Chapter I: LOVE them that love me; and those that *seek me early shall find me

_Proverbs 8:17._

VERILY I say unto you, *Except* ye be *converted*, and become as *little children*, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

_Matthew 18:3._

AND when he was *twelve years old*, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

_Luke 2:42._

Here we read of Christ taking an active part in service for His heavenly Father when *only twelve*.

AND that *from a child thou hast known* the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

_II Timothy 3:15_

Here Paul says that Timothy *when only a child* knew the way of life from the Scriptures.

BUT seek ye *first the* kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

_Matthew 6:33._

Seek the Kingdom “*first*,” not after a part of your life has been spent.

BEHOLD *now* is the *accepted time*; behold, *now is the day of salvation*.

_II Corinthians 6:2._

Who will say, that an intelligent boy or girl reading this verse will not understand it?

Excuses.
*I believe EVERY ONE will be SAVED.*

If you read your Bible carefully, you will find there are *some who will not be saved*! Many of the parables teach this.

THEN said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and *cast him into outer darkness*; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

_Matthew 22:13._

ENTER ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and *many there be which go in thereat*: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and *few there be that find it*.

_Matthew 7:13-14._

Here is a list of some who *will not he saved*.

Are *you* included in this list?

KNOW ye not that the *unrighteous* shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither *fornicators*, nor *idolaters*, nor *adulterers*, nor *effeminate*, nor *abusers* of themselves with mankind, nor *thieves*, nor *covetous*, nor *drunkards*, nor *revilers*, nor *extortioners*, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

_I Corinthians 6:9-10._

BUT the *fearful*, and *unbelieving* and the abominable, and murderers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

_Revelation 21:8._

FOR without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and *whosoever loveth and maketh a lie*.

_Revelation 22:15._

THE *wicked shall be turned into hell*, and all the nations that forget God.

_Psalms 9:17._

Illustration: Luke 16:19-31.

Excuses.
*It IS TOO LATE for me to be saved.*

There is not the slightest doubt but that Jesus *will forgive our sins*, save and *keep* you, it you will *turn to him sincerely*.

ALL that the Father giveth me shall come to me: *and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out*.

_John 6:37._

*Under no circumstances* will the Lord cast out a sincerely seeking soul.

FOR *whosoever* shall call upon the name of the *Lord shall be saved*.

_Romans 10:13._

THE Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is *longsuffering* to usward, not *willing* that *any should* perish, but that *all* should come to repentance.

_II Peter 3:9._

*COME now*, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins *be as scarlet*, they shall be as *white as snow*; though they be *red like crimson, they shall be as wool*.

_Isaiah 1:18._

Here the Lord is *reasoning with us* about the *worst* of our sins.

AND even to your old *age* I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

_Isaiah 46:4._

Here the promise reaches on to *old age*.

AND about the *eleventh hour* he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

_Matthew 20:6._

Here the promise avails at the *eleventh hour of life*.

AND the Spirit and the bride *say, Come*. And let him that *heareth say, Come*. And let him that is *athirst Come*. *And whosoever will*, let him take the water of life freely.

_Revelation 22:17._

Heed this invitation and *come now*.

Illustration: John 4:7-30.

Excuses.
*DON’T TALK to me, or I will leave.*

If any one speaks to you, it is because they are *interested in you* and want to help you.

They are trying to obey Gods command.

AND thou *shalt speak my words unto them*, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.

_Ezekiel 2:7._

THOU therefore *gird up thy loins*, and *arise* and *speak* unto *them all that I command thee*: be not *dismayed* at *their faces,* lest I confound thee before them.

_Jeremiah 1:17._

See the punishment that awaits the *unfaithful Christian*.

WHEN I say unto the *wicked, Thou shalt surely* die; and thou *givest him not warning*, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same *wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.* Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, *he shall die in his iniquity*; but *thou hast delivered thy soul*.

_Ezekiel 3:18-19._

If a Christian has enough *interest in your soul* to *speak to you*, you surely ought to have *some interest* in the *salvation* of your own soul.

Listen to God’s *warning*!

FOR the *wages* of sin is *death*; but the *gift* of God is *eternal life* through Jesus Christ our Lord.

_Romans 6:23._

THE *wicked shall be turned into hell*, and *all* the *nations* that *forget* God.

_Psalms 9:17._

BOAST not thyself of tomorrow, for thou *knowest not what a day may bring forth*.

_Proverbs 27:1._

HE, that being often reproved *hardeneth* his *neck, shall suddenly* be *destroyed*, and that *without remedy*.

_Proverbs 29:1._

Read: II Thessalonians 1:7-8.

Formalists.
*One who trusts in FORMS and CEREMONIES.*

All of the following verses show plainly that we are not saved, by “*forms*” or "ceremonies" but by “receiving and believing Christ as a *personal Saviour*”. Notice how each verse plainly states this.

Forms come after true faith.

BUT as many as *received Him* (Christ), to them gave he *power* to *become* the *sons* of God, even to them that *believe* on *his name*.

_John 1:12._

FOR God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, *that whosoever believeth in Him* should not perish, but have *everlasting life*.

_John 3:16._

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and *believeth on him* that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is *passed* from death unto *life*.

_John 5:24._

HE that *hath the Son HATH* LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

_I John 5:12._

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.

_Romans 10:9._

FOR with the *heart man believeth* unto *righteousness*; and *with* the *mouth confession* is made unto *salvation*.

