “What is Truth?” According to the Bible, this is the question Roman Governor Pontius Pilate uttered as he sentenced Jesus Christ to death on the cross almost two thousand years ago. Pilate was responding to Jesus’ statement that he had come into the world “to testify to the truth.”                   Pilate didn’t wait for an answer to his question because he wasn’t really seeking one. Pilate’s idea of the truth was drawn from his own circumstances and culture, and he didn’t want to be threatened by the possibility that it was wrong. He would not face the fact that there might be a different, or higher, truth.    Centuries later, nothing has changed. In this day and age many people believe that if their own view of truth is right for them, then that is good enough. This belief leads to the conclusion that truth is relative and there is no higher Absolute Truth. If truth is relative, this means that humans are the determiners of all truth. Like Pilate, believers in relative truth avoid being bothered by the possibility of a Truth by which they will be held accountable—for eternity. Is there really such a Truth, an Absolute Truth that will determine our eternal destiny? If so, is it found in following the ethical and moral codes of all religions? These codes provide exemplary ways to live within the framework of individual societies. It seems logical, therefore, to assume that following the universal moral codes (being a “good person”) leads to a blissful eternal life, no matter a person’s religion.   But, despite the common denominator of ethical and moral codes, religions differ dramatically from each other in their views of Absolute Truth and eternal existence.  Buddhists, for example, believe that life as we know it is a constant state of birth and rebirth until nirvana is achieved. In nirvana, all “illusions” disappear and a person is somehow liberated from self. With Hindus, the final state of humans is similar: all aspects of personhood disappear. And, generally speaking, all Eastern religions, like Buddhism and Hinduism (upon which most “new age” beliefs are based), have no real concept of sin because there is no personal God to sin against. With these religions, karma (the totality of a person’s actions in all lives) can be “good” or “bad,” but good karma (good works) cannot bring release from the birth/rebirth cycle. Instead, release must come through a form of “enlightenment.” On the other hand, Muslims do believe in a personal God (Allah) and look forward to an exclusive paradise only for his obedient followers. They consider the Christian belief in a triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to be a terrible heresy. The same is true for Jewish believers who say the Christ has not yet come.   And, what about Christianity? Christians believe that Jesus is Christ, the Savior. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”   He said, “Whoever believes in [me] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s . . . only Son.”   Jesus said he came to testify to the Truth. He did not say he came to testify to one of many truths. Jesus left no room for other truths to exist. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus made outrageous claims; claims that only God or a madman would have made. If Jesus was a madman, then Christianity is an evil fraud. But, if Jesus is God, then he is Absolute Truth. The Truth is that Jesus came in kindness and love to save humans from sin. He was crucified and took the penalty for our sins upon himself. He was then resurrected as the “first born among many.” Believers in Jesus will be saved. In heaven they will be recognizable persons with “imperishable,” immortal bodies. And, an individual is saved only by God’s grace through faith; being a “good person” or being “enlightened” cannot bring salvation.                                 By its very nature, Absolute Truth is divisive. It separates persons into believers and unbelievers. Do you believe the Truth rests with Jesus? Is it “relative”? Does it lie in being a “good person”? Or, is it found in another religion? You are responsible to make that decision for yourself, but the exclusive claims of Jesus cannot be ignored, or avoided.       What is truth? The answer stood right in front of Pilate, and Pilate did not recognize Him. Do you recognize Him? If so, then repeat this prayer with all your heart:                   Jesus, I believe you are the only Truth, and only through you can I be saved. I repent and believe you are the Son of God and that you came and died for my sins. Please forgive my sins in this one and only earthly life. Please accept me into your eternal kingdom and send your Holy Spirit to dwell in me and testify always to your Truth. Amen.     Scriptural quotations: Jn. 18:38; 37; 11:25-26; 3:18; 14:6; Ro. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:52 (New International Version—NIV; italics are the editor’s). See also Ac. 3:19-23; Jn. 1:1-3; 3:17; 1 Cor. 15:53-56; Eph. 2:8-9; Lk. 10:16; Jn. 3:36; 1 Jn. 5:10-12; Jn. 