Page 3: To many, "faith" simply means having a religious belief or following a form of worship. As used in the Bible, however, "faith" basically means total trust - complete, unshakable confidence in God and his promises. It is a quality that marks a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Note: Faith in Jesus Christ produces hope for the future.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Page 3: On one occasion, Jesus Christ spoke about the need to pray and "not to give up." In so doing, he raised a question about whether true faith would exist at all in our day. He asked: "When the Son of man arrives, will he really find this faith on the earth?" Why did he raise such a question? - Luke 18:1, 8.
Answer: The "great crowd" of Christians will be in heaven during the "great tribulation."
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"
Note: The "great crowd" of Christians returns with Christ at the end of the "great tribulation."
Jude 1:14-15 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
Page 4: WHAT impressed visitors to Sarah Jayne's bedside in the hospital was her calm confidence about the future, along with her deep faith in God and his Word, the Bible. Despite the terrible tragedy she was facing, she was sure of the resurrection hope - that she would see all her friends again. (John 5:28, 29) "I will see all of you in God's new world," she said.
Correction: The Watch Tower deceives people into a universalistic salvation.
John 5:28-29 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."
Note: Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ?
Page 5: To develop faith and trust in someone, you need to know him and to learn how he thinks and acts. This process involves the heart as well as the mind. It is really the same when it comes to developing true faith in God. You need to get to know him, to learn about his qualities and his personality, to find out how trustworthy and dependable he has proved to be in all that he has said and done. - Psalm 9:10; 145:1-21.
Note: Do you personally know Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to come into your life?
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Page 5: How, then, can you "seek God ... and really find him"? Some have done this simply by observing the universe around them. For many, that in itself gives enough evidence to convince them that there must be a Creator. (Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:26; Acts 14:16, 17) They feel, as the apostle Paul did, that "(God's) invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship."
Note: Have you discovered Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to come into your life?
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Page 5: To build real faith in the Creator, however, you need something else that he has provided. What is that? The Bible - God's inspired Word, in which he reveals his will and purpose. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) "But wait," some will say, "how can you possibly believe anything the Bible says when you see the terrible things done by people who claim to follow the Bible?" Granted, Christendom has a shocking record of hypocrisy, brutality, and immorality. But any reasonable person can see that Christendom only pretends to follow Bible principles.
Note: Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to come into your life?
2 Timothy 3:14-15 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Note: The Watch Tower condemns Christendom continuously, but never Islam.
Page 5: The Bible itself warned that many people would profess to worship God yet would, in fact, "disown even the owner that bought them." "On account of these," said the apostle Peter, "the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively." (2 Peter 2:1, 2)
Note: The Watch Tower has denied Jesus Christ as being God.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Note: The Watch Tower condemns Christendom continuously, but never Islam.
Page 5: Jesus Christ said that these ones were "workers of lawlessness" who would be clearly identified by their evil actions. (Matthew 7:15-23) To reject God's Word on the basis of Christendom's record is like throwing away a letter from a trusted friend simply because the person who happens to deliver it is disreputable.
Note: The Watch Tower is under the judgment of God.
Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
Note: The Watch Tower condemns Christendom continuously, but never Islam.
Page 6: It is not enough, however, simply to have a Bible or even to believe that it is inspired. "Faith," writes the apostle Paul, "follows the thing heard." (Romans 10:17) Hearinghaving a Bible, is what builds faith. You "hear" what God has to say by reading and studying his Word. the Bible, not just
Correction: Reading the Bible in context will build true faith.
Romans 10:8-9 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Note: Have you confessed the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to come into your life?
Pages 6-7: You are not left on your own to build true faith. Besides making his Word freely available, Jehovah has also provided a worldwide Christian congregation that is devoted to helping righthearted people build faith in God. (John 17:20; Romans 10:14, 15)
Correction: The Father and the Son have provided the Holy Spirit as a Helper for Christians.
John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."
Note: The worldly Watch Tower does not know the Holy Spirit.
