Did you know according to Jesus, most people who think they are going to heaven when they die are not?
“Not everyone who says to Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ’I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.”
Matthew 7:21-23
What about you?
Do you know for sure where you will spend eternity?
If not, the Bible makes clear how we can be certain about an eternal relationship with the living God.
“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.”
1 John 5:13
To avoid sins penalty of death and Hell and gain forgiveness we need to come to grips with certain truths.
First we must understand that we are sinners who have violated the standards of a Holy God and are deserving of the wrath and punishment of God.
The penalty for sin is death.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
We are all sinners.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
We need to realize that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our personal sins and rose again.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
By Gods grace we must believe in Him, which means turning from our sin, recognizing His right to control our lives and following Him.
“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.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ’If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24
By doing this, simply believing in Him by faith alone, we will have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16