Let me ask you a question. Are you 100% sure that if you would die today that your destination would be Heaven ? How do you know ? What are you basing your answer on ? Some would say that they have been water baptized as a baby or even as an adult. Others would say that they were born to Christian parents, or even that they do good things and are good people. You might even compare yourselves with others around you, like neighbors who drink, swear and act indecently. But let me tell you from personal experience, none of that matters to GOD !
If you identified with any of those above mentioned reasons for believing that your destination at death is Heaven, then I can tell you with full assurance that Heaven will NOT be your eternal home at death. GOD says in HIS WORD, "As it is written, There is none righteous no, not one: . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10,12b). GOD also says in HIS WORD, "For ALL have sinned , and come short of the glory of GOD." When Adam sinned in the garden he condemned all of mankind to a sin nature. We are born with it and there is no getting around it. In fact, GOD says "For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6:23a).
There is a payment that must be made for the sins of mankind, all of mankind. I can't pay for your sins and you can't pay for mine because we are sinners. Without your sin debt being paid in full, none of us have any hope of a home in Heaven. But GOD knew this way before the foundation of the world. HE knew we would need a SAVIOR. ONE WHO is without any sin. ONE WHO would be willing to come and pay mankind's sin debt in full. That ONE is JESUS.
Anyone who tries to go to Heaven, outside of JESUS, will not be allowed in. GOD says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: NOT of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). You see if we could work our way to Heaven, by any means possible, then think of how many would not be able to do enough works to get in. Everything that we need to do to go to Heaven was provided by GOD for us. JESUS came in fulfillment of all the Old Testament Scriptures pointing to the coming MESSIAH. HE is the only answer to mankind's sin debt problem.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that HE was seen . . ." (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a, 3-5a).
JESUS had to come, fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures, so that you and I and anyone can be forgiven of their sins and have an eternal home in Heaven. GOD's WORD says in John 3:36, "He that believes on the SON (JESUS) hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him." Also in John 3:17 JESUS says, "He that believes on HIM is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten SON of GOD (JESUS)."
Now we come to the only thing that you must do to go to Heaven - BELIEVE. When Paul and Silas were in prison there was an earthquake and the prison doors were opened, but no one escaped. The keeper of the prison realized that all the prisoners were still there and he went into Paul and Silas and asked, 'What must I do to be saved ?' (Acts 16:30b) "And they said, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved," (Acts 16:31a). So Paul and Silas spoke to the keeper of the prison all about JESUS and what HE did for him. They gave him the Gospel and what to do to be saved.
In Romans 10, GOD's WORD tells us, "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. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10, 13). Some say that repentance is also needed. Repentance is a turning to GOD from sin, yes, that is what is happening when you confess in prayer that you are a sinner in need of a SAVIOR. Remember, there is NONE righteous (right with GOD). JESUS, the perfect LAMB of GOD gives you HIS righteousness at the moment of salvation. The moment you turn to GOD from your sin in repentance and faith.
LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for you always. In JESUS' name I pray. AMEN.
This is a simple prayer that you can pray or one like it if you are willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith. JESUS said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death (eternally in Hell) unto life (in Heaven)."
GOD's WORD gives us full assurance of our eternal home in Heaven in 1st.John 5:11-13, "And this is the record, that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON. He that has the SON has life; and he that has not the SON of GOD has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the SON of GOD; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the SON of GOD." Don't wait, "Behold, Now is the accepted time, Behold, Now is the day of salvation." (2nd.Corinthians 6:2b).
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
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