This category of Salvation and the Basics for New Believers deals with issues that are salvation and various other issues around salvation. Within this category, we will have various tracts that are useful for evangelism, as well as clarifying the issues of salvation.
The salvation of your Soul
The new believer life issues such as the security of one’s salvation (or perseverance of the believer), why read the Bible daily, how to have daily devotions, your Christian testimony, remaining in Christ, etc.
First steps for Christ
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Suggestions and Observations
By David Cox
[Salv10] v1 ©2009 www.coxtracts.com
You may reproduce this for free distribution
In this tract, we examine some helpful elements in how to have personal devotions. TOPICS: What is personal devotional time? | What are the elements of a devotional time? | Why should we have personal devotional time? | Helps to structure it | Why should we have personal devotions?
By David Cox
[salv21] v2 ©2013 www.coxtracts.com
You may free reprint and copy this tract for free distribution
1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
John declares that, according to God, every true Christian will love. He that loves “is born of God”, and the person that does not love does not know God as his Savior. It is interesting to think that love is a requirement for salvation, but in actually it is. We need to understand what is love, and how it is integral to our salvation. We have to identify the means that God has put in our lives to create, grow, deepen, form, and boast our love.
Salv11 Valuing your Salvation is a tract about how you need to estimate highly Jesus Christ and your salvation through him if you are really to be saved. We are saved by grace which God gives to us through our faith in Jesus the Savior. We are not saved by works. But also, the truly saved will love and highly esteem (place high priorities on the things of God) if they are truly saved.
By David Cox
[sal02] V2 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This tract may be freely photocopied.
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(1) You should read and study the Bible daily.
(2) You should pray to God daily.
(3) You should be baptized in a good church.
(4) You should assemble in a good church.
(5) You should participate in the work of God.
(6) You should shun sinful habits.
(7) You should seek to serve God.
(8) You should honor God with your money by tithing.
Many new Christians begin to faint in the first steps of their Christian life. There are always hard times, but you should not give up. The dedication in your soul should be set to go ahead with God and with the things of God, and this is more important than anything else in your life. Put the priority of your life in God and the church. At times some people can hurt you very much, and at times it may even be a Christian brother or your own church. But you need to keep your vision set on Christ, not on men. Follow Christ no matter what the rest does.
By David Cox
[salv31] v1 ©2012 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely photocopy, print, or reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:23-24
Easy believism proposes that salvation is given by God on the sole criteria of a public declaration of faith in the promises of God and without any real change in the life of the saved (as seen in repentance). It is identified by its presentation of the gospel “without any difficulties in entering” and “without any obligations or responsibilities after one is saved.” This position doesn’t take into account the “difficultness” of entering heaven (Mt 19:24) nor the obstacle of coveting riches “afterward” which revealed unsavedness (Mark 10:24), or the young rich man who wanted salvation but didn’t get it because riches was above Christ (Mark 10:17-22). Wide is door to hell, but narrow and difficult is the entrance into heaven, so few find heaven (Mt 7:13). Christ demands simpleness as a child (Mt 18:3).
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
What does this passage really teach? The context is the leaving “the course (current) of this word” (2:2) which we followed before being saved, and which we left to follow Christ. It speaks of communion with God which sin breaks. The Bible very clearly affirms that we are not saved by works of righteousness that WE have done (Titus 3:5), but that salvation is a gift, which is grace or mercy on God’s part. When we speak of how we obtain salvation, it is only through faith. It is the gift of God (grace) which is not something that we deserve or buy by means of good works. Our part in obtaining this gift of God is 1) repentance of our sins (Luke 13:5 …except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.) 2) Putting our faith or confidence in the spiritual work of Jesus Christ dying in the cross to pay the punishment of God on sin. Salvation comes from God (not “from us”), but God does not give salvation to everybody, but only to those which abandon (repentance) these forms, ideas, and previous beliefs about how they are just, how they can get to heaven, and how to be saved. God saves those that trust in what God has provided as the means (Jesus dying for your sin on the Cross of Calvary). Repentance is not always mentioned as clearly as faith because really it is the same thing as faith in Jesus Christ. We abandon (repent of) what we formerly believed in order to believe in Jesus as the solution. Faith and repentance are “two sides of the same coin”. Easy believism is a lack of focus on repentance (leaving off sinning) leaving the person simply asking for salvation in order to be saved.
