Tag Archives: Salvation

One Way? Really?

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We hear this all the time from those “fundamentalists,” but is it true? Forget what man says … it’s more important what God says in the Bible. Here’s what the God’s Word tells us about salvation:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

There is no other! It’s not through going to church, not through any other “god” or prophet, not through doing good works – only through Jesus Christ and the work that HE did on the cross. This is not a popular message in the world’s agenda of “tolerance”! But what matters most is not what the world says – it matters what God says. If anyone is the least bit interested, the Bible is the source of all the answers of life here and life everlasting!

Our Will

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~John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

It is not God’s will for us to go to hell. That is not His desire for us. Our salvation is our choice. We either believe in Jesus Christ, accept that we are sinners and that He is the only way to Heaven or we don’t. (Acts 4:10-12)

~John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

I see the world’s viewpoint of Christ in several ways:

1. They truly accept Christ’s work on the cross for their sin and are truly born again.
2. They have “believed” in Jesus Christ (but not repented) because they are religious and that is how they have been taught all their lives.
3. They have heard about Jesus Christ but they really don’t care one way or another.
4. They have heard about Christ but they hate all that He stands for.
5. They have never heard of Jesus Christ – ever!

The Bible says that if one does not believe in Jesus Christ, he is condemned already. (John 3:18) This is not an act from God but a free-will act by man. Man chooses not to believe in Christ and man chooses not to repent and turn from his wicked way. God will not force Himself upon anyone. He has provided a way for man to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son. However, if a person chooses to go his own way and does not want Jesus Christ as part of his daily life, then that is his choice – not God’s choice.

~Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Believing unto righteousness is quite different from just “knowing.” I was raised Roman Catholic but I did not believe in Jesus Christ unto righteousness – I didn’t turn from my wicked way and REPENT (Acts 20:21). I knew about Christ but I did not believe unto righteousness. Had I done so, I would have been born-again (John 3:3) – I would have changed (2 Corinthians 5:17) – my desires would be focused on learning about Christ and living my life for Him (2 Timothy 2:15). Christ’s righteousness is upon the believer after salvation.  There is definitely a difference between playing church and being truly born again. I played church before I was saved – I taught Catholic catechism – I deceived those around me but knew in my heart that I was not the person I pretended to be. The heart is very different after salvation. That is the heart that believes unto righteousness.

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees when they were trying to trick Him:

~Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The Pharisees saw with their own eyes how publicans and harlots believed and followed after righteousness when they heard John the Baptist preach. Yet, even after seeing the changes in these people, the Pharisees did not repent nor did they believe. It was their choice. If you have been around true born-again believers, you have seen a difference in their lives. You probably secretly desire what they have. But you’re afraid to take that step. You’re afraid of what your family will think. You’re afraid of what your spouse will say. But none of these will stand with you when you die and you are standing before Christ. Try explaining to Jesus why you weren’t born again. The excuse of “being afraid of your family” will not cut it. No excuse will be accepted by God on Judgment Day for those who rejected salvation through Christ. None! Sadly, your choice will cost you Heaven! Your choice will damn you for all eternity.

It is the will of God that saves, it is the will of man that damns.
Charles H. Spurgeon

Searching

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~Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What are you living by? Are you following someone’s teachings? Are you making up your own mind? Are you leaving spiritual matters to others? God tells us to live by His Word, therefore, we must have His Word in existence today or He would be asking us to do the impossible.

Religions of today would have you believe that if you follow them, they will provide joy. So is that working for you? Are you at peace? Do you have joy? I won’t preach to you. I merely ask you to read the Bible. This is where truth, joy and peace can be found. Don’t you want that right now? Where should you start? Start in the Book of John. I challenge you to read it through three times. In the mean time, I will be praying that you will find what I have found.

Details

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~Psalm 94:8-9 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

Do you truly believe that God does pay attention to the little things we do in life and hear the words spoken in secret?  The same God who created us is the same one who hears everything and sees everything.  There is nothing hidden from the Lord.

