Why Salvation?

SALEM VOICE (Internet Weekly-4)
BASEELIA, DEVALOKAM, KOTTAYAM, KERALA-686038, INDIA

Why Salvation?/ Be Saved!
Are you washed?
The Importance of Praise
Hinduppara Assembly Hall
Tracts for Muslims/--
1.Show us the straight path, 2.Can Jesus bear our burden?
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WHY SALVATION?

A. God made you.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them {Genesis 1:27}.

B. God sustains you.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist {Colossians 1:17}.

C. God owns you.
The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein {Psalms 24:1}.

D. God judges you.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment {Hebrews 9:27}.

E. Sin allows no good.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one {Romans 3:10 - 12}.

F. Sin makes even your "righteous" acts filthy.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away {Isaiah 64:6}.

G. Sin has separated you from God.
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear {Isaiah 59:2}.

H. Sin will send you to the lake of fire.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire {Revelation 20:12 & 15}.

I. God will judge you according to the Bible.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day {John 12:48}.

BE SAVED!
1. God loves you.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us {Romans 5:8}

2. Jesus shed his blood for your sin.
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins {Matthew 26:28}.

3. Jesus shed his blood to meet God’s requirement.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission {Hebrews 9:22}

4. Jesus made a perfect sacrifice to redeem you.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us {Hebrews 9:12}.

5. Jesus will make you perfect forever.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified {Hebrews 10:12 & 14}.

6. Jesus is your only way to heaven.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me {Jn.14:6}

7. Jesus is God’s gift.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lif through Jesus Christ our Lord {Romans 6:23}

8. You must receive Jesus.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God {John 1:12 & 13}

9. You must be born again.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again {John 3:3, 6 & 7}.

10. You must believe the gospel.
I declare unto you the gospel. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures {1 Corinthians 15:1 - 4}.

11. You must believe Jesus is God.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am {John 8:24 & 58}.

12. You must repent.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 3:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish {Luke 13:3 & 5}.

13. You must confess that Jesus is LORD.
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. 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.{Romans 10:9 & 10}.

14. You must call on the Lord to be saved.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved {Romans 10:13}.

15. Be baptized.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16)

16. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him;
To all who call upon Him in truth {Psalm 145:18}
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ARE YOU WASHED?
One night in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans, this is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for the pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter.

So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this "My fiancé's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ too. Often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then we are all in a lot of trouble. What can wash away my sins, nothing, but the blood of Jesus. Case closed!!!
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PRAY FOR ALL CHRISTIANS TO BE BORN AGAIN, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BECOME WITNESSES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
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THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAISE

Glory to God and the Lamb in heaven so that the devil trembles! For he does it. When we praise the Lord, then it is a powerful factor in the spiritual world for which the devil has respect. "Out of the mouth of babes and suckling God has established a power to knock down the enemy." Psalm 8:2. (From the Swedish Bible).

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem the Pharisees said to him, "Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:37-40. Can the stones really cry out? Yes, it was just what that happened in the year 70 when they ruined Jerusalem.

When the enemy's armies began to surround the town, then the disciples remembered what Jesus had said. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto." Luke 21:20-21.

When the Christians had fled from the town, then it was nobody in Jerusalem who praised the Lord. Then the song of praise had become silent in Jerusalem. Then it was time for the stones to cry out. Then it was time for the gravel heaps and the ruins to cry out and testify for coming times how it will be with a people who rejects Christ, and a town where they persecute God's people, and where they will silence the song of praise and destroy the prayer-meetings.

This becomes repeated soon and this time the judgements come to strike the whole earth. The most peace-preserving factor now, are the Christians who praise God. When they have left the earth, then it will be a catastrophe. Isaiah 26:19-21. When the song of praise has become silent, then the laying waste is near. Then the ungodly world goes towards its destruction.

For people who believe in Jesus, the death is a defeated enemy. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of the death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:55-57. Nevertheless, for the ungodly world who does not believe in Jesus, the death is an undefeated and unconquerable enemy. The nations of the world have thrown away billions of money on military armaments to protect themselves against enemy attacks, and to survive, but it becomes their death and destruction.

God can remove the danger of nuclear war and let it be peace on the earth, but the world will not have anything to do with him. The nations have left God and his power out of account and trust only in themselves and their own weapons.

To all those who receive Jesus and believe in him, he gives right to become children of God, and they have passed over from death to life. John 1:12, 5:24. For these, the deaths are a transition to a better existence. He who believes in Jesus will life, even if he dies. John 11:25.