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works (evidence), is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Many confuse these elements. The cults and false religions hold that you have to have “good works” in order to be saved, and they present salvation as a scale with sin on one side and good works on the other. But there is no good work that can cancel the punishment for even one single sin. What James is referring to here is that true faith will always have a force behind it that produces good works (evidence) within the Christian’s life. We should understand faith causes salvation in us, and good works do not have that capacity. Understanding this base, then we go on with faith is made valid and real by changes that it has produces in our life.
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. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Salvation is a drastic change of life, in which Jesus defined eternal life with a necessary spiritual change of life (be born again). Salvation is never a repeating of a prayer, but it is always faith, believing in, and public confessing Jesus by words and deeds. Easy believism focuses on the benefit of being saved (going to heaven), but does not explain nor present emphatically the responsibilities of salvation. It is called “easy believism” because there are no obligations on the person wanting salvation, distorting true salvation of God.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Salvation is a relationship with God (specifically with Jesus Christ as your Savior) similar to how a man would have a relationship with his wife, so “we have the Son” (1Jn 5:11-12). Whoever has this relationship has eternal life, and he that does not “have” Jesus Christ, is not saved and under eternal damnation. Salvation is a gift of God that God gives us, but it also is a personal relationship between us and Jesus. The grave error of easy believism is to minimize this part of salvation which is our relationship with God, and the truth that our continuing sin embitters and ruins this love relationship with God. This relationship is established on Jesus “who paid the price on the cross” to remove the wrath of God against our personal sins. But the salvation of God is “from sin”, and then “our request to God for salvation from sin and its punishment” is also our declaration of war against our sin, and our renouncing and denouncing of sin IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIFE, or in other words, our desire to free ourselves from sin (actually and the judicially, or from the penalty of sin), as well as freeing ourselves from the consequences (going to hell). In easy believism, they believe that the participation of the individual in not sinning (sanctification) is something of a miracle of God without their participation or effort in any way entering in. They think God will somehow remove their actual sins without their obedience.
2Thess 1:7 …when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Paul’s observation is that those who know not God and obey not the Gospel are unsaved. The gospel is a declaration of war against sin (repentance being the correct concept). “We obey” the gospel, then the gospel is something “we do”.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Really, yes it is easy to be saved, because it is simply confiding in what God has said (promised) and done. But at the same time, it is not easy, rather very difficult, because one has to leave (repent of) his ideas and will. Because of the faithful character of God, He is easy to trust and believe. But the Bible teaches us that of the many who will try to enter into heaven, using their own ideas and concepts, these won’t make it. Only those who follow God and what he teaches will enter although entering is difficult.
1John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
What is very clear in all of this is that a person that really is saved has to turn over his will (repentance) to do the will of God, which his faith belief is that this is better and authoritative. He has to trust the superior wisdom of God as the moral pattern for life (which is seen in the person and personality of Jesus Christ, which is the morality or spirituality taught in Scripture). This is abandoning our former life to “follow Christ”.
1Thess 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others…
In order for easy-believism to be popular with supposed Christians, they seek to show their approval by God. They really are seeking the glory of men for themselves. They use flattering words so as to gather many people into large churches and have a large income from this (hidden covetousness). Another sign is the demanding of external signs if a person “follows Christ”, and they boast of so many receiving Christ. They water down the gospel so as really to promote another gospel (Gal 1:6-9) seen by their zeal for bigness and a popular acceptance. In Mat 7:15-23, Jesus warned us of those who would construct ministries with great shows of glory and “spiritual power”, even power over demons, but Jesus gave us the key, by their fruits ye shall know them. Christ also required that all men show forth fruits worthy of repentance (Mat 3:8) which is a holy life full of good works.
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. The gospel that the apostles preached was a simple presentation of salvation, but one that included faith and repentance that produce works worthy of salvation.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. The apostles refused persons proclaiming to be saved but never had the spiritual change (a new birth) in their life.
1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 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.
Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Jesus taught that salvation is involved with a spiritual battle on our part. Even though God does not make salvation impossible, neither is it “easy.”
