HOW SHALL THEY KNOW?

by Tony Alamo
aka Bernie Hoffman

Everything Godly comes through JESUS. The righteousness of GOD is not a character which must be initially built up or slowly trained for. It isn’t a virtue or merit tediously worked for until it is attained, like bodybuilders training to build their bodies, or by studying rituals, which religions try to incorporate.

JESUS is a real person who is living and loving, a real man.1 HE is CHRIST, our brother, our Savior, our living head of HIS body of whom we are members.2 HE has fashioned everything out for us, and waits to give everything to us the moment we accept HIM.3 It is not a struggle for us to do good in our own strength, but a simple act of our confidence in a loving redeemer who not only undertakes the whole task for us, but gives to us a free gift of righteousness the moment we accept HIM.4

CHRIST is the answer for the world. HE is the remedy for the world, the hope of the world, the redeemer of the world.5

The only profession, the only business of the apostles, was to minister CHRIST to men and women, telling them of JESUS and bringing them into contact with HE who is “the desire of all nations” and the remedy for all men’s wrongs.6 All this is without the law (even though the law must be kept, which includes the law of the Beatitudes 7) and by the free grace of GOD for obedience. “CHRIST is the end of the law [the end of the condemnation of the law if we sin no more, if we win souls] for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).

When we receive JESUS, we pass from being under condemnation from the terror of the law. We receive salvation by faith, with righteousness higher than any man could ever attain, because of CHRIST in us giving us the power to sin no more, the free gift of HIS grace. HIS merits become ours, and we stand before GOD in as good a place as if we had never sinned, in as good a place as if we had done everything that HE has done and kept every commandment that HE has kept. Not only so, we receive HIM into our hearts as a living presence and efficient power, a divine enabling. United to HIM, we can relive the life HE lived and be even as HE was in this world (John 14:12).

Such a salvation, so complete, so sufficient, so far-reaching, so free, is enough to set on fire the hearts of angels and to make us human beings who have received it burn with desire to pass it on to all the people in the world. How sad that this world, which is lost, should be another minute without this salvation. It’s up to us! This righteousness is accessible and available to all people. It is not far off, but near. It is not far away in the heavens, where sinners must, with much pain, climb to the heights of virtue and achievement before they are able to attain it. It reaches down to the level of those who are the most far gone, the most lost and helpless of men. Its terms are as simple as the language you speak or as love can provide. These are the terms: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). There is nothing so easy as to call, to utter a cry of need, and know that instantly the love and grace of GOD will respond. It isn’t restricted to any race or class: “There is no difference… for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon HIM” (Romans 10:12).

It is not for moral Jew, or cultured Greek, or philosopher, but is for the common people, the sinful people, the “whosoever will.”8 It uses a beautiful figure of speech to express its accessibility. “Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven? (that is, [who shall] bring CHRIST down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, [who will] bring up CHRIST again from the dead.) But what saith it? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the WORD of faith, which we preach; 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 10:6-9).

People don’t have to climb to some elevated level of experience to know GOD, to become righteous, as cults teach. We don’t have to whip ourselves or do any other abasement to make ourselves worthy of GOD’S mercy. Anything like that is unscriptural, foolish. It is repentance right now. It is faith. You can meet JESUS now, wherever you are. We who have been in the ministry for years know, but the person on the street doesn’t know; they have to be told. All humanity is a wreck.

There is in every human heart the voice of GOD now and then, a need, the response to the gospel awakening a person. Exodus 20 tells of the fear of GOD and HIS mercy to all, through JESUS CHRIST (Exodus 20:18-20). We know that the Word of GOD is JESUS.9 JESUS uttered the Ten Commandments. The entire nation of Israel (3 million men, not including women and children) heard the voice of GOD on Mount Sinai.10 It was so loud, it filled their ears and shook the earth, awesome and frightening. The law which was given is called the ancient law, but it is the same today, and even more severe by the New Testament law in the Beatitudes.11

It is true that the law cannot save anyone (Galatians 2:16). However, it condemns the same today as it did then. GOD told Moses that no one will serve HIM if they don’t fear HIM.12 It is good to fear GOD; it is our wisdom.13 It is GOD’S mercy that we fear HIM and fear to break the law. JESUS said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17, Luke 16:16-17). JESUS never came to destroy the law; it will always be. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the law never will. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY WORDS shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).14

It was the altar of earth where the Hebrews were to meet GOD to get forgiveness of sins so they could escape the fiery judgment shown to them (which they saw displayed on the top of Mount Sinai which represented GOD’S judgment); but the altar of earth represented the cross of Calvary and the plan of salvation through the blood of JESUS CHRIST.15 It was there that they would bring their sacrifices to bleed and die, as CHRIST would do, in order to find atonement for their sins which the law very fearfully condemned.