_Romans 10:10._

Belief must be of the *heart* as well as head.

AND this is the record, that God *hath given* to us *eternal life*, and this life *is* in *His Son*.

_I John 5:11._

EXAMINE yourselves, whether ye be *in the faith*.

_II Corinthians 13:5._

AND this is life eternal, that they might *know thee* the only true God, and *Jesus Christ*, whom thou hast sent.

_John 17:3._

Giving.
*(Systematically) ONE TENTH of your income.*

*God commands one tenth*.

WILL a man *rob God*? Yet ye have robbed me; But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? *In tithes and offerings*.

YE are cursed with a curse: for *ye have robbed me*, even this whole nation.

BRING ye *all* the *tithes* in the *storehouse*, that there may be meat in mine *house*, and *prove me* now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out *a blessing*, that there *shall not be room enough to receive it*.

_Malachi 3:8-10._

*Who shall give*?

EVERY man shall give *as he is able, according to the blessing* of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.

_Deuteronomy 16:17._

*How much to give*?

AND of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give *the tenth unto thee*.

_Genesis 28:22._

*The spirit with which to give*.

EVERY man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a *cheerful giver*.

_II Corinthians 9:7._

*The time to give*.

UPON the *first day of the week* let everyone of you *lay by him in store*, as God hath prospered him.

_I Corinthians 16:2._

*Does it pay to give one tenth*?

HONOUR the Lord with thy *substance*, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be *filled with plenty*, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

_Proverbs 3:9-10._

*God returns 100 per cent*.

GIVE and *it shall be given unto you*; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall *men give into your bosom*.

_Luke 6:38._

Hell.
*God In UNJUST AND CRUEL to damn any one.*

Do you the creature, presume to criticize the Creator?

SHALL he that *contendeth* with the Almighty *instruct him*? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

_Job 40:2._

NAY but, O man, *who art thou that repliest against God*? Shall the thing *formed* say to him that formed it, *Why hast thou* made me thus?

_Romans 9:20._

God has done all that a just God can do to provide man with salvation.

AS I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

_Ezekiel 33:11._

THE Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, *not willing that any should perish*, but that all should come to repentance.

_II Peter 3:9_

FOR God so loved the world, (me) that He *gave His only begotten Son*, that *whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life*.

_John 3:16._

O THE *depth of the riches* both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

_Romans 11:33._

If you are lost at last, it will be because you *would not turn* from your sins and receive Christ. Listen to His warning!

BE not deceived; God is not mocked: for *whatsoever* a man *soweth, that shall he also reap*. For he that soweth to his *flesh shall* of the flesh *reap corruption*; but he that soweth to the *Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting*.

_Galatians 6:7-8._

*God damns* no one, man *damns himself*.

Hell.
*A real PLACE.*

The word “hell” appears in the authorized version of the Bible 53 times. In the “revised version” the word is translated “hades" 11 times out of the 53.

If there is a "heaven" for the saved, sure there must be a “hell” for the lost. The Bible speaks as clearly about one place as the other.

The Scriptures show hell a *real place*.

THE *wicked shall be turned into hell* and *all* the *nations* that *forget God*.

_Psalms 9:17._

AND in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in (a summer resort? No.) *torments*. . .

And he cried and said, . . . send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, *for I am tormented in this flame*.

But Abraham said, son, remember. . . between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.

_Luke 16:23-26._

THE Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a *furnace of fire*: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

_Matthew 13:41-42._

AND whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into *the lake of fire*.

_Revelation 20:15._

AND I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the *bottomless pit* and a great chain in his hand.

_Revelation 20:1._

BUT thou, O God, shall bring them down into the *pit of destruction*.

_Psalms 55:23._

All the expressions, “hell”, "furnace of fire,” “lake of fire,” “bottomless pit” and “pit of destruction" suggest a “*place*.”

Hell.
*CONDITION of the lost.*

BUT the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into *outer darkness*: there shall be *weeping and gnashing of teeth*.

_Matthew 8:12._

AND shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be *weeping and gnashing of teeth*.

_Matthew 24:51._

WHOSE fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the *chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable*.

_Luke 3:17._

AND the devil that deceived them was cast into *the lake of fire*, and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be *tormented* day and night for ever and ever.

_Revelation 20:10._

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life *was cast into the lake of fire*.

_Revelation 20:15._

HE that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that *believeth not is condemned already*, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

_John 3:18._

Men are *condemned* because of *unbelief* in Christ, and yet they say “*no matter what you believe*,” if you are only *sincere*.

BUT the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which *burneth with fire and brimstone*: which is the second death.

_Revelation 21:8._

What words are all these? what a condition to be in throughout all eternity!

There is *no ending* to eternity.

HE that believeth not shall be *damned*.

_Mark 16:16._

*HOW shall we escape* if we neglect?

_Hebrews 2:3._

WHO among us shall dwell with *everlasting burnings*?

_Isaiah 33:14._

AND these shall go away into *everlasting punishment*: but the righteous into life eternal.

_Matthew 25:46._

WIDE is the gate, and broad is the way, that *leadeth to destruction*, and *many* there be which go in thereat.

_Matthew 7:13-14._

WHERE their *worm dieth not*, and the *fire is not quenched*.

_Mark 9:48._

WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more *the child of hell* than yourselves.

_Matthew 23:15._