A few months ago
there was left at our door half a sheet of 8½ x 11 paper,
which would make it 4¼ x 11). The type
on it was just that one long column, and the margins were not justified. No one had placed a title at the top or used
line spacing between paragraphs. Despite
its unattractive appearance, Barb and I both read it. At the bottom of the column was a “sinner’s
prayer” in bold print.
One of the other
peculiarities was its lack of a single Scripture reference. To be sure, Scriptures were used and the
book’s name is mentioned, but no chapter or verse is to be found. Referenced are Matthew
The problem lies
not with whoever wrote this column using only one verse of Scripture from a
context; the problem is that the writer is intentionally deceiving the reader
into thinking that this verse can stand by itself without any modification. It and John 3:3 come right before the
“sinner’s prayer”; so what is the reader supposed to think, if not that
believing and being born again are all that are necessary to salvation?
Actually, John 5:24
does not require faith in Christ as the Son of
God. It says one must believe Christ’s
Words and believe in the Father Who sent Him.
Yet we know from John 8:24 that we will die in our sins if we do not
believe the truth about Christ (that He is Deity). Furthermore, John
The second danger
is citing a verse of Scripture with terminology that is not defined. John 3:3 does mention the need for being born
again, but the nameless writer of this column is careful to avoid John 3:5,
where someone might get the idea that baptism is involved in one’s salvation,
since water is mentioned.
The reader of
this column is then encouraged to “pray right now to receive Jesus and KNOW
that you have eternal life.” In other
words, being born again must be equated with “receiving Jesus.” Of course, such a notion does not come from
the Bible, because there is not a verse in the entire New Testament where
someone was told to “receive Jesus into his heart.” People have heard that idea repeated so often
that they probably think it is in the Book, but it is not. Also absent are the words of this “prayer”:
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.
I realize I can’t make it to heaven any other way than through your Son, Jesus
Christ. I ask forgiveness for my sins and I want to receive Jesus into my heart
and life as my Lord and Savior. I pray this as sincerely as I know how, in
Jesus name, Amen.
First, no one can
legitimately ask in Jesus’ name what He has not authorized. In the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20)
Jesus told the apostles to baptize in the name of (by the authority of) the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
This “sinner’s prayer” is absent from the Scriptures and not authorized
by Jesus or any other member of the Godhead.
Second, praying
sincerely is not sufficient. Sincerity
is required, but what man does must also be according to the truth (John
GOD’S PLAN OF
SALVATION
Let us
reason now together (Isa.
That we all
might learn and know (John
What the
Holy Bible teaches (2 Tim.
Of our Lord
who loves us so. (1 John 4:11)
Follow each
and ev’ry ref’rence (2 Tim.
Of quotations
written down, (1 Tim. 4:1-16)
For they’re
of the Holy Scriptures (Matt.
As you read
where they are found. (Luke 11:10)
Study them
from ev’ry angle; (Acts
Don’t
believe just what you’re heard, (Rom.
For it may
not be the gospel; (Acts
We must
take God’s Holy Word. (John 12:49)
And (Prov.
30:5-6)
Christ, who
shed His blood on Calv’ry (Luke
Paid the
debt for you and me, (Heb. 2:9)
Said that
if we’ll all obey Him, (Acts
We’ll be
saved eternally. (1 Tim. 6:17-21)
We must try
to help each other (Isa. 41:6)
And seek
things which are above (Luke
So we’ll be
with Christ our Savior, (1 Cor. 2)
And with
God, of whom is love. (1 Cor. 2)
Although
some who’ve read the Bible, (1 John
Yet, don’t
seem to learn God’s plan, (John
That
there’s only one salvation,
( Acts
Which He’s given unto man.
(John 10:28)
For it is
so clearly stated:
(Rom.
Read Colossians, and you’ll see (Col. 1:18)
That
there’s just one Church, His body—
(Eph. 4:4)
Just as
plain as plain can be.
(Heb. 1:2-3 and
Matt.
16:18)
Now turn
next to book Ephesians,
The fourth
chapter; keep in mind
(Eph. 4:5)
Where Paul
spoke on this same subject (also
read)
And which
won’t be hard to find. (1 Tim. 1:3)
Some have
organized their churches, (1 Cor.
3:2-11)
Which are
build upon the sand, (Matt.
For they’re
not found in the Bible, (Jer.
And
therefore they’ll never stand. (Eph. 4:14)
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While it is true
that all are sinners and that no one can enter into Heaven except through
Christ, God has a system by which we can obtain forgiveness of sins, and it is
not: “Receive Jesus into your heart.”
The careful Bible student can read the entire book of Acts and never
find a single instance of anyone being told these words. On Pentecost Peter told the Jews who murdered
Jesus to repent and be baptized. All of Peter’s
sermon is profitable, but notice especially verses 38 and 41 of chapter 2. This is God’s plan for salvation. Why do so few ever mention it?
TO MAN AND HOW WE
SHOULD
God has said He will destroy them (Hosea 4:5-6)
On that great and noble day, (1 Cor.
If they’re not built by the pattern (Titus 2:7-8)
Of the truth, the living way. (John 8:31-32)
Men who’ve written creeds and doctrines, (Prov.
They are sure to get a shock, Eph.
If they don’t quit their rebelling (Eph.
And all build upon the rock. (Matt. 7:24-25)
Take, for instance, pour
or sprinkle (Rom. 10:3)
Those who do so are not wise, (1 Cor.
For the Holy Ghost, through Peter, (Acts
Said on Pentecost, baptize.
And to baptize is the likeness, (Rom 6:1-5)
Which the Bible plainly shows, (Prov.