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
In other words, we can follow Christ and be saved, but it is not an easy road without great effort on our part. The road is one of great personal sacrifice, and this is how we should present the gospel.
salv51 Good Works do not Save us explains the relationship of good works to the Christians life after being saved, and nothing to do with obtaining salvation.
By David Cox
[salv51] v3 ©2018 www.coxtracts.com
(Version 3 is the first version in English)
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes
Ephesians 2:8 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.
Many people think that they are not so bad that God would send them to hell. “I am not bad really, so why would God treat me like that? No, God is not a person to do such a thing” they say.
Our situation before God is not one in which we heap all the evil we do on one side of a scale, and all the good on the other side, and whichever is heavier or more decides where our eternal destiny will be. Our eternal fate is not decided this way!
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For only one single sin, God will send the person to hell. People go to jail for only a single infraction of the law. The same is true when dealing with God.
salv74 The Just Will live by their Faith is an examination of the places where this occurs in Scripture as well as what it means.
salv13 How to tell if you are dead! (spiritual life) explores the contrast between spiritual life and spiritual death in the Bible.
By David Cox v1 © 2011 2014
[Salv13] www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely copied and distributed.
What a strange topic! Why or in what case would this question be valid? Very simply, this is a question that every person should reflect on, and see if truthfully you are to be considered spiritually alive or not. There are many walking around in the world thinking that they are saved and that they are Christians when actually, according to the Bible, they are totally dead in the spirit, unsaved. While so many presume to be spiritually alive, it is very important to understand that according to the Bible, they are dead. Continue reading
Are there few who are saved? is a tract that questions that many people will be saved. Those who are saved, have faith, not works.
By David Cox
[salv58] v1 © 2019 www.coxtracts.com
You can freely photocopy and print this brochure
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, Lord, are there few who are saved? And he said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate; because I tell you that many will try to enter, and will not be able to.
Lucas 13:23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
The world and many religions propose that almost e
By David Cox
[salv58] v1 © 2019 www.coxtracts.com
You can freely photocopy and print this brochure
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, Lord, are there few who are saved? And he said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate; because I tell you that many will try to enter, and will not be able to
The world and many religions propose that almost everyone will get to heaven. “All roads go to heaven” and “All religions are the same and end up in heaven.”
They are very popular concepts. But how true are they? What does the Word of God (the Bible) say about this? Jesus implied that many become religious and how they are on the way to heaven, but few will actually make it. The problem is that many religions and churches present a false gospel, and deceive people to believe that they are correct when it is not true.
Many churches and religions reduce salvation to a prayer and you go to heaven no matter how you live afterward or really what you believe in, and this is called easy believism. Easy believism is a type of false Christianity where people profess to be saved or that they have a saving relationship with Jesus the Savior, but they do not care to live like Christ, or manifest a deep love for Jesus. But the Bible shows us that we are saved by faith. Eph 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. So the living faith within you is what saves you. But what is faith? Faith is not good works, but good works do not produce faith or salvation, but faith produces good works (evidences).
James 2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself. 18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
In other words, if you really have faith, there will be evidence in your life. By these evidences of your relationship with Jesus Christ, your faith can be seen.
James 2:19 You believe that God is one; well you do. The demons also believe , and tremble.
So James teaches that not every kind of belief saves. Even the demons believe in some things, but they know that their destination is not heaven, and they are afraid of their future. The Pharisees of the Jews were very religious, but Jesus identified their destiny as hell, they were the children of their father the Devil .
Sinners go to Hell
Revelation 21:8 But cowards and unbelievers , abominable and murderers, fornicators and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars will have their share in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
A coward is a person who does not believe what God says he can do. He is more afraid of the Devil than he is afraid of God, but he does not believe that God can fulfill his promises of protection and power. An unbeliever is a person who simply does not believe what God says. It seems to him that if a parakeet is speaking instead of the Creator of the Universe. The abominable are the people who sin in the grossest way against the character of God . For example, God made male and female, and the two were paired into one family. There are people who match men with men or women with women. This is an abomination in the eyes of God. Speaking of bad temper, hell is still filled with murders. If you imagine a line with love at one end, the sacrificing his life for your life like Jesus on the cross, and at the other end of that line, a person taking the other’s life, that’s true. The person who hates others is approaching homicide. The sorcerers are people who leave asking God for what they want in life, ignoring God’s dominion over the world , and 1) a sorcerer seeks demons or spirits to help them, or 2) seeks charms to help them . But they ignore God in their lives.