Only Jesus has this power to give eternal life. Except the Lord, there is no Saviour. Isaiah 43:11. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:10-13.
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HINDUPPARA ASSEMBLY HALL & BIBLE SCHOOL
Hinduppara Colony is situated on the border of two states in India. More than 300 Hindu consisting of approximately 60 families live in this colony. It is not a slum; but almost the same.

All are very, very poor. They earn daily for their life. Usually, they are jobless or without income for more than 15 days of a month. Most are illiterate. The living conditions are not hygienic. There is no electricity, no telephone and not even purified water to drink - their drinking water comes from a local well. They use tin bottle lamps and lanterns with Kerosene oil for their lighting.

There is not even a single Christian within 20 kilometers of the colony. Transporting facilities are very rare to travel. By the grace of God, the Salem Voice reached that interior remote area about three years ago. We started a Bible class as well as adult education. Many were interested and are attending the classes. We provide medicine, clothes, and children's education.

When Pastor Paul Ciniraj and family were tortured by terrorists (read his testimony of conversion into Christianity from Islamic background along with the experiences of torturing because of our Lord's ministry in the website of: http://www.salem-voice.com), they were hidden in this colony for few days. During those days we conducted a fasting prayer. Almost everybody participated and accepted Jesus as their Saviour.

We prayed together for a Gospel Assembly Hall. Praise the Lord! One handicapped poor Hindu woman of the same colony named Indira contributed a plot to build an assembly hall. A few children of God contributed small amounts, so we were able to start building an assembly hall. By God's grace, we have almost finished the basement.

God willing, we'd like to build a Bible School and a residence wing for the local minister in addition to the Assembly Hall. We expect that it will cost approximately $65,000 (US Dollars) to finish this task. We don't know where the funds will come from. But we are quiet sure that our Lord is faithful. Please pray and support that God may enable us to finish this project.

We hereby furnish the account of our Bank details, so that you may send your contributions direct to the bank:-
NAME: PAUL CINIRAJ MOHAMED, "SALEM VOICE".
ACCOUNT No: 051010100012032.
BANK ADDRESS: "UTI Bank Ltd., Century Towers, Near YWCA, Kottayam, Kerala-686001, INDIA".
SWIFT CODE: UTIBINBBXXX (0001-1-407376 with Chasemanhattan Bank, New York, CHIPS UID No. 340191

Or you may post your donations or offerings to the address of: Rev. PAUL CINIRAJ, DIRECTOR, SALEM VOICE, BASEELIA, DEVALOKAM (P.O), KOTTAYAM, KERALA-686038, INDIA.
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PRAY FOR GOD'S PROTECTION TO THE HUMANITY FROM WARS, NATURAL CALAMITIES, TERRORISM, COMMUNAL RIOTS & CONTAGEOUS DISEASES
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TRACTS FOR MUSLIMS
Following two articles are the tracts for Muslims for their Salvation. The verses are taken from both the Qur'an and the Bible for these tracts. We use it because at any cost we want to win the Muslim world unto the Salvation of Jesus Christ.
Apostle Paul said in 1corinthians 9:20-23 "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, tghat I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
If anybody support us with needed fund we'd like to publish these leaflets in several languages to the Muslim world. (Pastor Paul Ciniraj).

Tract No.1.
“SHOW US THE STRAIGHT PATH”

“Ih'dina Sirathwal musthakim” is the fifth verse of the first Surah of the Qur’an and it means “Show us the straight path”.

There is a tradition saying that 'sirathwal musthakim' is a narrow bridge over hell to heaven which is made out of seven torn pieces of a hair. The righteous can pass over the bridge without any trials; but the wicked will go to hell.

A worldly man cannot pass over the narrow bridge. Jesus says in the Book of Injil (Gospel), “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The Qur’an gives warning to mankind “Lo! they who deny our revelations and scorn them, for them the gates of Heaven will not be opened nor will they enter the garden until the camel goeth through the needle's eye” (Qur’an 7:40).

As in the Qur’an there is a Right Narrow Path to get into Heaven.

The Qur’an 7:10-17 says: “God created Adam out of mud, fashioned him and told the angels to fall and prostrate before the man. Iblis (Lucifer) did not obey. God degraded him. Still he asked God for reprieve till the day when the human beings are raised from the dead. It was granted. Then Iblis said to God that he will lurk in ambush of man on God's Right Path. Again he said that he will go upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands for God would not find most of them beholden”.

