HOW DO I GET TO HEAVEN?
"How do I get to heaven?" It's the most important question a person must ask themselves. Life is short and eternity is forever, so we want to make sure we know what the Bible says about how to get to heaven. The following is a brief explanation answering this question. We will start with the bad news, then look at the good news, and follow that up with some more good news.
The Bad News
Romans 6:23 is a clear verse that is often used to share the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ. The first half of Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death." Ever since the first man and woman (Adam and Eve; Genesis 3) sinned against God, everyone born after them inherited their sin nature. We sin because we are sinners in the heart and that is no secret. In word, thought, or deed, we sin every day. Our sin separates us from God, keeping us from having a right relationship with Him because He is holy and perfect and righteous and no wickedness dwells with Him (Psalm 5:4; Isaiah 59:2). Romans says the "wages" we have earned for our sin is death. We have died both physically and spiritually, and we deserve to be separated from God forever in hell. However, there is good news!
The Good News
Romans 6:23 continues, "The wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Since there is no way we can ever undo our sins against God and there is no amount of religious works or good works we can do to ever make up for it, the God of mercy and grace took care of it for us (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-9). By sending Jesus Christ (God the Son) to pay for man's sins through His sacrificial death on the cross, He bridged the sin gap that stood between us and Him. Jesus Christ was able to do this because He is both God and man, bridging the gap between sinful man and holy God. The Bible says whoever has faith (trusts) in Christ as their Savior from sin--completely depending upon Him and not their own works or goodness--will be saved. They are born again to spiritual life now and have everlasting life in heaven with God. Jesus came to restore what was lost in the beginning through sin and give us an abundant life, free from the condemnation of sin and help free us from sin's power over our lives through the Holy Spirit (John. 10:10; Galatians 5:16-24).
Jesus said, "No one can see the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." To be born again spiritually and have eternal life, one must place all their trust in what Jesus Christ did for them on the cross. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes (places their faith or trust) in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." After Christ died for our sins, He was buried and rose again back to life as He said He would, proving death was conquered and that He is who He said He is (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)!
Jesus said, "No one can see the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." To be born again spiritually and have eternal life, one must place all their trust in what Jesus Christ did for them on the cross. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes (places their faith or trust) in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." After Christ died for our sins, He was buried and rose again back to life as He said He would, proving death was conquered and that He is who He said He is (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)!
To sum up the good news in just few words, you could say that we are saved by GRACE, through FAITH, in CHRIST.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
- By grace, because it's a free gift and we don't deserve it.
- Through faith, because we are trusting in something.
- What is it we're trusting in? We're trusting in Christ and His death for our sins on the cross, His burial and resurrection.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Do you believe the good news?
Do you believe the good news of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for your sins? If so, you might pray a prayer similar to this: "Dear God, I know I am a sinner and that my sin separates me from you. But I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried and rose again. I put all of my trust and hope in what he did for me. Thank you for your forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life in Christ. It is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
More good news: Eternal security in Christ!
Everyone who has believed in Christ has received the Holy Spirit as a down payment on eternity. They have been sealed by God (as God's possession) for eternity. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "In Him, you also after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." Once you place your faith in Christ, you are saved and God will never leave you nor forsake you. You are His child forever (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 4:7; Hebrews 13:5).
Believers can be assured that they have eternal life . In John 5:24, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." It does not say, "may have" or "might have", but "has" eternal life and does not come into judgment. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). 1 John 5:11-13 is also clear, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does no have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." Having assurance of salvation is important because it encourages us to live godly lives worthy of the gospel (Ephesians 4:11) and keeps us from trying to ever earn God's love and acceptance when we have already been accepted through faith in Christ.
Believers can be assured that they have eternal life . In John 5:24, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." It does not say, "may have" or "might have", but "has" eternal life and does not come into judgment. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). 1 John 5:11-13 is also clear, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does no have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." Having assurance of salvation is important because it encourages us to live godly lives worthy of the gospel (Ephesians 4:11) and keeps us from trying to ever earn God's love and acceptance when we have already been accepted through faith in Christ.
What do I do now that I believe?
- Continue to grow in your new relationship with God by talking to God through prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Read the Bible daily to learn more about God and learn from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus said man does not live on bread alone but on every word from God (Matthew 4:4). If you need a Bible, we would love to give you one! We pray you learn to love and enjoy God's Word as much as we do at Chadron Berean.
- Worship regularly with God's people in a local Bible church near you. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
- In obedience to Christ's command, publicly declare your faith and identify with Jesus Christ, the gospel, and His church through water baptism.
- Share the good news and your personal testimony with others who need Jesus! (Matthew 28:18-20)
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:17-21