I have a question for you. Have you come to a place in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you were to die today you would go to heaven, or is that something you are not sure of?
1 John 5:13 says; “These things have I written unto you…that you may know that you have eternal life”.
I want to share with you how you can know for certain that you have eternal life in heaven.
Heaven is a free gift.
Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You can not earn heaven and you do not deserve it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourself: it is the gift of God: Not by works so that no man should boast.”
Suppose your best friend were to give you an expensive gift and you immediately tried to pay for it. That would be insulting to your friend, wouldn’t it? You must accept it freely. If you paid even a penny for it then it is no longer a gift. It is the same with eternal life
Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about man.
Man is a sinner.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
When we think of sin we think of really bad things like robbery, murder etc. The Bible tells us that sin is anything that breaks God’s laws and doesn’t please Him. There are sins in deed and in word like lying, cursing, hatred, etc.
Man can not save himself.
Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
If you were to make an omelet using 5 good eggs and 1 rotten egg that would be unacceptable. You would never dare serve that to anyone. Even less can we serve up our lives to God, which may have many things in them that men would call good but may still be filled with deeds and thoughts that are rotten. Do you see why it is impossible for anyone to get into heaven by their good works?
Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about God.
God is merciful and does not want to punish us.
1 John 4:8b “…for God is love.”
God is just and must punish sin.
Exodus 34:7b “He will by no means clear the guilty.”
God solved this problem in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Who is Jesus? The infinite God-Man.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
What He did…He died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us.
Let’s imagine that you have a book in your hand that has recorded in it everything you did bad and every word you thought or said. Here is the problem, God loves you but hates your sin and He must punish it. To solve this problem He sent His son, Jesus, into the world. God placed all our sins on Jesus Christ on the cross.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray and have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Finally, on the cross Jesus said “it is finished” meaning the price for sin is paid. When He died, He was buried in a grave for three days; but He rose from the dead and went to heaven to prepare a place for you and me. Now He offers heaven (eternal life) to you and me as a free gift.
We believe this by faith.
Faith is not head knowledge.
James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God, you do well: the devils also believe and tremble.”
Faith is not temporal.
All the things of the world will pass away. They are temporary. But saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
Acts 16:31 “Believe (trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”
Faith is the hand of a beggar reaching out to accept the gift of a king. Twenty years ago this beggar reached out an unworthy hand and received the gift of eternal life. I didn’t deserve it then and I don’t deserve it now. But, I have it–by grace! So why should I try to live a good life? The reason is for gratitude for this gift of eternal life. I’m not trying to gain something I don’t have by my efforts to be good. Rather, I’m saying “Thank you Lord”; the motive for Christian living is gratitude for the gift of eternal life.
Does this make sense to you? Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life?
Revelation 3:20 says “Behold I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me. “
To receive Christ as Lord and repent of your sins by saying this prayer.
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and can not save myself. I believe through faith that You died on the cross and paid the price for my sins. I believe through faith that You rose from the dead and are in heaven preparing a place for me. I am sorry for all my sins, please forgive me. Wash me clean and make me new. Amen.
Look at what Jesus says about what you have done.
John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Now you will need to get yourself a Bible if you don’t already have one. The book of John is a good place to start reading. Find and start attending a Bible believing church and start spending time with other believers. They will strengthen and encourage you.
Welcome to the Kingdom of God friend, you are loved.
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