The altar was to be made of earth, which was the most common, least expensive material and available to everybody (Exodus 20:24). Secondly, it could be made of stones left as they found them, for GOD said, “If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it” (Exodus 20:25). This is symbolic of mixing man’s doctrine with the gospel (heresy with the truth). No works of man must mingle with the free grace which insists upon GOD, through CHRIST alone, saving us.16

There were to be no steps leading up to the altar (Exodus 20:26). There is no step needed to raise any sinner to a level where GOD can meet him. Of course, we fly to meet HIM in prayer, but still, GOD meets us just as we are, wherever we, in sincerity, cry out to HIM. GOD stoops to the lowest place where sinners exist and repent. GOD cries out, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat… without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

Another beautiful vision of the nearness of GOD’S mercy and grace to helpless sinners is in Leviticus 14. It is the testimony of the poor leper outside the camp, cut off from the fellowship of his brethren by his unclean leprosy. But in infinite tenderness and mercy, GOD is represented as going out to meet him, the sinner, there: “And the priest shall go forth out of the camp” (Leviticus 14:3). GOD meets him where he lies in his separation and misery and supplies all that is necessary for his return and his future way.

GOD demonstrates HIS mercy in so many different ways. With myself, it was in one way; with the Apostle Paul, it was in another way, documented in the book of Acts. Another very unusual way which I heard of was with this Chinese man. He was asked why he gave up Confucius and Buddha and accepted JESUS CHRIST. He said, “I was down in a deep pit into which I had fallen in my folly and sin. I was sinking in the mire, and was in vain calling for help. Suddenly, a shadow fell across the pit. Looking up, I saw Confucius. I implored him to reach out his hand to get me out, but he proceeded to calmly instruct me in the principles of his version of right living, and told me that if I had only listened to his teaching, I would have not been in the pit. He said it was vain for me to cry, ‘Help me, help me now!’ ‘Your good advice will be useful after I get out, but it is useless until someone delivers me out of this pit of death.’ He was gone, and I knew Confucius could not save me.

“Later, another shadow fell on the opening of the pit, and I looked up to see Buddha. With the frenzy of despair, I cried for him to save me. But Buddha folded his arms and looked serenely down upon me. ‘My son,’ he said, ‘be quiet, be patient, be still. Don’t mind your troubles, ignore them. The secret of happiness is to die to self and surroundings, to retire to the inward calm and center of your heart. There you shall find nirvana, eternal rest, and that is the end of all existence.’ As he turned to leave, I cried, ‘Father, if you will only get me out of this pit, I can do all you tell me, but how can I be quiet and satisfied sinking in this awful mire?’ He benignly waved his hand and said, ‘My son, be still,’ and passed on. And I knew Buddha would not save me.

“At that point, I was ready to give up hope, when a third shadow fell across my vision. I looked up and saw a man like myself with a kind and tender countenance. Marks of dried blood were upon HIS brow. HE spoke to me and said, ‘MY child, I have come to save you. Will you let ME?’ I cried out in my despair, ‘Come LORD, help me, I perish!’ In a moment HE had leaped down into the pit and put HIS arms around me. HE lifted me up and placed me on the brink, and took my torn and spattered clothing. HE washed me and robed me in new clothes, and then HE said, ‘I have come to save you from your distress, and now, if you will follow ME, I will never leave you. I will be your friend and guide all the way and will keep you from ever falling again.’ HIS name was JESUS. Need I say that I fell at HIS feet, saying, ‘LORD, I will follow THEE.’” The man said, “This is why I became a Christian.”

