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SALVATION IN 30 SINCERE SECONDS

Yesterday, while watching a parade, I noticed a lady circulating through the crowd passing out something. After much time had passed (long parade) I felt a tap on my shoulder, and the lady handed me a small tract with the above title.

The tract continued "did you know that it only takes 30 sincere seconds or less of your life to assure you have a place in HEAVEN for all ETERNITY?

"This is SERIOUS BUSINESS for you and for me ... so PLEASE READ HERE and you will find THE VALUE DEAL OF ALL ETERNITY!

"When it comes to a serious matter such as: Eternal Life - or - Death, Heaven - or - Hell, there is only one place to go to get THE TRUTH". John 8:32 is quoted. THE BIBLE II Timothy 3:16 is quoted. After this the following points are made:

THE BIBLE SAYS ALL HAVE SINNED (Eccl. 7:20, Rom. 3:23)
WHERE DID SIN COME FROM? (Rom. 5:12, Rom. 5:19)
THE BIBLE SAYS GOD SENT HIS SON TO PAY FOR OUR SINS (Rom. 5:8, Gal. 1:4)
THE BIBLE SAYS WE HAVE A NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL BODY (I Cor. 15:44, John 3:6, 4:24)
THE BIBLE SAYS GOD KNOWS EVERY THOUGHT AND SEES EVERYTHING YOU DO (I Chron. 28:9, Prov. 15:3)
WHAT MUST WE DO TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SIN TO ASSURE ETERNAL SPIRITUAL LIFE? (John 3:16, Rom. 10:13, Acts 16:31)

Then comes the question "Will you call upon the Lord now, and reserve your Eternal Life Assurance Policy? Pray this prayer:

Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. I do believe that Jesus Christ died for me to pay my sin debt, and the best I know how, I trust him now as my Savior, and to take me to Heaven when I die.

When I got time to read the tract I was caused to wonder how many people in the crowd were, or would be, led to believe the message presented. After all, the scriptures were quoted, people were told the place to get the truth was the bible, that they were in sin, and Jesus had died to redeem them, which is true. All they had to do to take advantage of all this was pray a short prayer. 30 SECOND SALVATION could be obtained while the bands marched on.

What are the problems with the tract:

Salvation cannot be assured to anyone in 30 seconds. It requires faithfulness until death. (Rev. 2:10)
The scriptures never teach salvation can be reserved by prayer, and no prayer like the one above is found in the bible.
It teaches that once one decides to serve Christ he/she cannot fall. Notice the words "assure", "eternal life assurance policy". The bible teaches the opposite. (Gal. 5:4;I Tim. 4:1)
It doesn't tell THE REST OF THE STORY. Much more is required of anyone who desires a home in heaven. (Acts 2:38; Mk.16:15,16; Rom. 10:9,10; Rev. 2:10)
Their definition of "calling on the Lord" is wrong. They define it as saying saying a few words in a man made prayer. In reality, calling on the Lord is better defined as what we do when we obey his commandments. Paul was calling on the name of the Lord when he was baptized (Acts 22:16). Also, we note that if "calling" assured one a place in heaven by mere words, Jesus must be wrong when he says "“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
The tract contains false doctrine which will cause those who follow its advice to lose heaven, not go there.

Do you want to go to heaven? If so, then obedience to all commands of God is required. Telling Jesus that you are a sinner, and believing he died for your sins is necessary (it's called confession Rom. 10:9,10) but so is the command to be baptized for remission of sins, repentance (Acts 2:38), and continuing in an obedient life (Eph. 4:1).

Jack

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