This tract is designed to give the plan of salvation to a person whose language you do not speak. It is also available in Spanish (click on PRESENTE link) It also will be available in French, Italian, German and Tagalog (Filipino). See instructions on the last page about how to use it. Print this Tract
WHY DID JESUS SAVE THE THIEF?
Luke 23:32-43, Matt. 27:38, Mark 15:27, and John 19:18
BAR-ABBA-S MEANS "Son of the Father", Read about him in Matt. 27:16, Mark 15:7, Luke 23:18 and John 18:40. Barabbas was destined to the middle cross as the worst of the criminals but he was freed and Jesus took his place. Sons of God do not die!
WHAT PEOPLE SAW ON THE CROSSES?
Mainly the people saw three criminals being brought to justice.
Matt. 27:39, 40: THE PEOPLE mocked Jesus.
Matt. 27:41: THE CHIEF PRIESTS, SCRIBES AND ELDERS mocked Jesus.
Mark 15:29: Again THE PEOPLE mocked Jesus.
Mark 15:31: Again THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE SCRIBES mocked Jesus.
Mark 15:32: THE THIEVES (both of them) mocked Jesus.
Luke 23:35: Again THE PEOPLE and THE RULERS mocked Jesus.
Luke 23:36: THE SOLDIERS mocked Jesus.
Luke 23:39: ONLY ONE OF THE THIEVES mocked Jesus. (The other repented)
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE MOCKERS AND ONE OF THE THIEVES:
In the meantime the rest of the people saw a criminal in the middle cross, the thief on the right
hand of Jesus knew WHO HE REALLY WAS. In the crowd were all kinds of people: Religious people, "good" and "bad" people, simple people and educated people like the SCRIBES (the Scholars of those days).
Yes, Jesus died as a criminal to pay for the sins of all without the exception of one person. His gift is a gift of infinite value, yet, it will not be good to you if you do not appropriate it simply BY FAITH. ( Ephesians 2:7, 8, 9)
Before you answer the following questions, it would be prudent for you to study a few verses of Scripture in which God tells us that He IS NOT A RESPECTER of persons. Deuteronomy 10:17, Job 32:21 and 34:19, Malachi 2:9, Proverbs 24:23 and 28:21, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Galatians 2:6, Colossians 3:25, James 2:1, 9 and First Peter 1:17.
Before you answer the questions, study about REPENTANCE according to the Scriptures.
First of all consider the fact that John the Baptist and Jesus, when they began preaching, both began saying, “Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. (Mattew 3:12 and 4:17)
Jesus also said as it is recorded in Luke 13:5, “I tell you Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.
And in Romans 2:5 we can read: “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”.
Also it would be profitable for you to study Romans 1:16 to 18 and the whole second chapter of the same Epistle to the Romans.
Acts 3:19 says: “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”.
By the previous passages we can conclude that REPENTANCE brings forgiveness but the lack of
it brings judgment of God upon the sinner. In order to understand better the the doctrine REPENTANCE one can say that it has three parts:
1-Change of mind
2-Moral pain
3-“About face "About face" has two parts:
a-Turning FROM our sins, and
b-Turning TO God
To adopt a religion or becoming a "good" or moral person IS NOT ENOUGH nor is it a guaranty of REPENTANCE.
ABOUT CHANGE OF MIND:
This change is done by God through His Word. Any one who thinks he is right on an issue
concerning God but is wrong, the Word of God will reveal it to him. (Study Romans 10:17 and following verses) Do not be one of those who REFORM themselves, become "moralists" or "good" persons, stand still in the middle, and walk not in the ways of God.
At this point it is necessary for you to understand that the most "good" person is still a sinner, and that the worst sinner can do good things to help others.
REPENTANCE is a GIFT of God but if you do not receive it you will REMAIN in condemnation. (See II Peter 3:9)
ABOUT MORAL PAIN:
Moral pain comes about when the Word changes our mind making us to realize that we have
offended God. (Study II Corint. 7:9, 10 and Mattew 3:7, 8)Not having this moral turmoil in us is a sure sign of an unchanged mind. In such a condition of an
unchanged heart, it is hard to think or to accept that we all are sinners. With the change of mind,
simultaneously we experience that moral pain and therefore we recognize the need for a change
of life.
ABOUT FACE:
At this point the sinner is compelled to turn around FROM his sinful ways, which is to say, FROM the world and turn TO God or execute an "about face".
o.betATURNING or "about face" see Matt. 21 :29, II Corint. 5:17, Acts 26:20.
Since the Word of God is the factor doing the change of mind, bringing the convictions to the sinner and compelling him to turn FROM sin and turn TO God, finally 5>ear are some passages of Scripture dealing with some things we must take off or leave behind to? good, and some other things we must now accept and live in order to glorify God.
Matt. 7:1-5, I Corinth.11: 28-3.1, Prov. 28:13, Romans 6: 1-1 4, Eph. 4:22-32 and 5:18-20, Colo. 3:1-10, II Tim. 2:22, Titus 2:11, 12, 1 John 5:3, James 1:21
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THIEVES AT THE CROSS
INSTRUCTIONS: Write in each of the parenthesis one of the following answers: NO, YES or an interrogation sign (?) if you do not know or are not sure of the answer.
1— ( ) Do you know why Jesus saved the thief?
2— ( ) Was the thief a "good", moral person?