This is an encouragement to the born-again believer to live righteously.  This is an exhortation to the unbeliever to seek after God and not be foolish. Don’t delay!  No one knows when his last day on this earth will be.  Seek the truth in the Bible – read the Gospel of John through three times.  All the answers of life are contained in its pages.

~Proverb 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Salvation by Works

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~Jonah 2:9b … Salvation is of the LORD.

Although many religions teach that one must do good deeds in order to be saved, salvation is given by God, not achieved by anything we can do for ourselves. IF we could do anything to gain entrance to Heaven, then we take away from Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.

What more can the devil do than to take away from Christ’s death, burial and resurrection? The devil can sidetrack man and distract him from the truth which God’s Word teaches.

The Bible says that IF Abraham were justified by his works, the works would bring only Abraham glory before mankind, but not before God.

~Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

But it was Abraham’s faith that counted him righteous! He believed that God would do what He said He would do and Abraham rested on this faith.

~Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Quickly, Paul made sure to mention that the Scriptures were clear and the Scriptures are an excellent teacher.

Paul also made certain to point out that salvation is A GIFT from God given to us because of His endless grace and love for mankind. Again, that word faith is mentioned – just as Abraham’s faith counted as righteousness, so does faith in Christ, the Father’s gift to us, count as our righteousness.

~Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Our own works cannot buy righteousness. Anyone who has given a large sum of money to the church can attest to this. You feel “good” for that moment but you’re right back to your sinful ways soon thereafter. None of our actions can earn us entrance into Heaven because then we could boast of our actions! How many “good” people have been in the limelight yet not one of their actions can pave the way to Heaven? If this were possible, then Paul would not have said that Abraham’s works were not justified before God. If anyone should have had his works justified, it would be Abraham – but God does not see it that way.

~Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we receive at the moment of salvation. It is HIS His shed blood, and ONLY His shed blood, that paid for sin’s debt. NOTHING else can pay for sin’s debt. N-O-T-H-I-N-G! That is the only righteousness that will gain us entrance into Heaven. It is Jesus’ blood that covers our sin and, therefore, we are no longer have that burden. It has all been placed on Jesus!

~Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Our sins are forgiven and covered because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. Our perfect sacrifice happened 2000 years ago and Christ’s death, burial and resurrection are the only works we can count as righteous before a Holy God.

“If your faith is not fixed in Jesus, your best works will be but splendid sins. All the performance of duties will not affect your salvation.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Eternal Security

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The eternal security of the believer is a much debated topic these days. Some say that believing in such gives one a license to sin. I can understand why they say that – there are many who profess salvation but live like the world. That is not the case, however, for one who is truly born again.

If salvation were based upon what man had to do to earn it, then it would have to also be based upon what man had to do to keep it. The Bible is clear as to what salvation is based upon, and none of them mention man’s works or lack of them as the foundation. So let’s take a look at what the Word says salvation is all about.

It is all about God’s grace, and not at all involving works:

Ephesians 2:8-9  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.

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

 

One sacrifice for sins for all and for eternity:

Hebrews 6:4-6  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,   If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 9:22-28  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.    For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:    Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:    So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 10:12-14  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 

A promise from God:

John 3:16  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 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

Not based on our ability to keep it:

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: 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.

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

Never spoken as earthly or temporal in God’s Word:

John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Hebrews 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

God’s Word is truth and He cannot lie.  God gave man the promise of eternal salvation based on His grace and based on His Word, which He keeps for all eternity.  Critics of eternal salvation base their beliefs on man’s ability.  But the one thing we are certain of with man is his ability to  continue in sin no matter how many laws there are to keep man moral.  Our Country and State laws ought to be full proof of that statement! The more laws that are made, the more that are broken.

But what critics don’t “get” is that Christ died while we were yet sinners – He knew it was hopeless for us to keep the law.  It is hopeless for us to be “good enough” or to do so many good things that in the end they will outweigh the sins!  That is why salvation is all about what Christ did and nothing about what we have done or need to do.  It is a gift from God.  We cannot give ourselves this gift.

