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Have you come to that place in your spiritual life that you know beyond all doubt that if you died right now you'd go to heaven?
Suppose that you did die at this very moment and stood before God, and He were to ask you, Why should I allow you into My heaven? what would you give as your answer?
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
[Revelation 20:11-15]
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement [Hebrews 9:27].
Everyone must stand before God. It doesn't matter whether we believe that or not, it is a fact. Man did not create God; God created man. It isn't God who can be done away with from the presence of man, but man who shall be done away with from the presence of God.
God's Word (the Scriptures or Bible) says that in the beginning God created man in His own image, male and female He created them. But man too soon turned away from the will of God and sinned through disobedience. This disobedience brought death and separation from God and His will for us.
It's not for us to point fingers at anyone else, for each one of us must stand alone before God and give account for himself or herself alone. Adam and Eve sinned and brought sin and death into the world, but each one of us reacts to this truth as befits him or her. Man in general has tried every form of denial of sin and death and hell, even of God Himself. Yet, in the end, it really doesn't matter what man in general has chosen; but, rather, what have you chosen? You can deny it all the way to hell, or you can admit it and seek God's personal forgiveness and reconciliation. If you be honest and sincere you will find Him merciful, forgiving and receptive, and, YOU CAN BE SAVED!
You Turned to This Page Because
You are either merely curious - or - You are seeking for answers.
When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, He said: To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Pilate then asked Him, What is truth? Today, many are asking that same question.
We live in a world of many perplexing problems, more so today than ever before. People, and even nations, are looking for real solutions to these problems. Some seek the answers in the escapism of drugs, alcohol, excessive sex or work, and even in the occult. Some turn hopefully to religions and churches. We know the answer doesn't lie in drugs, alcohol or any of those negatives (if we've learned anything, it is that these just add to the problems). Unfortunately, the answer isn't found in every religion either, not even in every church.
But, thank God, there are still those churches that stick to the basics of proclaiming the Good News of the Christian Faith, which does have the answers to the problems and ills of people and the world. The very reason that Christ put His Church in this world was so that we might find life. He said: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly [John 10:10]. When we speak of life, in the Scriptural sense, we are speaking of true life, eternal life, the life that Adam lost at the beginning. Through him and his sin we have all inherited the sin nature which leads to death. Death, in the Scriptural sense, is separation from God our Creator. Jesus came to bring us back.
Heaven - Eternal Life - Is a Free Gift!
Most people tend to think that God is some tyrannical god who is out to get us for not being good. The common thought seems to be that we have to obey the Ten Commandments and keep the Golden Rule even to be considered for Heaven. But, in all honesty, Who has really kept the Golden Rule? or Who has truly obeyed the Ten Commandments? Who is there who can say he or she has earned or deserves Heaven? The Great Good News of the Grace of our God is that He offers us Heaven, Eternal Life with Him as a FREE GIFT! Now that is GOOD NEWS, isn't it? One New Testament Scripture that reveals this truth is Romans 6:23 - - - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." . . . the gift of God is eternal life . . . Now, think about that for a moment, don't rush off anywhere, let it really sink down into your understanding. God gives us eternal life.
So, who is this gift for? How does one get this free gift? How can one be sure he or she has this free gift? The answer may not be as far away or difficult as you might think. I hope to show you that Heaven (eternal life) is truly a free gift from God, and that, actually that is really the only possible way it could be if any one of us is ever to have it.
We Are Sinners - Every Single One of Us!
The Bible says that "There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." But, God's standard is perfection. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Therefore, if we're not perfect - - - "For all have sinned" - - - then not one of us is good enough to meet the standard for getting into Heaven. The Word that "There is none righteous . . . all have sinned" is a condemning reminder that all of us have failed to keep God's commandments; all have sinned (in thoughts, in words and/or in deeds). Therefore, not one of us deserves to go to Heaven, not one of us can earn his way into Heaven through his or her good works: "For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . not of works, lest any man should boast." No one will be boasting in Heaven about how he worked or earned his or her way in. Not one of us ever has, nor ever will, deserve to be there on his or her own merits.
Although God is Merciful - He is Also Just!
