 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ARE YOU GOING TO Heaven?
Obeying God's Law and Commandments
Doing your best
Living a good life
Good Works
Trying to obey the Golden Rule
Tithing, or giving money to a church
Church membership or attendance
Prayers
Water Baptism
Holy Communion
Born of Christian Parents
Confirmation
Penance
If you checked one or more item on the list, you failed the test. Don’t feel badly though, most people fail. Most people are, to some degree, “religious,” but religion is nothing more than a man-made attempt to reach God.
The correct answer to the question is not found in any religious system or man’s self-righteousness. God’s Word declares:
“There is none righteous, no not one.” Rom. 3:10
“…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Rom. 3:12
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12
The Bible declares that sin resulted in the condemnation of death: eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire.
“For the wages of sin is death…” Rom. 6:23
You see, friend, it’s not simply the idea of your daily mistakes or outright sins that makes you a sinner and, thus, dooms you to Hell. People make mistakes and commit sin because they are sinners.
What can be done? What can a person do to merit salvation, or earn their way to Heaven? The Answer is NOTHING. But God, in His love, mercy and grace has provided the way.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That sin hath reigned unto death, even might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5:20-21
“For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8
What we cannot do for ourselves, God in His mercy did for us through the gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave His life and shed His blood for the full and complete payment of sin. The “wage” of sin has been paid. All that is left for man to do is to believe.
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood.” Rom. 3:24-25
“But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifest…even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Rom. 3:21-22
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:5
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rom. 10:9-10
So you see friend, you cannot go to Heaven based upon any work or deed that you do but rather it is based upon the finished work that the Lord Jesus Christ did for you. He has done all the work necessary, and all that is left for you to do is believe. Place your full faith and trust in His death, burial and resurrection and you will be saved.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” Rom. 3:28
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13
If you’ve trusted Christ today, or have any questions, please contact us. We would be eager to pray for you and share more with you from God’s Word.