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:10; Heb. 9:26-28.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Is Christianity intolerant of other religions? Are their claims divisive and exclusive? If so, how can they also be inclusive? Your answer to "Who do you say Jesus is?" will determine your eternal future. DTW#4007-T  $12.00 US (pack of 100) Read the tract below: Jesus once asked his disciples, “’What about you . . . Who do you say I am?’” Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you [Peter] for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’” Jesus confirmed that he was indeed the Christ (Messiah) thus claiming he was God.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”   Do these claims of Jesus bother you?   Does it upset you when Christians say that believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven?                   Perhaps you think such a statement is intolerant of other religions. After all, don’t virtually all religions point to a spiritual destination characterized as eternal oneness, or happiness, or peace? Don’t all religions encourage upright moral behavior? Don’t all religions emphasize love and justice? Surely, then, one “Higher Power” must be the power behind all religions, and all religions must lead their followers to heavenly existence with that Power whether they believe in Jesus or not. Wouldn’t that be the only just thing for a loving God to do?   In fact, the Christian claim seems not only intolerant, but also divisive and exclusive. There can never be world peace as long as nations and cultures are split by religious differences: certainly not if one claims to be right over all the others.                   But, Jesus never made any claims to the establishment of world peace through belief in him. Jesus said just the opposite would happen. He said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”                   Jesus knew his followers would be hated by the world because of him. He warned them that the world would rise up against them, and he even blessed them because of that: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Jesus himself was crucified by the world. By coming as God in the flesh he made the Truth specific and drew the world’s hatred like a magnet.   Jesus lived his earthly life without sin. That is why the world hated him, and hates him. His pure life exposes the sin of all who encounter him. Only those who repent and turn from sin can see Jesus for who he really is—God who came in the flesh—because God only reveals himself to those who truly want to know and love him. That is why Jesus called Peter blessed—God, the Father, had responded to Peter’s heart and given him saving knowledge of his Son.                 If there is only one God, and if that God has truly come in the flesh through his Son, Jesus, then only one religion can lead to him: Christianity. Jesus is the fullest and most specific revelation of the one God of the universe. To deny him is to deny God.   The Bible says, “Anyone who does not believe God [the Father] has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”                   Yes, the Truth is divisive: “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Yes, the Truth is exclusive: “He who rejects me rejects him [the Father] who sent me,” Jesus said. Heaven is only for those who love God and accept and embrace salvation through his Son. Yet, the Truth is also inclusive. Jesus said, “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.” This is what a loving and just God would do—give each person the dignity of his or her own choice to believe in Jesus or not.                   All religions may encourage upright moral behavior; point to a destination characterized as oneness, happiness, or peace; and emphasize love and justice. But, no other religion has a savior who claimed he was God in the flesh; came to die as a sacrifice for human sin; rose from the grave; and now sits with the Father in heaven.   Jesus now asks you, whatever your religion, the same question he asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Your answer to that question will determine your eternal future. You will never face a more crucial decision. Who do you say Jesus is?                   Lord Jesus, I believe that you are God and that belief in you is the only way to salvation. I believe that you died on the cross for my sin. I want to know you and love you and I ask you to forgive me and grant me eternal life with you. I now thank you for saving me and revealing yourself to me through our Father in heaven. Amen.     Scriptural quotations: Mt. 16:15-17; Jn. 14:6; 11:25-26; Mt. 10:34; 5:11-12; 1 Jn. 5:10-11; Heb. 4:12; Lk. 10:16; Jn. 6:40 (New International Version—NIV). See also: Jn. 1:1-4; 15:18-21; 16:33; Lk. 23:33; Jn. 8:42-47; 2 Cor. 5:21; Jn. 1:10-14;  Ac. 2:37-38; Heb. 9:26-28; Mt. 28:5-6.