Mankind does not see the Right Narrow Path, because it is hidden by Iblis. Also he tries to lead them into wrong, broad and worldly ways. But the children of Abraham and Ishmael knows the broad path is not the right one to heaven. So we pray to God to show us the Right Path.

Jesus said: “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). In the Scripture of the Holy Bible, same Jesus declared : “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6).

The Qur’an says in 19:21 about Jesus as a revelation for mankind and a mercy from God, and it is a thing ordained.

Jesus destroyed the head of Iblis, and opened the narrow door of Heaven. He says: “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Also He has given grace for those who are born of God so they can overcome the world.

Yes! It is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. I John 5:4,5 says, "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." But still it is very sad to say that Gospel is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5 that "there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

The Qur’an also says very clearly that Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near unto God(Qur’an 3:45). So we may keep our duty to God and obey Jesus (Qur’an 3:50; 43:61).

May God bless all of us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven through the Right Narrow Path, which is Jesus, the Word of God (Kalimathullah ), the Spirit of God (Ruhullah) and the Messiah of God (Massihullah) who became a ransom for many.
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Tract No.2.
CAN JESUS BEAR OUR BURDEN?
Almighty God created man out of dust and gave him life through the Word to be the overseer of all creations. He had a definite plan to glorify His name through mankind. For that God wanted man to be surrendered unto Him.

To obey each and every law of God is total surrendering. But Adam disobeyed, ate of the tree of which God commanded him not to eat. So he sinned.

Suppose you appoint a new servant for your household. He is bonded to obey your rules. Do you ever like it if he doesn't obey your commands, moving in his own ways and making friendship with your enemies? You will fire him out immediately and will make sure that he does not get any support from your subordinates and friends.

If God was like us, He would have removed man and would not have allowed the universe to continue forever more. But our merciful God did not destroy Adam. He just cast him from the paradise as a punishment for sin and granted permission to live on earth (that is also God's creation) and from the sweat of his face to eat. Also He promised the Messiah, Jesus, who is the Word from God, Son of (woman) Mary, illustrious in the world and hereafter as the deliverer from sin.

The Qur'an says: “Lo! the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him out of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is. (This is) the Truth from Thy Lord. (O Muhammad), so be not thou of those who waver” (Qur'an 3:59-60).

How Jesus is likeness of Adam?

Adam was created as a faultless man. The Prophet David says in the book of Zabur (Psalms): “What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea” (Psalms 8:4-8).

God asked the angels to prostrate before Adam. All fell prostrate; but Iblis (Lucifer) demurred through pride, and so became Satan (Qur'an 2:34). Hence Satan made Adam disobedient; so he too became as a sinner. From him all the generations became under the sin.

The Prophet David says in Zabur: “Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalms 51:5).

The Injil (The New Testament of the Bible) also says very clearly: “For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But the same word promised a remedy too: “They are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus”.

The Qur'an says in several verses: “No burdened soul can bear another's burden” (35:18; 39:7; 53:38).

That means only unladened souls can bear another's burdens.

Both the Bible and the Qur'an says that Jesus was born as a faultless man.

“He (Archangel Gabriel) said (to Mary): I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son” (Qur'an 19:19). The Hadith (traditions of Islam) also says that all the children of Adam are touched by Satan at their birth, except Jesus, son of Mary.

The Bible says about Jesus: “For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

Once Jesus directly asked to the Jews, “Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God” (John 8:46).

Yes! Jesus was faultless by birth and life. He can carry the laden of sin from each one of the world.

Jesus said in the New Testament: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) was borne witness of Jesus. He declared about Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

In the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians we read: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). No doubt! Jesus took all our sins and died on the cross to give us eternal life. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7).

In the letter to the Hebrews also we can see as it is: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sins which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

In the book of Qur'an Jesus said: “And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah (the law of Moses), and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to God and obey me” (Qur'an 3:50).

“When Jesus came with clear proofs (of God's sovereignty), he said: I have come unto you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which ye differ. So keep your duty to God , and obey me” (Qur'an 43:63).

What do you think? Isn't it a must to obey Jesus?

But the children of Israel denied Jesus, though they were the chosen people of God. They lost eternity. Because they at the time looked for a warrior king savior they were blind to the truth that Jesus Christ was that Messiah promised by their own prophets.

What about you?
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Published by Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice
(web: www.salem-voice.com); (mailto: ciniraj@sancharnet.in).