God’s Good News for You (PDF)

Description

Basic pamphlet on salvation, designed for used in connection with personal faith-sharing. It explains Christian faith in a positive and non-threatening manner, and provides space for you to include your personal testimony. Note: Energion Publications does not recommend that any pamphlet, especially one such as this, be simply dropped on someone’s doorstep, mailed or otherwise distributed in an impersonal fashion. This pamphlet is designed for use in connection with a discussion that arises out of a personal relationship. It is designed to be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and folded in three.

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Pamphlet text content below. Note that the FastTracts books are being edited, and their text may differ.

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What is humanity’s relation to God?

Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” (Romans 3:23).

This doesn’t say that:

• God has rejected everyone.
• God doesn’t like them.

It does say that we, as human beings, have fallen short of the glory of God.

• We are created to be like God (Gen. 1:26)
• We were given control over the earth (Gen. 1:28)
• We were made a little lower than God (Psalm 8:5)

We have fallen short of this wonderful goal of emulating God’s character and of using our full capabilities.

God hasn’t separated Himself from us, we have separated ourselves from God. (See Luke 15:11-32)

Who is Jesus?

Let’s ask first what Jesus did.

• He brought to us understanding of God’s character. (Hebrews 1:3)
• He carried the burden of our sins (1 Peter 2:24)
• He gave us a way to live right (1 Peter 2:24)
• He opened the way to God (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus has shown us the glorious purpose God has for us and how we can attain it.

God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way. (Hebrews 1:3)

What does it mean to surrender my life to Christ?

The idea of surrendering control of one’s life to someone else is very frightening to some. But what is it that God is actually asking of us? Think of someone standing by a high cliff. There is a choice to be free of the laws of nature and jump, or to accept them and take proper care. To choose life by surrender is not to give up anything good. One simply accepts the physical laws that exist and by which the universe runs. Accept them and live; reject them and die. It is the same thing with Christ’s moral laws: accept and live or reject and die.

Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster. (Deuteronomy 30:15)

What does it mean to live a Christ-like life?

Jesus said that the most important commandment of the law was: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. . . . The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’”

The Bible also teaches that we must put this love into action (1 John 4:20,21).

Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. (1 John 3:18)

What about heaven and hell?

For many people the point of Christianity or any religion is to assure one’s place in another world. But there is much more to following Jesus than that. Jesus showed as a good way of life here and now! The Bible tells us about an eternal reward and eternal punishment, but what it tells us most about is following Jesus in this world, preparing for the next.

By following Jesus in this life we are preparing to be in His presence for eternity. (See John 14:1-3)

Dear Father in Heaven,

I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of Your glorious purpose for me.

I acknowledge Jesus as Your Son and my Lord and Savior. I accept the message of love You sent through Him.

I turn from my sins and ask to be brought back to Your plan for me.

I surrender my life to You.

I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live a Christ-like life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

What do I do?

1. Pray and accept the message God has sent you through Jesus.
2. Determine to turn from the things that keep you away from God’s full purpose for your life.
3. Find a group of Christians who believe in living the love of Jesus on a daily basis and join with them for worship and action.
4. Look for ways to make your world better.
5. Read your Bible, listening for the voice of God as you do.

My Personal Testimony:

• • Before I was close to Jesus

 

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• • What happened to change my life

 

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• • Now I am

 

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What is the Good News?
This tract answers questions about salvation and related doctrines. It is a good follow-up to God’s Good News for You because it helps answer questions that oocur after one initially comes to Christ.

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All scripture quotations taken from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society.

Copyright © 2000, Henry E. Neufeld