NONE OF US DESERVES HEAVEN, BUT GOD SAYS... (Rev 22:17 NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" WHOEVER is thirsty, let him come; and WHOEVER wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Mat 10:32 NIV) "WHOEVER acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Mat 10:33 NIV) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Mark 3:28 NIV) I tell you the truth, ALL the SINS and blasphemies of men WILL BE FORGIVEN THEM. (Mark 3:29 NIV) But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 16:16 NIV) WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Luke 12:8 NIV) "I tell you, WHOEVER acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. (John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:17 NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:18 NIV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 6:37 NIV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and WHOEVER comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:38 NIV) For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:39 NIV) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (John 6:40 NIV) For my Father's will is that EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 8:3 NIV) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group (John 8:4 NIV) and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. (John 8:5 NIV) In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:6 NIV) They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. (John 8:7 NIV) When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:8 NIV) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (John 8:9 NIV) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (John 8:10 NIV) Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:11 NIV) "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN." (1 Tim 1:15 NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. (1 Tim 1:16 NIV) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (Rom 6:10 NIV) The death he died, he died to sin once FOR ALL; but the life he lives, he lives to God. (Heb 10:10 NIV) And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once FOR ALL. (1 Pet 3:18 NIV) For Christ died for sins once FOR ALL, the righteous FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, (Eph 1:7 NRSV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Mat 9:10 NRSV) And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. (Mat 9:11 NRSV) When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Mat 9:12 NRSV) But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (Mat 9:13 NRSV) Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." (Mark 2:17 NRSV) When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." (Luke 5:32 NRSV) I HAVE COME TO CALL NOT THE RIGHTEOUS BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE." (Luke 15:2 NRSV) And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:3 NRSV) So he told them this parable: (Luke 15:4 NRSV) "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? (Luke 15:5 NRSV) When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. (Luke 15:6 NRSV) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' (Luke 15:7 NRSV) Just so, I tell you, there will be more JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:8 NRSV) "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? (Luke 15:9 NRSV) When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' (Luke 15:10 NRSV) Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NOTICE SATAN' NATURE (Rev 12:7 NRSV) And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, (Rev 12:8 NRSV) but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (Rev 12:9 NRSV) The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Rev 12:10 NRSV) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for THE ACCUSER of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (John 8:44 NRSV) You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES. [HE EVEN WANTED TO CLAIM PETER AND MOSES. DON'T BELIEVE SATAN. BELIEVE GOD WHEN HE SAYS HE LOVES YOU. John 3:16 (above)] (Luke 22:31 NIV) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. (Luke 22:32 NIV) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Jude 1:9 NRSV) But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Acts 2:36 NIV) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:37 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38 NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:39 NIV) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." [IF HE CAN FORGIVE THE ONES WHO KILLED JESUS, HE CAN FORGIVE YOU.] (Acts 2:40 NIV) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." (Acts 2:41 NIV) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Rom 3:21 NIV) But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (Rom 3:22 NIV) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:24 NIV) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:25 NIV) God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- (Luke 7:36 NIV) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. (Luke 7:37 NIV) When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, (Luke 7:38 NIV) and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:39 NIV) When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." (Luke 7:40 NIV) Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. (Luke 7:41 NIV) "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (Luke 7:42 NIV) Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" (Luke 7:43 NIV) Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. (Luke 7:44 NIV) Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (Luke 7:45 NIV) You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. (Luke 7:46 NIV) You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. (Luke 7:47 NIV) Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." (Luke 7:48 NIV) Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:49 NIV) The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" (Luke 7:50 NIV) Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Eph 2:1 NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (Eph 2:2 NIV) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Eph 2:3 NIV) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (Eph 2:4 NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, (Eph 2:5 NIV) made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. (2 Pet 3:9 NIV) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH, but everyone to come to repentance. [Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. (See Matt 25:41.)] (2 Pet 3:10 NIV) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Pet 3:11 NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Pet 3:12 NIV) as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. (2 Pet 3:13 NIV) But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Pet 3:14 NIV) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. AFTER BAPTISM, (1 John 1:9 NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness. --- (1 John 1:10 NIV) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 2:1 NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. SINCE NONE OF US IS PERFECT, WE DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE ETERNALLY IN HEAVEN, SO IF GOD WANTS TO ADD THE STIPULATION OF BAPTISM ON HIS GIFT, IT IS HIS RIGHT.