This is the same JESUS who has taken you, me, and hundreds of millions of others out of a horrible pit and the miry clay, set our feet upon a solid rock, and established our goings (Psalm 40:2). HE is longing to do the same for every lost and hopeless person of our fallen race. It is very sad, needless, and sinful that most people who profess Christianity allow others to die, perish, without ever knowing HIM. How could we Christians be as cruel as Confucius and Buddha, and heartless towards JESUS, who always did “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10)? This is the glorious gospel which GOD has provided for this whole lost world. It is our responsibility to give the gospel to the world.17

There are three items that must be observed in the list of our responsibilities. Here they are: (1) “How then shall they call on HIM in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:14). Believing is the responsibility of every sinner. GOD calls upon every lost sinner to believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to call upon HIM as SAVIOR and LORD. If people refuse to do this, the responsibility for the loss of their souls is their own. They have had their chance, and they have made their choice. GOD cannot save people without their believing in HIM. In the very nature of things, there must be confidence, consent. There must be a response of the human will and the human heart to the call of GOD. Salvation is not a mechanical process but a voluntary one. Every human effort must cooperate with GOD. “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 deserve to be lost forever if they refuse to accept the SAVIOR who is offered to them.18 This is the one deciding question for every human being. People will perish eternally for the biggest of all sins, which is the rejection of JESUS CHRIST. It is the question of the Son of GOD. Because of that, GOD wants the message of salvation offered to all mankind. Then the responsibility rests with them. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

(2) The second responsibility is the human agency. “And how shall they believe in HIM of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). The agency is the messenger. GOD has ordained the human agency as the conveyor of the gospel to mankind. HE could have proclaimed it with a very loud voice, or stood in the sky with HIS fists doubled up and shaking them at us on earth. I’m sure if HE did, everyone would have fallen on their faces, like they will when CHRIST comes back to earth soon in HIS wrath.19 HE could have sent legions of angels to proclaim it among the nations. No! HE has chosen to give us the privilege and honor of sharing with HIM in HIS glorious work. “Now then we are ambassadors for CHRIST, as though GOD did beseech you by us: we pray you in CHRIST’S stead, be ye reconciled to GOD” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, CHRIST’S first word to HIS disciples is, “GO”—the call of the Heavenly voices is, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). HE is waiting for volunteers, and HE will only send volunteers. It is the duty of every one of us who doesn’t have a good reason for staying at home to go.20

Have we heard this call? Have we weighed our responsibility? Have we waited for our marching orders? Are we where GOD wants us in this war for human souls? Young men, women, mothers, fathers, students, and people of every name who are standing or sitting at the crossroads of life—listen today while again HE calls, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). GOD grant that many may answer even today, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

(3) The last link in the line of responsibility brings the responsibility home to every one of us. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:15). Sending is something we all can do. It is certainly GOD’S business to send a messenger, and the words “preacher” and “missionary” only mean “sent ones.” The twelve apostles were twelve missionaries, and every missionary will be sent by the HOLY SPIRIT. If you are filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, you will go.

When I first was saved and Susan was teaching me the Word of GOD, I felt it was such a waste for my ears only to hear the wonderful words of GOD, so I asked her if  I could bring others to hear her teaching, to hear how she was saved, and to hear how I also came to know the LORD. Then that wasn’t enough. We got gospel tracts from the Free Tract Society in Los Angeles, and as soon as the sun would come up or when it became light outside, I was on the streets. While people were still sleeping, I was placing tracts on cars, in doorways, in shopping baskets, on shelves in shopping centers, in hallways, under the doors of apartments, hotels, motels, and houses (only the ones that the HOLY SPIRIT told me). Then I wouldn’t wait for the sun to come out; I would start with all zeal when the sky showed the first sign of light. We, Sue and I, would pass out the tracts on Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip when the riots were going on. Needless to say, Satan didn’t like this. Then, of course, the smear campaigns began, and they have only intensified down through the years.

It is our duty to win souls, train them, then send them out to lead others to the LORD as well. In the book of Acts, GOD began HIS great work of modern missions. Before HE did that, HE commanded the church at Antioch to separate its two best leaders as foreign missionaries, and it is distinctly added, “So they, being sent forth by the HOLY SPIRIT, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 13:4). Who is to do the sending first? The HOLY SPIRIT, then those who the HOLY SPIRIT speaks to and through.
Ask JESUS the CHRIST into your heart now through this prayer:

Prayer

My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11

After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13

CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).

The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.

If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “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 [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], 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. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).