From their bad deeds it is seen that they have no faith in Jesus Christ or in our Father God .
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, Lord, are there few who are saved? And he said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate; because I tell you that many will try to enter, and will not be able to.
The answer is that there are numerous people who think they are going to heaven, but they will not get there. Very few actually achieve salvation. Everything revolves around faith. True saving faith generates a godly, holy life that is very similar to Jesus Christ. If a person claims to be a Christian, or even a “pastor” of a Christian church, but does not lead the corresponding life, he is probably not really saved.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate; because wide is the door, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it; 14 for narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do you pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Thus, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
“Wide” is to say “easy.” There is no real effort to enter there. Narrow means that it is difficult to find and stay at it. Bad (false) doctrine produces bad behavior. Many people do not care about their doctrine or their conduct showing their heart.
Mark 4:15 And these are the ones by the wayside : in whom the word is sown, but after they hear it, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These are also those who were sown on rocky ground : those who, when they heard the word, immediately received it with joy; 17 But they have no root in themselves, but are of short duration, because when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, then they stumble. 18 These are the ones that were sown among thorns : those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, enter and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And these are the ones that were sown in good soil : those who hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold.
First, those “by the road ” are the people who refuse even to listen to the gospel. The demons of the air and his father snatch the plan of salvation from them in such a way that they neither hear nor receive the gospel. They flat out go to hell. Then there are people who enter the gospel in a way, but when they see that the way to heaven is hard, that they have to suffer without things, they abandon the gospel. Others likewise enter with joy, but leave the cares of the world and the pleasures (Luke 8:14) of taking priority in their life over their salvation and spiritual life. Few are that actually bear fruit for salvation .
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth ; 7 But if we walk in the light , as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
The very strong marks, that the person is saved, are that he walks in piety and that he loves his brother. To practice the truth is to live the moral principles of the Bible, which Jesus lived . Salvation is FROM SIN . We accept Jesus Christ because we want neither sin nor its consequences. It is a declaration of war against sin in our lives , and we also declare that we are for godliness, what Jesus Christ represents and is an example of it. When you see “Christians” living like their father the Devil, they do not have God as their Father. Your fruits will prove who you are.
1Jn 2:10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no stumbling.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifested: everyone who does not do justice, and who does not love his brother, is not of God.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers . He who does not love his brother remains in death.
1Jn 4:20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And we have this commandment from him: Whoever loves God, love his brother also .
The second mark of a true Christian is his desire not to be alone in the fight against sin . 2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts, and pursue j justice, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart . A true Christian looks for a good church where there are saved people who call on the Lord with a clean heart. This is the problem, people do not want to go to hell, but neither do they want to deny their enjoyment of sin. You can’t have both . If you seek salvation, it is only by repenting of sin. This is a denial of one’s carnal desires and practices.
Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ( Phil 1:29; 2Tim 1:12 )
The reason why so few are going to get into heaven is because they want to avoid hell only. They don’t love God. They do not love the moral character of God. There is the stumbling block of the cross . Jesus denied himself, and submitted to the will of God the Father in dying on the cross as a sacrifice for all . But everyone must still submit to God’s will if they go to heaven.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love God’s children, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome .
There are many people who pray to God for salvation. But among so many, very, very few love God and His character. These few are saved because their faith is sincere. There is not so much of a problem of obeying the commandments of God, only of removing one’s bad habits and then imposing what God wants, justice, piety, love to the brothers in Christ. By asking Jesus to be your Savior, one can do this with clear effort. Seek Christ as your Savior right now!
Salv56 Resist the Devil and he will flee from you THEMES: How the devils work, power over them, How to Fight against Them, Help to Resist, Seek and Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, Watch etc
By David Cox
[salv56] v1 ©2019 www.coxtracts.com/salv56
This tract can be reproduced as long as it is given free
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
There is a great spiritual battle between God and Satan, and humanity is the battlefield of this war. Satan wants humans to obey him, and God, as Creator, wants mankind to obey God.