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* QUESTION #2
"If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He
were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into My Heaven,' what would
you say?"
Again, most people, if
they have an answer at all, would say, " I've tried to live the
best life I am able," or they might say," I've believed in
God and gone to church, or have done many good, kind and helpful
things."
But do you know that all these answers, even an answer that "one
just doesn't know what they would say" - indicates we have not
rightly understood or responded to life's most important questions. If
you're like the multitudes I'm talking about, then I've got Good News,
for you!
Please take a moment to either read the following, or download this
and read it at your leisure. For if you do, you will find the right
and perfect answers to both questions, which will undoubtedly and
absolutely bring you into a perfect relationship with God Himself!
* HOW TO
KNOW FOR SURE YOU CAN GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE
God has given us a book called the Bible. It is His instruction manual
for all life He has created. It tells us how to live rightly before
God. It tell us how to avoid things of life that are harmful,
destructive, painful and wrong. But in addition, it reveals to all who
read it and trust it - how to receive God's FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Listen to God's Word which says,
*
HEAVEN IS A FREE GIFT, IT IS NOT EARNED OR DESERVED
Contrary to popular opinion and thought, God's Word clearly declares
that Heaven is not something we work for or earn. God says Heaven or
Eternal Life can only be obtained as a free gift! The Bible says,
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of
the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
Two things are said and promised. First, Eternal Life, that is the power
and right to live forever in God's presence and blessing, can only be
obtained as a free gift. It can never be earned or deserved. Second, it
tells us that every human being can, in this life, "know for
sure," they either have it or they don't.
This can be seen more clearly when we understand what the Bible says
about us. Scripture continues to tell us,
*
MAN IS A SINNER AND CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF
The Bad News about all people is, and we must face the fact, that the
human race now exists in a defective and damaged state. The Bible
describes this condition as sinful, and disobedient. Of course, everyone
knows this by virtue of our world's existence. Our wars, conflicts,
fighting, crime, and abuse suffered since our creation, testify that
people cannot live in a continued state of peace, tranquility, love and
happiness.
This is because we willfully have chosen to live outside of God's
directives and will, for our existence. The Bible calls this
disobedience, sin. We read in,
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God."
Isaiah 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has
turned to his own way..."
No matter how much good we can do, or gather to our credit, we still
have disobedience in our lives that God says will be accounted for. Now
admittedly, some of us lead quite good lives, better than others. But
God does not measure on a sliding scale. The Bible says God measures the
whole of our lives and judges us by all of it. Listen to God's
assessment,
James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles
at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
Romans 3:10-11 "As it is written: "There is no one righteous,
not even one; {11} there is no one who understands, no one who seeks
God."
No matter how much you strive to do good, no matter how much good you
have done, we have also been disobedient to God's standard of living
worthy of entering Heaven and receiving Eternal Life. In fact, the Bible
tells us what that standard is. Jesus Christ said in,
Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father
is perfect."
Imagine that! Only that which is perfect, flawless and exactly like God
Himself can live and exist in His eternal presence. This of course,
eliminates all of us, for all have sinned and come short of this
perfection. Now the problem of man trying to save himself comes into
sharper focus when we understand what the Bible says about God.
*
GOD IS LOVE, BUT HE IS ALSO JUST AND MUST PUNISH SIN
The Good News in the Bible is the God who created us reveals Himself to
be a loving God who deeply is concerned about you and me. The greatest
verse and proof of this is found in,
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life. {17} For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Yes, the love of God is so great, that He devised a plan to save us from
the penalty of our sins that await all of us on Judgment Day. This plan
involves the justice and holiness of God.
The Bible reveals God must punish sin! God says by sinning, large or
small, we have earned His penalty of the universe, which is death. This
means we deserve to die and be separated from God forever. This is bad
news indeed, but hold on!
God is love and doesn't want to punish us, so God devised a plan to save
all men.
*
GOD SENT US HIS SON TO DIE FOR YOU AND ME
John 1:1,14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God... (14) The Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and
Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 5:8 " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
As amazing as it seems, God tells us He Himself came to earth in the
person of Jesus Christ. His mission was to be a perfect man without sin,
so as to qualify himself, as a man, to be our substitute and die for our
sins. This act of God's love and substitutionary payment for our sins is
a recorded fact of history.