Only God can give us the gift – all we have to do is sincerely accept it and repent from our wicked ways!  That is why there are so many critics of eternal security today.  Too many have said they are born again but their lives do not show it.  Their lives don’t show it because they have not repented of their sins.  The Gospel has landed on rocky ground and thorns instead of a fruitful heart.

“Once in Christ and ever in Christ. A star may sooner fall out of its orb than a true believer be plucked away from God (Watson, Religion Our True Interest, 96).”
Thomas Watson

Research!

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It saddens me that people would rather follow a certain “religion” than to research for themselves to find out if they are being taught the truth by their leaders.

God has given us the truth through the Holy Bible. Why has this Book been the biggest seller of all time for all these years? Why do you think God left this Book for us? It certainly wasn’t so we could press dried flowers or keep the family’s genealogy!

When Jesus was praying to His Heavenly Father, He said:

~John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

It is up to us to read and study the Word of God so we can think for ourselves and make up our own minds – not rely on someone else to direct us. Your parents probably quoted you the old saying:

If your friends jump off a bridge, will you jump too?

It’s the same concept. Men boast of much knowledge. However, God says to study the Bible so you can be approved by Him, not man.

~2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In turn, studying the Bible is not just for the intellectual. God wrote it in such a way that even a child can understand it. You can’t shove that responsibility onto a friend. You can’t depend on your church leaders to have all the answers. Doing so is repeating the errors of the Dark Ages. It was during this time that the Bible was forbidden to be read by common man – hence, the title “Dark Ages” was labeled for the time period. How appropriate it is, indeed!

I would rather be wrong on this issue of studying the Bible for ourselves and have spent hours in the Bible – for, truly, what have I lost??? A mere few hours a week on reading?  I don’t want to be so pig-headed that I have not studied it out for myself – then only to find out when it’s too late that I was wrong.

If someone has been reaching out to you about salvation, why hesitate? What possibly could be so wrong with desiring to be more Christ-like? What can be so wrong with desiring to spend eternity with God? That’s all that God wants for you! But there’s a cost – that cost is repentance, which is exactly what most people do not want to do. They want to continue living their lives with their pet sins rather than repent and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Without Him, there is no entrance into Heaven. His way is not a prayer-ette. His way is not good deeds (although good deeds are a byproduct after salvation). His way is repentance and accepting His word on the cross as sufficient for our salvation!

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the only way to Heaven – nothing else and no one else can add to what He has done for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

You may think you are good enough to get into Heaven but how “good is good”? What’s the criteria? Do you think your good works are on one side of the scale and your sins are on the other and whichever one weighs more will decide where you will spend eternity? If you were to live 70 years and commit only one sin per day, you would have committed 25,550 sins at the end of 70 years!

If not ONE mere sin can enter Heaven, how do you expect 25,550 sins will be “good enough” to let you in?

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The bottom line is this:  What will we say when we stand before God? Will we give the excuse that we left the “spiritual” matters of life to our minister or priest? The Apostle Paul said in the above verse that we are to study for ourselves so we can be approved unto God.

 

What will your answer be when God asks you why you didn’t read the Bible? What will you answer when He asks you why you chose not to repent and be saved the way the Bible says? What will you answer when you say that you chose to listen to your church leaders than to listen to God’s Word? Please think about what you are doing, dear reader! Eternity is a very long time and our time on this earth is very short in comparison. Don’t delay!

Christ is a Gift!

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~James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Noah Webster defines the word gift as:

A present; any thing given or bestowed; any thing, the property of which is voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a donation. It is applicable to any thing movable or immovable.

No matter how hard you try to add something to salvation, you have to argue with the word “gift.” God chose this word for a reason. I find it interesting that the word “gift” appears 33 times in the New Testament – which happens to be the age Christ was when He died. Jesus Christ is the perfect gift. He paid the price – He paid it all – we cannot add or take away from this gift. If we could add to this gift by our good works, it is no longer a gift!

