© 2010 G

ood New

s Tracts. Published in U.S.A. C

over design: Dual Identity. Taken from

One M

inute After You Die by Erw

in W. Lutzer. ©

1997 by Moody Publishers. U

sed by permission.

A New Nature

WhenwereceiveChrist’srighteousness,Godalsochangesourwholeperspective.Christsaid,“Unlessone is born again he cannot see the kingdom ofGod”(John3:3).So,howcanwereceivethegiftofrighteousnessandbe“bornagain”?

Theansweristoadmitourhelplessnessandsin-fulness to God, and to acknowledge that we aredependentonhismercy.Wemusthaveacompletechange of mind about whatever we were believ-ingwouldmakeusacceptabletoGod.InsteadwemusttransferallofourtrusttoChristasoursin-bearer.Wemust believe inhimas theOnewhodid all that we will ever need to stand in God’sholypresence.To“believeinChrist”meansthatasbestweknow,we trust him aloneforallthatweneedtopleaseGodinthislifeandtolivewithhimforeverinheaven.

HereisaprayerthatyoumaywanttouseifyoudesiretotransferyourtrusttoChristaloneforyoureternalsalvation.Andifyouprayinfaith,Godwillreceiveyou.

Dear God, I know I’m a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who took on all my sins when he died on the cross. I believe that he did everything necessary for me to live someday in your holy presence.

I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead. As best as I know how, I transfer my trust to him. I am grateful that you have promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that Christ is my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through death’s door. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where will you be…one minute after you die?

Good News Tracts1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187

For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: ESV.

ER W IN W. LU T ZER

O N E M I N U T E

A F T E R

Y O U

D I E

ONE MINUTE

AFTER YOU DIE

One minute after you die you will either beenjoying a personal welcome from Christ orcatching your first glimpse of gloom as you havenever known it. Either way, your future will beirrevocablyfixedandeternallyunchangeable.

Those who find themselves in heaven will besurroundedwithmanyfriendstheyhaveknownonearth.Everydescriptionofheaventheyhaveeverheardwillpale in lightof reality.Butotherswillfindthemselvesshroudedindarknessinaregionofdeprivationandunendingregret.Forthem,deathwillbefarworsethantheyeverimagined.

Sowhilerelativesandfriendsplanyourfuner-al,youwillbemorealivethanyouhaveeverbeen.YouwilleitherseeGodonhisthronesurroundedbyangelsandredeemedhumanity,oryouwillfeelan indescribable weight of guilt and abandon-ment. There is no destination midway betweentheseextremes.

Unaware of Danger

I once read a tragic account about peopleenjoying themselves on the top stories of a tallapartmentbuildingnotknowingthattherewasafireburningonthelowerfloors.Inasimilarway,many people are enjoying life now, comfortablyignoring the fact that their death is not onlyinevitable, but much nearer than they think.Indeed, this world and all we have accumulatedwilleventuallybeburnedup(2Peter3:10).

Don’timagineforamomentthatyouwillgettoheavenwithouttherightcredentials.Youwillnotbetherebecauseyourspousehasarighttoenter.You will not be there because you have a childwho is already there. No, this is an individualmatter,andonlythosewiththerightcredentialswillbeallowedentry.

Ourproblem,ofcourse,isthatGodwillnotacceptusonourterms.Wecannotarriveatheaven’sgateshopingforleniency.“Itisappointedformantodieonce, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews9:27).Wecannotcomepleadingforspecialfavorsoncewehaveslippedfromthislifeintoeternity.

Our Only Hope

Our only hope is for God to give us credit forrighteousperfectionwecouldneverattainonourown. Once such righteousness is credited toouraccountwecanenterheavenimmediatelyatdeathwithout somuchas an intermediate stop.As theBiblesays,“awayfromthebodyandathomewiththeLord”(2Corinthians5:8).

Here’s how that’s possible: When Christ diedon the cross, he offered himself as a sacrifice forsinners,whichGodaccepted.“Foroursakehe[God]madehim[Christ]tobesinwhoknewnosin,sothatinhimwemightbecometherighteousnessofGod”(2 Corinthians 5:21). Though Christ was perfect,God made him legally guilty of all of our sins. Inturn,thosewhobelievethatChristdidthisforthemreceivecreditforhisrighteousnessbeforeGod.

Christwasconsideredtobeasinnerwhenhetookoursinsonhimself.InturnGodconsidersustobesaintswhenwereceiveChrist’s righteousness.Godhasexceedinglyhighstandards,butthankstohim,hemeetsthemforusthroughthisamazingexchange.It’stheonlywaywecouldeverenterheaven!

work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who took on all my sins when he died on the cross. I believe that he did everything necessary for me to live someday in your holy presence.

I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead. As best as I know how, I transfer my trust to him. I am grateful that you have promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank You that I can face death now that Christ is my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through death’s door. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where will you be…one minute after you die?

Good News Tracts

One Minute After You DieOnce a person faces death, there will only be two choices of where they will spend eternity. They will either enjoy

being in God’s presence or be separated from him.

Bible References: ESVPackage contains 25 tracts GENERAL GOSPEL