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Welcome to our Mailbox Bible Study Course. We trust you will enjoy these lessons as much as we did composing them. We are glad to be able to serve the Lord and you in this way. Many are being saved and helped through these simple Bible lessons. We suggest that you try to do one lesson each week; this will keep your interest in them active. This particular course contains nine lessons on God's Salvation Bible Studies. Read the lesson carefully, full in the answers in the blocks provided then copy the page and paste it into the email that you send back to us. We will then evaluate and return any corrections to you with your next lesson. On completion of the full course you will receive a beautifully presented certificate. To make it easier for you, all lessons are in an HTML, MS WORD and PDF format. Test Page (Click on the word PFD or MS WORD in blue, to access this lesson in a different format and then save it to a file on your computer). Should you have difficulty opening these files please let us know by return email. We suggest that you print these lessons and put them in a binder for future studies.

GOD'S WAY OF SALVATION (by Alexander Marshall)

"I PRAY THEE HAVE ME EXCUSED"
A distinguished man in the East, at great expense provided a sumptuous feast, and invited many to come. When the time came for the guests to arrive, they all absented themselves, and sent excuses. The fact was, they did not wish to go and, not having the courage to say, "We won't," they said. "We cannot." Whatever may have been their reasons for refusing to speak out their minds and attend the feast, their excuses were extremely silly. (Luke 14). The first said, "I have bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." What was the hurry? Could he not have gone at some other time? The second was not a bit better. "I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused." What harm could have come to the oxen by giving them a night's rest? Besides, whether they were of value or not for the money he paid for them - they were bought. But the third excuse was the worst of all. "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." why didn't he take her with him? The spiritual application of the story must be evident to all. God, at an infinite cost, has provided a feast for perishing sinners. He has commanded His servants to go into all the world and proclaim the glad tidings to every creature. Here are some excuses given.

"I NEVER DID ANY HARM IN MY LIFE"
Such an excuse has often been given. Is this your excuse? Do you really mean that you have never done any harm? Have you never cherished an impure, unkind, or wicked thought? Have you never spoken a hasty word, told a lie, or attempted to mislead anyone? Have you loved God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind? Have you loved your neighbour as yourself? "Oh no," you reply; "no one has." Never mind others just now. You admit that you have sinned. If one were found guilty of breaking the laws of this country, who would believe that he had done no harm? There is no use concealing the fact that you have not been what you ought to have been; you have not done what you should have done in other words, you are a sinner and the Word of God declares "The soul that sinneth it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4) "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Take your place as lost and ruined in God's sight, and give up all attempts to excuse or cover up your sins. They cannot be hid from God.

"I'LL TURN OVER A NEW LEAF"
It is all very well to say that you will "turn over a new leaf." But let me ask, What about the past black leaves of guilt? Turning over a new leaf does not remove the blotted ones. It may be, dear reader, at one time you were addicted to drinking or swearing, or other bad habits, but of late you have "turned over a new leaf," and are become what the world calls a "reformed" person. This is right and proper, but does it blot out past disobedience? A merchant finds that he is in difficulties. He takes his cashbook and begins a "new leaf," forgetting that there is a "carried over" and a "brought forward" column. New figures on the "new leaf" won't pay the old debts. "Turning over a new leaf" won't do for you. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again."(John 3:3-7)

''GOD IS MERCIFUL''
Satan goes about with his bundle of lies, giving one to one person and one to another. To one he says, "God is too merciful to punish sinners," and if this is not believed, he says "If God does punish the sinner in hell it won't be eternal." It is a blessed truth that "God is merciful" but He is also Holy and Just, and never can be merciful at the expense of His justice. All His attributes are equally balanced and cannot conflict with each other. He who is longsuffering and slow to anger "will by no means clear the guilty." God's pardoning mercy flows only through one channel, and that is the atonement of Christ; and all who refuse to accept of life through His death must forever, "dwell with the devouring fire." "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17). "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

IF ONE DOES THE BEST HE CAN HE WILL BE SAVED
Have you always done your best? Have you not again and again done what you ought not to have done, and omitted doing what you should have done? "I don't pretend to be perfect." Assuredly not, but remember that this admission removes every possible hope of your being saved by your doings. One sin is sufficient to condemn you, and you know that you have committed thousands. What is the use of such suppositions as, "If a man does the best he can," when God has declared that none have ever done so? "All we, like sheep, have gone astray."(Isaiah 53:6). "They are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:3). Unsaved reader, the "best" that you can do is to admit that you are ruined, helpless and undone. If from this day until the day of your death, you did not commit a single sin, you would not be saved on that ground, for sinners are not saved by what they do, but by what Christ has done for them. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted too righteousness." (Romans 4:5).

"DON'T YOU BELIEVE IN GOOD WORKS?''
When sinners are shown that salvation is all of grace, and "not of works," it is not an uncommon thing to hear such say, "You don't believe in good works?" This is a great mistake. What the Word of God shows us is, that an unconverted man cannot do a good work, as a "good work," must spring from a good motive, and that must be love to the Lord Jesus. The moment a person is saved, that very moment everything he does - ought to be done to the glory of God. No sooner do we read of the jailer's conversion than we see him proving his faith by his works. "He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes." Read the account in Acts 16. The Bible teaches, "without faith it is impossible to please God," and so long as you are unsaved, you are utterly unable to do a single "good work." Believe in God's wondrous love to you and you will work for Him in return for what He has done for you.

''IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE A CHRISTIAN''
Do you mean that it is difficult to become a Christian? If so, you are completely mistaken. "But I have again and again tried to become one and have failed." Cease trying to be saved by your efforts: Christ has finished the mighty work, and justice is satisfied. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." "I meant that it was difficult to live the life of a Christian." Granted at once. Let me, However, ask, whether it is easier to serve Satan or Christ? Which is the better master? Who gives the best wages? In serving Satan you have to turn your back on your best Friend, despise or neglect His great salvation, resist His Holy Spirit, trample under your feet the Son of God's love, and rush headlong to eternal ruin. Why then perish forever, seeing you can be saved?

TEST - LESSON 1 - GOD'S WAY OF SALVATION

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Created by Harold Smith May 2006.

Updated March 2008 by Shelly Allen