- Have you come to the point 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 would say you’re still working on?
- 1 John 5:13 – 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.
- May I share… Before I do, let me ask you a second question
- Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to say to you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you say?
- May I take a few moments and share with you what I have learned in the Bible about eternal life.
- Heaven is a free gift – Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- It is not earned or deserved – Ephesians 2:8-9 – 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.
- This can be seen more clearly when we understand what the Bible says about man.
- Man is a sinner.
- Sin defined: Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
- Man cannot save himself.
- Man is a sinner.
- This comes into sharper focus when we look at what the Bible says about God.
- God is merciful – therefore doesn’t want to punish us.
- I John 4:8b – for God is love
- God is just – therefore must punish sin.
- Exodus 34:7 – Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
- God is merciful – therefore doesn’t want to punish us.
- God solved this problem in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Who He is?
- Christ is the infinite God-Man.
- John 1:1,14 & 20:28 – (1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (20:28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
- Christ is the infinite God-Man.
- 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 which He offers as a free gift.
- Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- 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 which He offers as a free gift.
- Who He is?
- This gift is received by faith.
- What it is not,
- Faith is not mere intellectual assent.
- James 2:19 – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- Faith is not mere temporal faith.
- Faith is not mere intellectual assent.
- What it is,
- Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
- Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
- What it is not,
- Does this make sense to you?
- Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life?
- Let me clarify this
- Transfer trust
- Receive the resurrected and living Christ as Savior
- Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I 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.
- Repent
- If that is what you really want, please pray and tell God these things.
- I would like you to read something Jesus says about what you have just done.
- John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
- Now, let us return to those two questions I asked you at the beginning…
Adapted from: Brian Trainer