Of our Lord when He was buried, (Col. 2:12)
And also when He arose. (
They must also be believers, (Mark
Old enough to understand, (Prov.
And which statement was made clearly (Matt.
By our Saviour’s
last command. (Matt. 28:19-20)
Children do not have such knowledge (2 Tim. 2:3-4)
Of the Bible, we all know, (Prov.
For the first book of Corinth’ans
Emphatic’ly tells us so. (1 Cor.
Turn to Luke the eighteenth chapter
And the sixteenth verse; you’ll see
Jesus said they’re of the kingdom, (Luke
Just as plain as plain can be.
We should not neglect our duty (Heb.
To partake fruit of the vine (1 Cor.
And break bread on every Lord’s Day, (Acts 20:7)
For our Christian life to shine (Matt.
Once a month some have this service (Heb. 2:1-4)
Just to suit a man’s made way, (Hosea
But if they will read their Bibles, (Acts 20:7)
They will find out it won’t pay. (Matt. 15:8-9)
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There ought to
be, however, a thorough examination of all the conversions in the book of
Acts. Acts 8 is particularly
instructive. Thde
reader will find that baptism is always included and that, when Jesus is
preached, the eunuch asked if he could be baptized (Acts
WORK AND WORSHIP
For you’ll
find that it’s recorded,
Jesus Himself
The
apostles met to seek said
In
partaking of the Supper (John
On the first day of the week.
(Acts 20:7)
And we know
that Jesus taught them—
The
apostles what to do,
(Heb.
Guilding
us for the future
Like of
which themselves went through.
Now the
present dispensation
(Heb.
Was made
for both you and me,
(Heb. 9:2)
As the old law passed forever, (Col. 2:14)
When Christ died on
This shows
us we should be careful (1 Tim.
Of the
things we’ve learned or heard,
(Luke
For we’re
told in Revelation
By John
We must not
add to His word.
(Rev. 22:18)
Or if any
part’s deducted,
It will
cause a world of strife,
For God
meant, in this same chapter
Either way,
we’d lose our life.
(Rev. 22:19)
Paul, who
was the great apostle, (1 Tim. 1:1)
Only told
us all to sing,
(Eph.
And that’s
why we do not use them— (Col.
3:16)
Organs, harps, nor anything. (1
Cor. 14:15)
Now as to
the contribution, (Rom.
We should
always do our part,
(Phil. 4:1-6)
Giving as
we have been prospered, (1 Cor.
16:2)
And which
must come from our heart. (2 Chron. 31:21)
For God
loves a cheerful giver;
(2 Cor. 9:6-7)
It’s a deed
we should not shun,
(Luke
He will
bless us if we’ll do so,
(Luke
Which He’s told us ev’ry one. (1 Cor. 16:2)
There are
some who get real angry (Prov. 1:7)
When we try
to give them light,
(Matt.
Which pertains to their salvation, (Rom.
And we know
this is not right.
(Rom.
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[Edtior’s note: The above poem,
which stretches across four columns, was found in a book in our church
library. It was printed on one side of
an 8½ x 14 piece of paper and folded, as in tract form, so that there was one
column per page. The other side of the
paper is blank—except for one column, which contains the picture of a rather
elderly gentleman, whose name is printed as John E. Massey, although he signed
it J. E. Massey. He is the author of the
poem, whose title runs across the top of each column. The mystery is that, at this time, we do not
know who this brother was or how this copy came to be in our library.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
Ev’ry one
of whom despises
(Matt.
Our work
we’re trying to do, (Rom. 12:2)
Of the
It’s God’s
word, not ours to you.
(Luke 11:28)
We should
all be open-minded
(Rom.
To receive His word with care. (Jas.
If we’re prejudiced
or stubborn, (Prov.
We will not
get anywhere.
(Rev. 22:14)
We should
think upon these subjects, (Isa.
For Phillip’ans, four and eight (Phil. 4:8)
Tells us that we all should do so.
(Jas.
Then we
should not hesitate.
(Gal. 1:8)
It is light
from earth to heaven
And there
is no other way, (John 10:1)
But the
simple, plain, pure gospel (Prov. 8:9-11)
While on
earth we must obey.
(Gal. 1:8-9)
If the
faith which you’re believing
(1 Cor.
Can’t be
proven by God’s plan, in (John
Then why
not reject the precepts,
(Acts 26:18)
Which were
gotten up by man. (Gal. 1:10, 13)
God said we
must face the judgment (2 Cor.
Yes, He’ll
try us ev’ry one (Rom.
By the book
which will be opened (Rev. 20:12,
14)
Of the things of which we’ve done. (1
Peter 1:17)
But
there’ll be no condemnation
(Rom. 8:1)
If we’ll
worship, work and pray,
(Jas.
Live by
nothing but the gospel,
(2 Tim.
We’ll be
ready on that day. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
I don’t desire this world of wealth
But only God’s spirit and power
To help me with what thoughts I have
For the good of mankind each hour.
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The tract has no address of either brother Massey or any
congregation with which he worked. No
place of publication is listed, and no publisher is cited. No address is provided as a means of ordering
more copies.
The only other peculiarity is that someone hand wrote nine
names on one of the blank columns (Margaret Jolly, Sharon Davis, Mary Keisler, Cindy Berry, Lisa Baumgarner,
Tracy Keisler, ______ Sweat, and Jerry Berry), but
these probably have nothing to do with the origin of the material. If anyone has seen this information before,
please give us whatever details you can.]
*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please refer
to this article as: "HE WHO BELIEVES… (09/25/05)."
Return
To Article Index