NU169273@vm1.nodak.edu (04/21/91)
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* HOW HIGH *
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* IS YOUR SPIRITUAL I.Q.? *
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* Subject of This I.Q. *
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* What virtues will get you to *
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* HEAVEN? *
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* Or what sins will send you to *
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* HELL? *
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Check list of questions below to determine your spiritual I.Q.
(Put on your "thinking-cap" as you take this probably most
important test of your life --)
INSTRUCTIONS OF THIS TEST:
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Place a check-mark opposite the virtue, or virtues, in which
you are placing your faith in reaching heaven when you die.
[ ] CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
[ ] LIVING THE GOLDEN RULE
[ ] BAPTISM
[ ] KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
[ ] GOOD WORKS AND DEEDS
[ ] CONFIRMATION
[ ] CHURCH ATTENDANCE
[ ] TITHING
[ ] PRAYING, FASTING, AND READING YOUR BIBLE
[ ] LIVING A GOOD MORAL LIFE
[ ] PENANCES & HOLY COMMUNION
[ ] DOING YOUR BEST EACH DAY
[ ] GIVING TIME & MONEY TO CHARITY
[ ] NOT HURTING ANYBODY
Now place a check-mark opposite the sin, or sins, which you
think will send you to hell after you die.
[ ] ROBBERY
[ ] MURDER
[ ] DRUG ADDICTION
[ ] ALCOHOLISM
[ ] ADULTERY
[ ] HYPOCRISY
[ ] PROSTITUTION
[ ] LIARS
[ ] INFIDELITY
[ ] IDOLATRY
[ ] SECRET SINS
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Let's see now, by God's infallable word, how high your
spiritual I.Q. test is.
Friend, if you have placed a check-mark in any of the squares
listing virtues that you are trusting in getting you to heaven,
you have scored a "zero." For Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, "For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the GIFT of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
So it is grace, PLUS NOTHING, that saves we poor, wretched,
miserable, and hell-deserving sinners!
Titus 3:5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his (Jesus') mercy he saved us...."
I Peter 1:18-19 says, "...ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversations
received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
So stop trying to earn your way to heaven, or trusting in vain
tradition handed down by your church or your forefathers, for
there's only ONE WAY to heaven, as Jesus states in John 14:6,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father but by me." Jesus also said in John 10:9, "I am the door:
by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...." So if you try
to reach heaven by any other way, than the way of the cross, and
the sinless shed blood of Jesus, the lamb of God, you will some
day hear the saddest words that man can ever hear, as recorded in
Matthew 7:23, "And then I (Jesus) will profess to them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Now, let's see how you fared in the sin question. If you have
place a check-mark in any of the squares listing the sin, or
sins, that will send you to hell, you have scored another big
"zero." God's Word tells us in Matthew 12:31, "...All manner of
sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." So none
of the listed sins will ever send a person to hell, PROVIDING
they repent and come to God on His own terms, which is faith in
His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. John 5:24 says, "Verily,
verily I (Jesus) say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come to condemnation; but it passed from death unto life."
[ ] UNBELIEF
Yes, this is that terrible sin that will send you to hell -- into
the lake of fire! Our Bible tells us in John 1:29, that when
John the Baptist saw Jesus for the first time he exclaimed,
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the SIN of the world."
(The SIN of unbelief!)
Friend, if you have fared poorly in your spiritual I.Q. test,
don't feel too depressed, for the vast majority of the human race
fail. However, now that you know the truth, and the way to
heaven, there is still time to score 100% in the following test:
PLACE A CHECK-MARK IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SQUARES:
^^^
[ ] I will continue to trust in my own church, or in my own
ways, and I will take my chances that my good deeds will
outweigh my bad deeds, for I believe that a loving God will not
send anyone to an eternity in hell.
OR
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[ ] I now pray this prayer from my heart: "I realize that I
have failed every spiritual test, but I know that Jesus never
fails. So, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me and forgive me and save
my soul right now, for I know You took my rightful place on
Calvary's cross, and that it was God's love, and not the nails,
that held You there. With all my heart I thank You for saving my
soul, for it is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
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Sinner friend, if you have placed a check-mark in the first
square, you have utterly failed this test, for UNBELIEF is the
door to HELL, and Jesus is the door to HEAVEN; and unless you
change your mind you'll be doomed forever in the lake of fire!
Salvation is in a person, and that person is Jesus Christ. (John
14:6 states this truth!)
Saved friend, if you have placed a check-mark in the second
square, you are now a child of God, and have passed from DEATH
unto LIFE through the new birth, and you have a joy and a peace
that the world knows not! God bless you as you live for Him and
serve Him, and seek to tell others of the wonderful love and
grace of Jesus. Write to me so that I can rejoice with you and
maybe send you additional material to help you grow in your
Christian faith.
(Don't let this die -- Pass it on! Amen!)
K. Paulson
222 Stockbridge Hall
N. D. S. U.
Fargo, ND 58105