Don't Take Any Wooden Nickles

You've probably heard the popular phrase—“Don't take any wooden nickels!” Well, there are no wooden nickels (at least not today in U.S. currency circulation). The saying simply means don't get ripped off, because there are a lot of swindlers in the world. That is the reason why the U.S. Food And Drug Administration was created (thankfully) in 1906, because swindlers were actually selling motor oil advertised as 'cooking oil'! People were getting sick and some dying, so something had to be done to protect the public. 

Likewise, we really need a 'U.S. Department Of The Gospel,' because people are already spiritually dead and many are dying the 'second death' (Revelation 20:6), being given a religious placebo called 'Lordship Salvation,' which cannot save them! I am being facetious of course, but serious at the same time! The junk theology circulating in the churches today is far more deadly than the media-hyped Coronavirus scare! The Coronavirus at worse will put you 6 feet under, but the following heresies will send you to down to Hell forever, if you trust in them to get you to Heaven...

1. Doing your best 
2. Trying to be a good and moral person 
3. Keeping the Ten Commandments 
4. Obeying God's laws 
5. Making Jesus the Lord of your life 
6. Committing your life to Jesus 
7. Following Jesus 
8. Enduring until the end (perseverance) 
9. Confirmation 
10. Penances 
11. Last rites 
12. Member of a lodge 
13. Repent of your sins 
14. Turn from your sins 
15. Church membership or Christian parents 
16. Tithing 
17. Good works and deeds 
18. Water Baptism 
19. Keeping the sacraments 
20. Going to mass 
21. Worship the Bible 
22. Believe in or submit to the god of your choice 
23. Love God and your fellow man 
24. Believe that Jesus was a good man, teacher or prophet 
25. Trust in Jesus and serve Him 
26. Surrender your life to Christ 
27. Give up your sins for good 
28. Live a lifestyle of repentance 
29. Be 'willing' to turn from sin 
30. Do sacraments 
31. Ask Jesus into your heart 
32. Invite Jesus into your life 
33. Just trust Jesus 
34. Confess Christ publicly 
35. Keep the Sabbath 
36. Forsake the world 
37. Turn over a new leaf 
38. Live the Christian life 
39. Speak in Tongues 
40. Reformation or rehabilitation

NONE of the aforementioned things can save a person! In fact, if you ADD any of these to God's plan of salvation, you will assuredly spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, because you are not wholly trusting the blessed Savior! 

Here is the ONLY way to be saved—Realize you are a guilty, needy sinner, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (John 3:16). Simply believe the 'GOOD NEWS' ('GOSPEL') that Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins, He was buried, and three days later He miraculously resurrected bodily from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:16). It is not enough to “just trust Jesus,” because the cross must be included, upon which Christ died to pay for your sins and mine. You must believe that Jesus died and was buried for three days, and then He miraculously raised up alive from the dead by the power of God. This is THE GOSPEL, by which we are saved, “to them that believe” (1st Corinthians 1:21b). 

Regarding religion today, there are truckloads of 'WOODEN NICKLES' abounding in the churches worldwide! Please don't be deceived dear friend, your soul's eternal fate is at stake. Eternal life is NOT a process, it is an instantaneous NEW BIRTH. It is NOT a matter of “doing,” it is a matter of “resting” in what Christ has already done to pay for your sins on the cross (Hebrews 4:10-11). It IS an understanding of Who Jesus Christ is (the Christ), What He has done (He paid for your sins through the cross) and Why He has done it for you (because God loves you and doesn't want you to burn in Hell forever). Then you will hopefully see the wisdom of deciding to believe The Gospel  for what God promised—Eternal Life in Heaven. Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Please don't take any wooden nickles!