On a cross almost 2000 years ago, a legal transaction took place where
God punished the infinite God/Man Jesus Christ for the sins of all other
men. The plain truth of the matter is Christ died for you and for me!
His death was offered up as a perfect, full and final sacrifice for the
wages of sin of all men. What's most wonderful about this is God showed
us He accepted Christ's death on behalf of all sinners!
We know that three days after Jesus died on the cross, God raised Him
again to life eternal. This resurrection is "proof" God
accepted His death as a substitute for you and me. This is the Good News
of the Bible God wants you to know. However, there is something more you
must know and understand.
*
GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL UPON FAITH
Although millions of people have tried to earn Heaven, or Eternal Life,
God says that Christ's death for our sins can be placed to our account,
only by faith. Listen to the Word of God,
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9}
not by works, so that no one can boast."
There is no good work, religious rite, sacrament or penance we or anyone
else can
perform that will bring us to Heaven or Eternal Life. God declares only
our personal faith in Christ can save us.
But what is real bible faith? Today the best word for faith is simply a "surrendered
trust." We must absolutely trust that God's Word and message about
us and for us is true;
and we must completely trust in Jesus Christ for who He is and what He
has done for us alone for our salvation and eternal
life.
Any other way to Heaven will find the door barred for eternity. The
Bible unconditionally says,
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
This means that God's gift of forgiveness of all our sins, His gift of
Eternal Life and Heaven itself, will only be given to those who in
surrender of the rule of their life to Christ's rule, believe
God and His Word and place their lives under the loving control of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Does this make sense to
you? Would you like to receive Eternal Life? If God is speaking to your
heart about this, there is only one right and immediate response.
*
THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING SALVATION BY FAITH
Is there anything keeping you from trusting Christ right now? There can
be nothing more important than the state of your eternal existence. Why
not pray a prayer like this? Remember it is not a prayer that saves you. It is
your willingness to put your life and its future in God's hands by trusting Jesus Christ's
work on the cross that saves you from paying for your sin in eternity. Prayer is simply how you tell God
how you feel and what you want.
* A SUGGESTED PRAYER OF FAITH
"Dear God, I realize I am a sinner, that I've broken Your laws for
life and living. I know my sin deserves to be punished, as Your Word
commands. I now understand and believe Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the
grave to confirm His payment for my sin. I now place my trust in Christ alone as my Savior and grant Him the
right to lead and rule my life. Thank you for dying for me, and granting to me
through faith alone, the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. In
Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
If you prayed this prayer or something similar, with all sincerity, then know what Jesus says
to all who come to Him by faith,
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he
has crossed over from death to life."
Notice again what God says. Those who hear His Word, believe what God
says and trust Christ as their Savior - are immediately granted Eternal
Life. Also, because we have this life, we shall not come into judgment.
So we see, Eternal Life is not based on any feeling we might have, but
on the fact and promise of God Himself.
* WHERE TO GO
FROM HERE
If you have prayed this prayer and
mean it, then you have become a Christian regardless of your past life,
age or position. As a Christian,
having new life in Christ, God wants to grow you in His Word and faith.
First, why not begin your new life by regularly reading and studying the
Word of God. Start by reading the New Testament Book of Philippians. As
you read it, expect God to speak to you from it.
Secondly, you must regularly pray to God. He is now your Father in
Heaven and your friend. Talk to Him all about your needs, desires,
troubles and cares. Remember He cares for you, and has promised He will
never leave you.
Third, as a believer you need the fellowship and blessing of worshipping
with others. Visit a Bible believing Church of your choice and worship
with God's people regularly.
Lastly, be sure to tell others what has happened to you. You can begin
by contacting us, as we would like to send you helpful and free
literature to enable you to grow in your faith.
Write to us at info@ahfhn.org
and we
will write you an encouraging and helpful letter. May God bless you and
keep you, and may the joy of a salvation experience ever be your guide
and stay.