3— ( ) Was the thief a pious man?
4— ( ) Had he enough merits of his own to go to heaven?
5— ( ) Did the thief receive the "last rites" or any other "sacrament"?
6— ( ) Did the thief confess his sins to a priest?
7— ( ) Was he absolved of his sins by any human being?
8— ( ) Did he take communion?
9— ( ) Was he taken down from the cross to be baptized?
10—( ) Did he belong to the "only true church"?
11—( ) Is there any information about his religious affiliation?
12—( ) Had the thief on his body a protective amulet or a scapular, a cross, medal or any
other object blessed by a priest, rabbi, bishop or pope?
13—( ) Did he pray a special, powerful, long or repetitious prayer?
14—( ) Did he pray to the virgin Mary asking her to ask Jesus to save him?
15—( ) Was he rebuked by Jesus for praying to Him instead of praying to Mary?
16—( ) Was the thief a charitable man who helped others throughout his life?
17—( ) Were his parents spiritually, economically or politically powerful and
because of that was Jesus intimidated?
18—( ) Was Jesus' decision wrong and therefore out of line?
19—( ) Did Jesus commit a mistake or was he unfair in saving the thief?
20—{ ) Was the thief a very good and special friend of Jesus?
21—( ) Did Jesus make a SPECIAL favor for the thief?
22—( ) Again, DO YOU KNOW WHY THE THIEF WAS SAVED BY Jesus?
23—( ) Let's dig in: Was the thief saved because he was physically close to Jesus?
24—( ) The other thief, being equally close to Jesus, was he saved also?
25—( ) Do you know of any religious book containing God's "Table of Values"
explaining how many points we could gain or lose for each "good" or "evil"
deed done, and which is the "Final Balance" needed to go to heaven?
26—( ) Do you know if such a book and 'Table of Values" exist?
27—( ) Do you believe that such a book exists?
28—{ ) Did the thief ask, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom?"
29—( ) Did Jesus answer, 'Verily I say unto you, today you shall be in purgatory"?.
30—( ) Or was Jesus' answer, 'TODAY shalt thou be with me in Paradise?
31—( ) Did the thief know before dying that he would be in heaven that very day?
32—( ) If he knew, could you also know since God IS NOT a respecter of persons?
33—( ) Could you or anyone repent and be saved AFTER dying?
34—( ) If your previous answer was "NO" then, is it possible to be saved NOW?
35—{ ) Do you consider yourself a worse sinner than the thief?
36—( ) Do you know now WHY JESUS SAVED THE THIEF?
37—( ) Do you know WHEN are you going to die?
38—( ) Do you know, according to the Scriptures WHERE you will spend eternity?
39—( ) If you do not know, would you like to know about it NOW?
40—{ ) Do you wish to be saved NOW?
RECOMMENDED PASSAGES:
After you have answered the above questions to the best of your ability, study the following passages: John 3:1 to 7 (Emphasis on verses 3, 5 & 7). Also John 14:6, 5:24 & 10:27 to 30. Ephesians 2:7 to 10, Titus 3:4, 5, 6. First John 5:11, 12, & 13
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
If by now you are convicted about the fact that Jesus is the ONLY WAY of salvation as expressed in the above mentioned Scriptures and many others, pray with your own words, from your heart, believing, asking Jesus to forgive you of ALL YOUR SINS and to SAVE YOU NOW according to His promise. If you do, you will be instantly made a NEW CREATURE possessing ETERNAL LIFE. You never will be condemned and no power or person could take you out of the hand of God. (John 5:24 and 10:28)
LAST REFLECTION:
In the most important matter we face in our lifetime, that is, in the matter of SALVATION, the choice IS NOT between denomination and denomination which is to say between RELIGION and RELIGION but between RELIGION and SALVATION which is a GIFT (free of charge) given by God. It is not enough for a person to say: "I belong to..." and then to cite the name of his or her denomination. No religion died on the cross for you; no denomination saves. Jesus and Jesus ALONE saves!.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PERSON WHO PRESENTS THIS TRACT
The following questions are designed to open the hearts and minds of lost people. Show compassion when you present these questions. Let the love of God flow through your eyes and through your words during your conversation with a poor, lost sinner.
Do not push for all the questions to be answered at once. Ask God for wisdom and guidance in this specific point.
IMPORTANT: Before the person answers the questions make sure that he or she understands that God is not a respecter of persons. Show and explain the verses presented in this tract until you see that the passages are understood.
If you do not speak the language of the person you are witnessing to, point out to the pertinent verses shown in this tract.
NOTES:
1--You can testify to a person who speak a different language even if you do not speak it. Give the person
the tract with the questionnaire and see that he or she answers "YES" to question numbers 28, 30, 31, 32,
34 and the most important of all, number 38
2—Tear off the portion "INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PERSON WHO PRESENTS THIS
TRACT" before you give out the lesson and the questionnaire.
3—If you see that some of the questions are answered wrong point out with your finger the proper verse so the person can read again and understand the matter.
4-Also, when you give out the lesson and the questionnaire make sure you register the following information of the person who receives it.
Name_________________________________________________________________________
Address: #______________St_____________________________________________Apt. #________
City____________________________________________________Z C_______________________
Phone: Area Code_____________ _____________________________________________
Date : Month__________Day________Year__________
Write down your comments as well as the results of the interview.