Page 7: Accept all the help that Jehovah provides through that organization. (Acts 8:30, 31) And since faith is a fruit of God's holy spirit, pray constantly for that spirit to help you to develop true faith. - Galatians 5:22.
Correction: The Father and the Son have provided the Holy Spirit as a Helper for Christians
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
Note: The worldly Watch Tower does not know the Holy Spirit.
Page 7: Do not be put off by skeptics who scoff at anyone who professes faith in God and his Word. (1 Corinthians 1:18-21; 2 Peter 3:3, 4) In fact, true faith is of immense value in strengthening your stand against such attacks. (Ephesians 6:16)
Note: Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you preaching Him?
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Page 7: Sarah Jayne found that to be true, and she always encouraged those who visited her in the hospital to build up their own faith. "Make the truth your own," she would say. "Study God's Word. Stay close to God's organization. Pray constantly. Stay active in Jehovah's service."
Note: Sadly, Sarah Jayne missed Jesus Christ thanks to the Watch Tower.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Page 7: Seeing her faith in God and in the resurrection, one of her nurses said: "You really do believe this, don't you?" When asked what gave her such an optimistic outlook despite her trials, she replied: "It is having faith in Jehovah. He is a real friend to me, and I dearly love him."
Note: Sadly, Sarah Jayne missed Jesus Christ thanks to the Watch Tower.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Page 8: Why do parents have trouble rearing their children? A major reason is that we are living in "the last days," and "critical times hard to deal with" are here. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Correction: The main reason why parents have trouble rearing their children is sin.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Page 8: Obstacles certainly abound for Christian parents, who set out to bring up their children "in the disciple and mental-regulating of Jehovah." (Ephesians 6:4) How can parents help their children to grow up to be mature worshipers of Jehovah, able to distinguish "both right and wrong"? - Hebrews 5:14.
Answer: Sincerely fall in love with Jesus Christ. Have you asked Him to come into your life?
Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Page 9: "God is love," says the apostle John. So, then, the training Jehovah provides is always motivated by love. (1 John 4:8; Proverbs 3:11, 12) Does this mean that parents who have natural affection for their offspring would find it easy to imitate Jehovah in this regard?
Answer: Yes, only if your love and faith is in Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Page 9: How may Christian parents imitate Jehovah's love? First, they must teach their children the principles and standards found in God's Word. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) The goal is to help the young learn to make decisions in harmony with Bible principles.
Correction: Christian parents will bring their children to Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Pages 10-11: Consider also how certain aspects of God's personality have made it easy for his people to approach him freely. For example, King David of ancient Israel sinned gravely by having an adulterous relationship with Bath-sheba. Being an imperfect human, David committed other serious sins in his life. Yet, he never failed to approach Jehovah and seek his forgiveness and reproof. Undoubtedly, God's loving-kindness and mercy made it easier for David to return to Jehovah. (Psalm 103:8)
Note: True Christians look to the mercy of Jesus Christ. Are you? Do you want eternal life?
Jude 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Page 12: Among the best ways to instruct your children are a regular family Bible study and a daily Scriptural discussion. A family study is most effective when it is regular. If left up to chance or to a spur-of-the-moment decision, it is likely to be infrequent at best. So parents must 'buy out the time' for the study. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
Note: Have you bought-out-the-time to worship Jesus Christ in His name?
Ephesians 5:18-21 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Page 13: The psalmist declared: "Look! Sons are an inheritance from Jehovah; the fruitage of the belly is a reward." (Psalm 127:3) Training our children takes time and effort, but doing so properly can mean everlasting life to our young ones. What a fine reward that would be! May we, then, eagerly imitate Jehovah when training our children.
Correction: Christian parents will bring their children to Jesus Christ.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Page 13: Though most of Jehovah's Witnesses do not have this problem, for those who do, no words of comfort can completely remove their grief. And not to be overlooked is the unhappiness that the wayward youth himself can experience. Deep down, his conscience may trouble him. In Jesus' parable, the prodigal son eventually "came to his senses," to the joy of his father. How can parents and others in the congregation help prodigals to 'come to their senses'?
