Can I Be Sure I Am Going to Heaven?
Since God has written so much in the Bible, wouldn't you think that He would tell you how you can get to heaven? We believe He has. Please keep reading, and if you have a heart that wants to know, He will reveal His truth to you and the way to heaven.
1st step. Realize God loves you.
He made you or you wouldn't even be here. He gave you life; that's why you are alive today. God has provided many wonders, beauty, and goodness to show us that He is a good and loving Creator. But most of all, He loved us to such a degree that He sent His holy, innocent, and deeply loved Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. "For God so loved the world (that means you, too!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall never perish." (John 3:16)
2nd step. Admit you have failed God.
In the Bible, Romans 3:23 tells us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have fallen short of His plan and purpose for us. We have displayed our selfishness in many ways. Every human alive has wronged God in some way. We have broken His holy commandments. We have lied, stolen from, hurt, lusted, or thought evil against others. In Romans 6:23 the Bible states, "The wages of sin is death . . ." It would be unfair if we were not paid the wages that we earned. God is a holy God, so He requires that our wrongs are paid for. We deserve to die for what we have done. Jesus talked a lot about hell. But wait - now comes the Good News!
3rd step. Believe the truth that Jesus died in your place.
There is no way man could ever repay his wrongs against God. God would only accept death. "The wages of sin is death . . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Since God loved man, His love required that He must pay for the sin of man. He did this when, ". . .He sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Personal offenses against God require a personal payment. God would only accept the personal death and innocent blood of the God-man, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" of sins. Christ is the sacrificial Lamb. As the God/man, His death paid in full the penalty for all the sins of all mankind. God only forgives us on the basis of the payment Christ made with His life and blood.
4th step. Ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord.
You may have been taught the truths you have just read. But if you have not accepted them as truth for yourself, if you have not personally applied Christ's blood to your account, you are in danger of eternal torment in hell. That's why Jesus endured torture and died - so you wouldn't have to. "The demons believe in God and tremble." (James 2:19) They believe there is a God, but belief is not enough. You must personally ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for all your sins. Then invite Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior. Again, the Bible teaches, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
There is no magic formula, but you can pray something like this: "Heavenly Father, I know I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me for all I've done. Please come into my life right now and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying in my place. I love you, Lord."
The Apostle John tells us we can know we are going to heaven. "He who has the Son (Jesus Christ) has (eternal) life, (right now!). These things have I written to you who believe in the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:12-13) When we have asked Christ to be our own Savior, the Holy Spirit also gives us an inward assurance. "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16) You will feel a peace that surpasses all human understanding. Our prayers are that you are truly going to heaven
1st step. Realize God loves you.
He made you or you wouldn't even be here. He gave you life; that's why you are alive today. God has provided many wonders, beauty, and goodness to show us that He is a good and loving Creator. But most of all, He loved us to such a degree that He sent His holy, innocent, and deeply loved Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. "For God so loved the world (that means you, too!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall never perish." (John 3:16)
2nd step. Admit you have failed God.
In the Bible, Romans 3:23 tells us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have fallen short of His plan and purpose for us. We have displayed our selfishness in many ways. Every human alive has wronged God in some way. We have broken His holy commandments. We have lied, stolen from, hurt, lusted, or thought evil against others. In Romans 6:23 the Bible states, "The wages of sin is death . . ." It would be unfair if we were not paid the wages that we earned. God is a holy God, so He requires that our wrongs are paid for. We deserve to die for what we have done. Jesus talked a lot about hell. But wait - now comes the Good News!
3rd step. Believe the truth that Jesus died in your place.
There is no way man could ever repay his wrongs against God. God would only accept death. "The wages of sin is death . . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Since God loved man, His love required that He must pay for the sin of man. He did this when, ". . .He sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Personal offenses against God require a personal payment. God would only accept the personal death and innocent blood of the God-man, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" of sins. Christ is the sacrificial Lamb. As the God/man, His death paid in full the penalty for all the sins of all mankind. God only forgives us on the basis of the payment Christ made with His life and blood.
4th step. Ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord.
You may have been taught the truths you have just read. But if you have not accepted them as truth for yourself, if you have not personally applied Christ's blood to your account, you are in danger of eternal torment in hell. That's why Jesus endured torture and died - so you wouldn't have to. "The demons believe in God and tremble." (James 2:19) They believe there is a God, but belief is not enough. You must personally ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for all your sins. Then invite Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior. Again, the Bible teaches, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
There is no magic formula, but you can pray something like this: "Heavenly Father, I know I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me for all I've done. Please come into my life right now and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying in my place. I love you, Lord."
The Apostle John tells us we can know we are going to heaven. "He who has the Son (Jesus Christ) has (eternal) life, (right now!). These things have I written to you who believe in the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:12-13) When we have asked Christ to be our own Savior, the Holy Spirit also gives us an inward assurance. "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16) You will feel a peace that surpasses all human understanding. Our prayers are that you are truly going to heaven