How to Get to Heaven

The Bible says that one day we will all die.

Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” After we die, we will spend eternity in one of two places, either Heaven or Hell.  Do you know where you will spend your eternity?  If you don’t know, or you are unsure, DON’T WORRY, there is good news! You can know for sure.  

I John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

MAN’S GREAT MISUNDERSTANDING

Most people think that good people go to Heaven and bad people go to Hell.  What does God say?  

God’s Truth: We cannot get to Heaven by being good.

We are all sinners and cannot save ourselves.  Romans 3:9-10, 12b, 22b-23 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for…are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…There is none that doeth good, no, not one…there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way...”

We are either sinful or sinless, and no one but God Himself is sinless. Just as in any earthly court, one infraction makes you guilty. Likewise, one sin makes you guilty before God.  James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Salvation cannot be by our good works because we would break any set of commands God would give.   Galatians 3:21b-22 “…For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Even in the Garden of Eden when man was given the entire planet with just one tree/sin to avoid, man broke even that one simple command.  All men would therefore be lost unless God provided salvation freely by grace through faith.  Romans 4:16a “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace...”

God loves us and wants us in Heaven, but our sin separates us from God.  Thankfully, God has a plan.   John 3:16 “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.”

God’s Truth: Christ paid our way to Heaven on the cross

We deserve to be punished for our own sins. Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”

Christ is our Savior who paid the penalty of our sins on the cross.  Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (proved) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

What did we owe? Death – Romans 6:23

What did Christ pay? Death – Romans 5:8

Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 10-12 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray… and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all… for the transgression of my people was he stricken… thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin… for he shall bear their iniquities… and he bare the sin of many.”

If we could get to Heaven by being good, Christ would have died for nothing.  Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by (obeying) the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

As an earthly judge would be declared unjust if he cast aside justice and did not punish a wicked murderer because of a personal relationship with the guilty, even so, God, as the holy Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge of mankind could not set aside justice simply because of His love for us.  However, what He did do was to pronounce us guilty, sentence us to death, and then step down from Heaven to become man in order to die in our place, thus satisfying justice. (Romans 3:19, I Peter 3:18)

God’s Truth: Heaven is a free gift accepted by faith

Romans 6:23b “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We receive this free gift by asking and believing.  Romans 10:9-10, 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”  

Will YOU believe on Christ?

Acts 16:31 “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”Isaiah 53:1a “Who hath believed our report?”

A – Admit you are a sinner who cannot save yourself.

B – Believe on Christ as the Savior Who died for you.

C – Call on the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to save you.

We Must Trust Christ Alone.  John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Many have asked Christ to save them, but without repentance (Luke 13:3) or fully transferring their trust for salvation from themselves to Christ (Philippians 3:4-9). We must trust Christ ALONE, not Christ and our good works, religion, or a prayer.

Sample Prayer

(This is only a guide on what to pray.)

Jesus, I know I am a sinner who deserves to be punished for my own sins in Hell, but I believe that You were punished in my place when you died for me and rose again. I know I can do nothing to save myself, so I now repent of my sins and trust in you alone as my Savior. Please forgive my sins, save my soul, and give me a home in Heaven. Come into my heart and take over my life, for I give it to you right now. Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer and for saving my soul. Amen.