A Relationship with God
The Question
If your body died today, are you 100% sure that your soul would go to Heaven?
The Bible has been around, in different languages, for about two thousand years. It is unarguably the Book that explains how man can be reconciled to God. It is shocking how few people, even Christians, can tell confidently and accurately exactly what the Bible teaches concerning how someone can know the joy of being reconciled to God and knowing with confidence that they have the promise of eternal life. Following is a clear, concise explanation of how to receive the gift of eternal life.
Before anyone can receive the gift of eternal life, there are four things that they must know, and one decision they must make.
These four things you must know:
I. Every Man Is a Sinner.
We all are sinners. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 I have met very few people that disagree with this statement. Most everyone readily admits, “I have done things that I knew were wrong, but I did them anyway.” This truth is taught all throughout the Bible. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10
Although we are all sinners, you must resist the temptation to dismiss the fact casually. When you stand before God, it will be unacceptable to say, “All men are sinners, so I am normal.” Sin is heartbreaking and awful in the eyes of a holy God. Your sin cannot be overlooked or ignored. Your sin changed the relationship between you and your Creator. After you acknowledge that you are a sinner in the eyes of God, you can move on to the next required piece of knowledge. As a warning, this is the hardest part of the Gospel to accept, but very necessary.
II. Because We Sin, We Will Die.
Death is in the nature of sin. The souls of men are not condemned some day when they stand before God and are found wanting. The souls of men are condemned already because death is the end of sin. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15b “For the wages of sin is death;” Romans 6:23a. Wages are what you get for what you’ve done. When you put in satisfactory hours on the job, eventually you receive payment. When what you’ve done is sin, eventually you will receive death. All men are under the death penalty. “death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12b Long ago, God created the lake of fire. He created this awful place, not for man, but for the devil and his angels. Jesus refers to this lake of fire as “Gehenna.” Gehenna was a valley outside the wall on the west side of Jerusalem. It was the trash dump of the city and this valley was always burning. You could accurately call the lake of fire which God created His trash heap. Fast approaching is the day that God will separate good things from bad things and eternally put all things wrong and evil in this lake of fire. We often call it the Day of the Lord, or, the Day of Judgement. Unfortunately, man has gotten caught up, because of sin, on the wrong side of God. This lake of fire is the death of the soul, the second death. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 You must acknowledge that you are a sinner awaiting the execution of the death penalty for your sins. You are condemned. Acknowledging your condition before God is a necessary step. Now comes the best news you will ever hear. Everything you owe God for your sins has been paid in full by the Son of God Himself. He paid all of the death you owe for all of the sins you have committed.
III. Jesus, the Sinless Son of God, Paid Death and Hell for Us.
God loves man, and He is doing everything He can to rescue man from the approaching doom. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, so that we could be freed from the debt that we owe, death and hell. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Notice He did not say that Christ died for us while we were going to church, reforming our lives, or following after Him, but, “while we were yet sinners.” Better than that, three days after Christ’s death, He rose from dead. Jesus has the power to save sinners from sin and death. Jesus said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:18
IV. Everyone Who Trusts in Jesus Christ for Salvation Will Be Saved.
All throughout the Bible, God promises to save those who believe in Jesus Christ. The most well known promise is: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Jesus said, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 The key is believing. It has been made even simpler. God says that if you believe in Jesus enough to call upon Him by name, you will be saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in Whom they have not believed?” Romans 10:13-14 These are the four things you must know. You are a sinner. You owe death. Jesus died for you and rose again. Jesus saves those who call upon Him for salvation. The decision you need to make is this: will you trust in Jesus enough to call upon Him? If I could make you call upon Jesus for salvation, I would. I cannot. Your mother cannot. Your father cannot. No one can make you call upon Him. You must make this decision on your own. Won’t you call upon Him? Jesus is alive. He is eagerly listening to hear your voice calling in faith upon Him. Won’t you? If you would like to call upon Jesus now, you could pray something like the following: Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that because of my sins I am in danger of death and hell. I believe that You paid that for me. I believe that You rose from the dead and can save me. Please forgive me of my sins and save me. This moment I trust in You alone. Thank You that You died for me. Help me to live for You. Amen.
If you have trusted in Jesus Christ to save you, we would like to help you learn more fully of this powerful new development in your life. The more you learn, the more blessed your life will be. Please let us know through the contact form.