Answer: You can introduce the prodigal sons and daughters to Jesus Christ. Have you?
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Pages 13-14: There are hundreds of thousands of young ones who serve Jehovah happily in the Christian congregation. Why, then, do other young ones leave? They may feel that they are losing out on something that the world offers. (2 Timothy 4:10)
Answer: They were never introduced to Jesus Christ personally.
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God."
Page 14: A child's rebellious attitude and behavior are usually symptoms of spiritual weakness, reflections of what is in his heart. (Proverbs 15:13; Matthew 12:34) For whatever reason a youth goes astray, the root of the problem often lies in his not having "an accurate knowledge of truth."
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
1 Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Page 14: "Draw close to God," wrote the disciple James, "and he will draw close to you." (James 4:8) To do so, a young person must be helped to cultivate a taste for the Word of God. (Psalm 34:8) Initially he will need "milk" - the basic teachings of the Bible. But as he takes delight in God's Word and acquires a taste for "solid food" - deep spiritual information - spiritual maturity will not be far off for him. (Hebrews 5:11-14; Psalm 1:2)
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Page 14: Yes, with a little imagination, a family study can be made lively and varied. Parents also do well to examine their own relationship with Jehovah. As they themselves draw closer to Jehovah, they can help their children to do so. - Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
John 8:19 Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."
Page 15: Consider what Jehovah did with ancient Israel. He put up with the "stiff-necked" Israelites for over 900 years before abandoning them to their wayward path. (Exodus 34:9; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Romans 10:21) Despite their repeatedly 'putting him to the test,' Jehovah "was merciful" to them. "Many times he made his anger turn back, and he would not rouse up all his rage." (Psalm 78:38-42) God was faultless in his dealings with them. Loving parents imitate Jehovah and are patient when the child does not immediately respond to their efforts to help him.
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
Matthew 23:37-39 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
Page 16: Can the tender part of his heart be reached? What scriptures can be used effectively? The apostle Paul assures us: "The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Note: Have you confessed Jesus Christ?
Pages 16-17: In restoring one's relationship with Jehovah, prayer is a must. Of course, no one should "make request" concerning blatant sin that is clearly being practiced unrepentantly by any individual once associated with the Christian congregation. (1 John 5:16, 17; Jeremiah 7:16-20; Hebrews 10:26, 27) Yet, parents can ask Jehovah to give them wisdom to deal with the situation.
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Page 17: If a baptized youth is disfellowshipped, the congregation members are expected "to quit mixing in company with" him. (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 John 10, 11) This may eventually help him to 'come to his senses' and return to God's protective fold. (Luke 15:17)
Note: True Christian congregation will do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Page 18: We have the Scriptural assurance that Jehovah wants people to repent and live. In fact, he has taken the initiative in making an arrangement to reconcile humans to himself. (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19) His patience has made it possible for millions to come to their senses.
Note: Have you introduced your children to Jesus Christ personally?
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
Note: Are you an ambassador for Jesus Christ?
Page 19: JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES strive to contact everyone they can with the Kingdom message. At times, it takes an extraordinary effort to reach those who are seldom at home.
Note: The kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ not paradise earth.
Acts 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Note: The apostle Paul did not go "door to door."
Page 20: Jehovah told his friend Abraham: "I am a shield for you." (Genesis 15:1; Isaiah 41:8) These were not mere words. Jehovah protected and delivered Abraham and his household from Pharaoh and from Abimelech. He helped Abraham rescue Lot from a four-king confederacy. Jehovah restored the procreative powers of 100-year-old Abraham and 90-year-old Sarah so that through them might come the promised Seed. Jehovah regularly communicated with Abraham through visions, dreams, and angelic messengers.
Note: God the Son appeared to Abraham.
Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless."
Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
Genesis 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you."
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Page 20: In fact, Jehovah demonstrated loyalty to Abraham while he was alive and also long after his death. Over the centuries, Jehovah kept his promises to Abraham's descendants, the nation of Israel, despite their waywardness. Jehovah's relationship with Abraham was a demonstration of what true loyalty is - love translated into action. - Genesis, chapters 12 to 25.