English Alamo Literature

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footnotes:

1. Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:18-25, 16:13-17, 28:2-15, Luke 1:77-79, Rom. 5:8, Eph. 2:4-18, Heb. 4:14-15, James 5:11, Rev. 1:10-18 return

2. 2 Matt. 1:21, 12:50, 18:11-13, 25:40, Luke 1:68-77, 2:11, 30-32, Rom. 7:4-6, 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:4-27, Eph. 2:18-22, 5:23, Col. 1:18, Heb. 2:11-12 return

3. Matt. 28:18-20, John 10:27-28, 14:23-27, 16:7-16, Rom. 6:22-23, 8:9-18, 1 Cor. 2:9, 2 Tim. 1:7, 3:14-17, James 2:5, 2 Pet. 1:2-4 return

4. Rom. 5:14-21, 10:4-10, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 1:3-14, 5:25-27, Col. 1:21-23, Titus 3:3-7, 1 John 4:4 return

5. Isa. ch. 53, John 8:12, 12:46, 14:1-6, Eph. 1:3-14, Heb. 9:11-15, 1 Pet. 1:18-21, 1 John 2:2 return

6. Hag. 2:7, Matt. 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-9, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Col. 2:8-15, Rev. 1:5-6 return

7. Isa. 42:1-6, 21, Matt. ch. 5, 22:36-40, Rom. 1:3-5, 8:1-4, 16:25-26 return

8. Matt. 10:32, 11:28-30, 12:21, 18:1-4, 21:28-32, 28:19-20, Mark 8:34, Luke 6:47-49, 9:24, 48, John 1:11-13, 3:14-18, Acts 2:21 return

9. John 1:1-3, 14, 6:47-63, 1 John 1:1-3, Rev. 19:13 return

10. Ex. 20:1-23, Deut. 4:10-15, 5:1-27, 9:8-10, 10:4 return

11. Matt. 5:17-48, Rom. 3:31 return

12. Ex. 20:18-20, Deut. 4:9-10, 5:29 return

13. Lev. 19:14, 32, Deut. 6:1-2, 13, 24, 8:6, 10:12, 20, Josh. 4:23-24, 1 Sam. 12:24-25, 2 Kings 17:34-39, Job 28:28, Psa. 25:14, 33:18-19, 103:13-18, Prov. 1:7, 9:10, 15:16, 33, 16:6, 19:23, Eccl. 8:12-13, Isa. 8:13, 33:6, Jer. 2:19, 32:39-40, Mal. 2:5, 3:5, 16-17, 4:1-3, Matt. 10:28 return

14. Psa. 33:11, 111:7-8, 119:89-90, Eccl. 3:14, Rom. 3:28-31, 7:4-25, 1 Pet. 1:23-25 return

15. Lev. 17:11, Matt. 20:28, 26:28, John 1:29, 3:14-17, 6:51, 10:11-18, 11:49-52, Acts 5:30-31, 20:28, 26:23, Rom. 5:6-11, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, Gal. 1:3-4, 2:20, 4:4-5, Eph. 2:11-22, 5:2, 1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9-10, 1 Tim. 2:5-6, Titus 2:13-14, Heb. 2:9-10 return

16. Rom. 3:19-31, 9:30-33, Gal. 2:15-16, 3:9-29, Phlp. 3:4-11, Heb. chs. 8-9, 10:1-18 return

17. Ezek. 3:1-21, 33:1-11, Matt. 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, Luke 24:36-48, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, 2 Tim. 1:7-13, 4:1-5 return

18. Mark 16:15-16, John 3:14-20, 36, 5:24, 12:44-48, 1 John 5:10-12 return

19. Isa. 2:10-21, 13:3-13, 24:17-23, 34:1-10, Joel 2:1-6, 30-31, Amos 5:18-20, Zeph. ch. 1, Zech. 14:1-14, Mal. 4:1, Rom. 14:11, 1 Thes. 5:1-2, 2 Pet. 3:10-12, Rev. 6:15-16, 19:11-21 return

20. Matt. 5:13-16, 7:17-23, 25:15-46, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 14:16-27, John 15:1-8, 16, 1 Cor. 9:16-17, Eph. 2:10, Titus 2:11-15 return


Prayer footnotes:

1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return

2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return

3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return

4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return

5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return

6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return

7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return

8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return

9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return

10. Heb. 11:6 return

11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return

12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return

13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return

14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return