Be Careful!

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~2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not difficult. The Gospel ca be understood by a child – this shows how much God wants everyone to hear and understand. However, man and man-made religion have managed to complicate the beautiful simplicity of salvation!

~2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Peter warned of false religion and of the devil disguising himself as a lion roaring wishing to devour.

~1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:


Would one be devoured by Satan if one were alert and watching? Would one be deceived by the devil’s subtlety if one was in the Scriptures daily? A banker knows how to recognize counterfeit money because he knows the real thing! So should a Christian be able to recognize false religion by reading his Bible! One cannot recognize counterfeit religion by a mere five-minutes a day.

Peter warned us of those who preach another Jesus. Just who preaches another Jesus? Too many religions teach that Jesus’ atoning blood was not enough for complete salvation. They teach that salvation is an ongoing process as long as one does certain things, but that is not what Jesus taught. Jesus’ salvation is not complicated. Jesus’ teachings are not complicated.

~Ephesians 2:8-9 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.
~John 3:3 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.
~Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 

That is the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. False religion has managed to chain its followers into a life of works-based salvation and penance – all of which only create a religious person who, like the Pharisee, is not saved. Peter said to beware of those who corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ!

Christ’s Light

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The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Why does the Word compare Jesus to being a light to the world? The world is in spiritual darkness. Islam has its followers deeply entrenched in a belief system that leads to death. Catholicism has its followers just as deeply, if not more, entrenched. Judaism has its followers just as deeply entrenched – despite the fact that they are God’s chosen. My friend, all religions which lead their followers down a path of salvation through someone other than Jesus Christ is a religion of darkness.

The veil in the temple leading to the Holy of Holies was torn when Christ’s shed blood on the cross paid the penalty for our sins [And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Mat 27:51)]. We no longer need a high priest because Jesus is our high priest and He offered a perfect sinless sacrifice in His own body for us [For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15)].

Which leads me back to my initial question – why does the Word compare Jesus to a light? I’ll let the verses themselves answer this question:

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. (Psa 18:28 )

[A Psalm of David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psa 27:1 )

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. (Psa 36:9 )

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (Psa 43:3 )

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (Psa 89:15 )

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (Psa 90:8 )

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. (Psa 97:11 )

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. (Psa 112:4 )

God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. (Psa 118:27 )

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105 )

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Pro 6:23)

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. (Isa 2:5 )

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa 8:20 )

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isa 9:2 )

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (Isa 42:6 )

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. (Isa 42:16 )

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. (Isa 60:19 )

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Dan 2:22 )

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Mat 4:16 )

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Mat 5:14 )

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mat 5:16 )

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luk 1:79 )

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luk 2:32 )

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (Joh 1:4)

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (Joh 1:5)

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (Joh 1:9)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (Joh 3:19)

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (Joh 3:20)

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Joh 3:21)

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (Joh 8:12)

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. (Joh 12:46)

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Act 26:18 )

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Act 26:23)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Co 4:4 )

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2Co 4:6 )

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Eph 5:8 )

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Eph 5:14 )

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Col 1:12 )

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1Th 5:5 )

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1Pe 2:9 )

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2Pe 1:19 )

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1Jo 1:5 )

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1Jo 1:7 )

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev 21:23 )

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev 22:5 )

After all of these verses, it is evident that the light can be found in the Word of God. The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Jesus is the Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1) The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psa 119:130 ) The simple can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be born again. This verse does not say the proud will be receive understanding. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Joh 14:6)

Islam will not get you to heaven, my friend. Buddhism will not get you to heaven. Judaism will not get you to heaven. Plain and simple, religion will not get you to heaven. Only ONE can get you to heaven and that is Jesus Christ. He is the light which the Word of God speaks of. He is the light waiting to shine in your heart to show you the way to salvation. The blessed Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what will shine in our hearts and take us out of darkness.

There is NO other way. God will not compromise. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Pro 14:12)