Note: Are you loyally in love with Jesus Christ?
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me."
Page 21: Similarly, Jehovah demonstrated loyalty to David, the famous second king of Israel. While David was only a youth, Jehovah told the prophet Samuel: "Get up, anoint him, for this is he!" From then on, Jehovah loyally protected and guided David while he matured as the future king of all Israel.
Note: Have you loyally confessed Jesus Christ as your 'Lord' just as David did?
Matthew 22:41-45 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 'The LORD said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool'? If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?"
Pages 21-22: Jehovah also demonstrates loyalty toward mankind in general in that he provides the basic necessities of life for all men, righteous and unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45; Acts 17:25) More than that, he has provided the ransom sacrifice of his Son so that all mankind might have the opportunity to be released from bondage to sin and death and to enjoy the glorious prospects of perfect, everlasting life in Paradise. (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16) The ransom provision was the ultimate act to preserve and promote life. It was indeed "intervention on behalf of someone suffering misfortune or distress."
Note: Have you put your faith into the person and name of Jesus Christ?
John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Page 22: As a recipient of Jehovah's loving-kindness, David was obviously moved to worship and praise him. Hence, as we contemplate Jehovah's demonstration of loving-kindness toward us, are we moved to reciprocate? For instance, if Jehovah's name is reproached, does your concern for his reputation motivate you to speak up in his defense?
Note: Have you put your faith into the person and name of Jesus Christ?
1 Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Page 22: Loyalty to Jehovah includes loyalty to his Word, the Bible. Why? Because through the pages of the Bible, Jehovah teaches us how to live. The laws and principles recorded therein are indeed the finest and most beneficial precepts for life. (Isaiah 48:17) Do not let pressure from others or your own weaknesses cause you to deviate from adherence to Jehovah's laws.
Correction: Have you put your faith into the person and name of Jesus Christ?
Romans 3:20-22 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Page 22: Loyalty to God also includes loyalty to his organization. Necessarily, over the years there have been corrections and adjustments to our understanding of certain scriptures. The fact is that no one is as spiritually well fed as we are. (Matthew 24:45-47)
Correction: True Christians do not associate with those given to change.
Prov 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;
Page 23: In addition to being loyal to the organization, will we be loyal to one another? When faced with the threat of brutal persecution, will we remain loyal to our brothers and sisters?
Correction: True Christians will suffer for the name and person of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake."
Page 30: (Questions From Readers) What is the "rest" referred to at Hebrews 4:9-11, and how does one "enter into that rest"? To the first-century Hebrew Christians, the apostle Paul wrote: "There remains a sabbath resting for the people of God. For the man that has entered into God's rest has also himself rested from his own works, just as God did from his own. Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest." - Hebrews 4:9-11.
Answer: A Christian enters that rest through sincere belief in Jesus Christ not their works.
Hebrews 3:18-19 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Page 30: Getting back to Paul's statement in Hebrews, we note that he pointed out that "there remains a sabbath resting for the people of God," and he urged his fellow Christians to do their utmost "to enter into that rest." This shows that when Paul wrote those words, "the seventh day" of God's rest, which had started some 4,000 years earlier, was still in progress. It will not end until God's purpose regarding mankind and the earth is completely fulfilled at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ, who is the "Lord of the sabbath."
Correction: A Christian enters that rest now through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:3 For we who have (past tense) believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,'" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Page 31: Paul's discussion of God's rest and how one might enter into it surely was a source of encouragement to the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem, who had endured much persecution and ridicule for their faith. (Acts 8:1; 12:1-5) Similarly, Paul's words can be a source of encouragement to Christians today. Realizing that the fulfillment of God's promise to bring about a paradise earth under his righteous Kingdom is near at hand, we too should rest from our own works and do our utmost to enter into that rest.
Correction: A Christian enters that rest now through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been (past tense) saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved (past tense) us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Note: The Christian message has nothing to do with paradise earth.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being (entering that rest) saved it is the power of God.