God is loving and merciful. He loves us and doesn't want to punish His creation. Scripture is plain on the fact that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Yet, the same Bible that declares that "God is love" also proclaims that "God is just" and that He will "by no means clear the guilty." Now, here's a situation to consider: God loves us and doesn't want to punish us but God is also just, which makes it absolutely necessary that He (who is perfect) punish sin and sinners. This could present a problem, but it's a problem for which God has provided the solution. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, down to this earth to settle the sin question for mankind.
Just Who is Jesus Christ? - What Did He Do?
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh (Immanuel). He is the second Person of the Holy Trinity, and as such - - - as the Son of God - - - came down in human flesh to dwell among mankind: "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." He is the Almighty God who created the universe, yet He took upon Himself the form of man so that He could make it possible for us to have eternal life. The whole Bible has as its theme, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the predictions and reasons for His coming.
One day the books of our lives are going to be opened and we're going to be judged according to what's written in those books. Now consider this, a book containing a record of your life - - - every thought, every word, every deed - - - is going to be opened in judgement. All your sins are written to be remembered in that day. What can a person possibly do? Is there any way we can get out from under this guilt and the consequental threat of punishment? When John the Baptist announced that Christ was the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" he was saying that Jesus was the fulfillment of an Old Testament Scripture and that He (Jesus) would bear our sins: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all."
So God has placed the guilt of all our sins upon Christ; the sin which He detests and which He must punish. Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sins, He became our substitute and paid the price for our sins. Oh, how God loves us! He put His love to action in Jesus: 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]. With the price of His life, Jesus purchased a place for us in Heaven, a place He has gone to prepare for us. And now, He offers us Heaven, eternal life, as an absolutely free gift: "The gift of God is eternal life."
Salvation Through Faith? - What Sort of Faith?
So, how do we appropriate this free gift of eternal life? "By grace are ye saved through faith . . ." The key that unlocks the door to Heaven is faith. Now, faith is not merely believing that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Many people have heard and believe just that, giving mental assent to a recorded fact of history. Some people trust Christ for temporal things, such as food, clothing, shelter, health, protection from danger, and think that this is saving faith. It is not, because it is concerned with only the things of this life, here and now. The faith through which we are saved by grace is a faith which relies totally upon Jesus Christ, and on Him alone, for eternal salvation, eternal life in Heaven. The very reason Christ came to earth was to give us eternal life.
Plainly stated, there are only two things in which a person can put his or her trust to get to Heaven: [1] In his or her own efforts to live a life good enough in the eyes of God to merit it, or [2] In the Lord Jesus Christ and His "finished work" for our sakes and accept His offer of the free gift of eternal life. If we could work our way into heaven, if we could live our way into Heaven, if we could buy our way into Heaven, then there would be no need for a Savior, we'd be our own saviors. Yet Jesus made it clear that He is the Savior of the world: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by Me [John14:6].
A Final Word
The sum of all this is clear. We must first stop and consider the facts of life, death, Heaven and Hell. Every person must come to the place in his or her life where he or she comes to terms with the fact that he or she must realize that eternity is waiting for each and every one of us. Where will you spend eternity? The case is not hopeless but no one can, through his or her own efforts, ever be worthy of Heaven. Scripture is clear: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." In fact: "All our righteousnesses [our good works] are as filthy rags" whenever we compare them to His Holy Perfection. When we believe the Gospel and accept Christ on God's terms, then He imputes the righteousness of Christ to us.
You have just read The Truth. The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You're looking for answers when you should be looking for the Answer. God loves you, Christ died for you, we are with you in hope and prayer that you will open your heart to Him right now and allow Him to be your Savior.
A Prayer - Not of the Mind - But From the Heart
God says: "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Remember, please, that God is looking at your heart more than He is listening to your words. If you truly want to receive God's free gift of eternal life which He is offering to you right now, then God will hear you and save you. Remember, it's the attitude of heart more than the words. These things are hard to put into mere words, but I can help you there if you mean it. Just pray with your heart:
Father in Heaven, I confess to You that I am a sinner and that I am in need of a Savior in order to be saved from Hell and to inherit eternal life with You there in Heaven. I do here and now accept Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my personal Savior, and ask that His blood cleanse me from all sin. I thank You, Father, for Your free gift of eternal life, although I know I will never be worthy of it. Amen.
Please share with me if you have prayed this prayer or if you have any questions or comments, or desire more information. Just email us here. It is imperative that you begin now in a program of Personal Bible Reading, I suggest that you start with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. If you would like help, please let us know.
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