ARE YOU HEAVENBOUND?

If God asked you today, “Why should I let you into My Heaven?”

what would you say?

Did you know that the Bible shares how you can "know for sure"?

Below are 5 things you need to know about eternal life from the Bible:

The Bible says, “ . . . the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Because Heaven is a gift, like any other genuine gift, it is not earned or deserved.

No amount of personal effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn a place in Heaven for you.

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast” 

(Ephesians 2:8,9).

WHY is it that no one can earn their way to Heaven? 

Because . . .

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” 

(Romans 3:23).

Sin is transgressing God’s law and is rebelling against God.

We are all guilty of our own sins.

For example:

Have you ever cheated

Have you ever stolen anything?

Have you ever lied?

If you just said that you have never lied ... then you just lied.

God said that if we sinned, then we would “surely die” (Genesis 2:17), as “the penalty of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

And because we are sinners, we cannot save ourselves. 

If you wanted to save yourself by good deeds, do you know how good you would have to be?

“Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

With such a high standard, 

no one can save themself.

However, in spite of our sin . . 

God is merciful, and therefore doesn’t want to punish us.

This is because  “ . . . God is love” (1 John 4:8). And He says, “ . . . I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).

But the same Bible which tells us that God loves us, also tells us that God is just and therefore must punish sin. 

He says “. . . I will by no means clear the guilty .” (Exodus 34:7). 

And “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).

We have a problem. 

God solved this problem for us in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Who is He? The Bible tells us clearly that Jesus is God in the flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus). . . and the Word (Jesus) was God. And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . .” 

(John 1:1,14).

Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a sinless life.  He died on the cross to pay the penalty for "our sins" and to purchase a place for us in Heaven.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity (sin) of us all”

(Isaiah 53:6).

Jesus Christ bore our sin in His body on the cross and now offers you eternal life (Heaven) as a free gift.

This gift is received by faith.

Saving Faith is not mere head knowledge. It is not like believing certain historical facts. 

The Bible says that even the devil believes there is one God.

Saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. It means resting upon Jesus Christ and what He has done rather than in what you have done.

“Believe (trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” 

(Acts 16:31).

The question that God is asking you now is:

would you like to receive the gift of eternal life?

Because this is such an important matter let’s clarify just what it involves.

It means that you need to:

• Transfer your trust
  From what you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on His cross
   
• Accept Christ as Savior
  Open the “door” to your heart and invite Him in.
  
  He says:  “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him . . . .” (Revelation 3:20)

• Receive Jesus Christ as Lord
  Give Him the “driver’s seat” and “controls” of your life, not the “back seat.”
   
• Repent
  Be willing to turn from anything that is not pleasing to Him. He will reveal His will to you as you grow in your relationship with Him.

You can go to God in prayer right where you are. You can receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ right now.

Here’s a suggested prayer:

“Lord Jesus, thank You for Your gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But You loved me so You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. I now trust in You alone for eternal life and repent of my sin. Please take control as Lord of my life. Thank you so much!”

If this prayer is the sincere desire of your heart, look at what Jesus promises to those who believe in Him:“. . . I say unto you, he that believes on Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).

If you have truly repented (forsaken, turned away) from your sins, placed your trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death, and received the gift of eternal life you are now a child of God! Forever!

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name”(John 1:12).

Today is your spiritual birthday—a day you will always want to remember! The Bible speaks of those who receive eternal life in these words:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).